FILM 3004 - Screening the World: Global Film Aesthetics

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2023

This course is the capstone for the Film major and acts as a bridge into Honours/MPhil. The course will introduce students to the cinemas of Asia, South and Central America, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. The approach is to get us thinking about cinemas other than Hollywood and the Anglophone world in order to develop a sensitivity in our critical engagement with cinema and to build upon knowledge of other cinemas, and the aesthetics, narratives and practices that shape them. Students will be introduced to a wide range of `World? cinema that are often never exhibited outside of their national and cultural context. This is essential in order to understand the films from the perspective of their intended audience and not from the vantage point of the `distant observer?. However, it is also important not to exoticise the ?othernesss of the other?. We seek to consider world cinema as a dynamic circulation of transnational flows: moving away from cinema as an assemblage of disparate histories, the course maps changes across time, space, language and cultures. Relevant theoretical, analytical and historical perspectives will be studied and applied to various films to address ideas of cross-cultural interconnectedness in a globalised, media-saturated culture.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code FILM 3004
    Course Screening the World: Global Film Aesthetics
    Coordinating Unit School of Humanities
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact 3 hours per week, plus 4 ad hoc screenings during the course of the Semester
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Assumed Knowledge Minimum of 15 units in the Major must be completed before taking the capstone
    Assessment Research portfolio 25%, mini-research Essay 25%, major-research dissertation 50%
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Ben McCann

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. Demonstrate a detailed and high-level understanding of the essential theoretical ideas of world cinema
    2. Situate the chosen films in their broader historical and theoretical contexts
    3. Communicate effectively in a range of formats (but particularly through the production of an extended dissertation) a thorough grasp of the aesthetic and narrative tendencies of world cinema
    4. Develop cross-cultural methods of analysis and apply these to the films studied
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1, 2, 4

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    3, 4

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    1, 2, 3, 4

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    3, 4

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1, 2, 3

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1, 2, 3, 4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Films to be accessed by the students via Kanopy, Stan, iTunes, Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube or other streaming services.

    Some films will be screened in class at strategic points in the semester and periodically 'paused' to assist student discussion and feedback.

    There is no textbook required for this course: all required and optional course readings will be made available through MyUni before the start of the course.
    Recommended Resources
    A comprehensive reading list will be available on MyUni before the start of the semester.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    3 hours per week
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    156 hours per semester: contact hours + reading + research + regular assessment activities
    Learning Activities Summary
    Week Lecture topic / theme
    1 Introduction to World Cinema
    2 Asian cinema (China)
    3 Asian cinema (South Korea)
    4 Asian cinema (Japan)
    5 Iranian cinema (Abbas Kiarostami)
    6 African cinema (Senegal, Sembene and Mati Diop)
    7 German cinema
    8 Russian cinema
    9 Scandinavian cinema
    10 South American cinema (Brazil)
    11 South American cinema (Chile)
    12 Conclusions and Roma
    (Please note these are currently indicative themes and topics and may change before the start of the course)
    Specific Course Requirements
    A minimum of 15 units in the major must be completed before taking this capstone course.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Research portfolio (25%) - 1, 2, 3, 4
    Mini-research Essay (25%) - 1, 2, 3, 4
    Major-research Dissertation (50%) - 1, 2, 3, 4





    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

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    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

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  • Policies & Guidelines
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