Module: FSS6104-20 Politics & Global Cinema

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Jamie Steele

Module Tutor Contact Details: j.steele@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This module offers a critical understanding of the relationship between politics and global filmmaking. The module assesses socio-political contexts in a range of national film traditions. It historicises and contextualises the political function of filmmaking, whether that may be explicit or implicit within the selected film texts. 

The module aims to examine political populism, forms of nationalism, socio-political contexts, and “engaged” movements, such as Third Cinema. The module will critically analyse the relationship between politics and nation, to explore the nuances of rhetoric and political discourse, and how the language of politics is evoked through film. It aims to consider historical developments in a global context (Latin American movements, African film traditions, South-East Asian film histories and politics) as well as contemporary movements, such as populism and politics in American, European, South-East Asian and South American cinema. It aims to uncover and critically analyse the relationship between film and politics across national and transnational filmmaking traditions.

2. Outline syllabus: 

The approach to politics and global cinema will include – but is not exclusive to – a range of approaches that historicise politics and film through a range of examples in European, American, and World Cinema. It engages with how film can be used to evoke rhetoric and forms of power through the representation of political populism, and how film can engage with socio-political contexts. The syllabus includes some examples, but these are primarily indicative and are not exhaustive. 

1. Contextualising political cinema and filmmaking

2. Assessing the latent politics of contemporary filmmaking

3. Politics and Film History in Europe

4. Film History and Propaganda

5. Counter-movements and Politics in Global Cinema and Third Cinema

6. Political populism and contemporary filmmaking

7. Socio-political forms of representation in Europe

8. Socio-politics and Global Cinema

9. Class and Power

3. Teaching and learning activities: 

The teaching and learning approach to this module follows a pattern of a weekly hour-long lecture, followed by a weekly 2-hour seminar. The lecture will frame and introduce the relevant debates – as previously outlined – and the seminars will be used as an opportunity to debate key readings and to analyse relevant film texts in detail. Seminars can be used for screenings and seminar debates. Students are encouraged to participate to the planning of the seminars through the selection of key sequences from the selected films and to design and frame questions for discussion. 

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description:  Essay (2,500 words)

• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description:  Portfolio (2,500 words)

• % Weighting: 50%