Module VISU3171: Screening Masculinities (20 credits)

Department: Modern Languages and Cultures (Visual)

VISU3171: Screening Masculinities (20 credits)

Prerequisites

• VISU2021 The Art of the Moving Image 2: Theories and Contexts

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• VISU3182 Special Subject: Screening Masculinities (40 credits)

Aims

• To develop the students research skills.
• To develop the students ability to analyse and criticise filmic texts.
• To consolidate and refine the theoretical concepts learned by students in previous years, especially within the fields of Film, Gender, Sexuality and Race Studies.
• To expand the students knowledge of national and transnational cinemas, stars, filmmakers and gender cultures and theories.

Content

• This course focuses on up to five main case studies covering a wide range of genres, periods and (trans)national cinemas with specific emphasis on iconic masculine figures.
• Students will become familiar with key aspects of Film Studies, including close analysis, star studies, genre, characterisation and performance or spectatorship as well as key concepts of gender theory and men's studies, including hegemonic masculinities, crisis of masculinities, queer masculinities, male film stars, or the male body as spectacle.
• Topics for discussion will include issues such as ageing, body building, body image, disabilities, heroes and antiheroes, race and ethnicity, (stereo)typical men, queer, gender queer, trans, metrosexual or non-binary characters.
• Typical case studies explored will include four examples of contemporary African Westerns, Bollywood classics, British period dramas, superhero sagas, Hollywood biblical epics, musicals or melodramas, Italian peplum films, French noir, Netflix crime docuseries, queer cinema, or Spanish postmodern comedies or horror films. These materials will be contextualised with examples of advertising campaigns and fashion shoots, artworks ncluding paintings, performances, photography and video art pieces, comic books, comic skits, newspaper cuttings, music videos and live performances, podcasts, screenplays, social media posts, theatre, underground fanzines, or YouTube videos among other forms of media.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this module, students will be expected to:
• critically assess the moving image with sensitivity for issues such as genre, period, national and transnational industry contexts;
• critically understand the construction and deconstruction of masculinities in mainstream and independent cinemas from around the world;
• manage with confidence classic and cutting-edge concepts and terminology in the fields of Film, Gender, Genre, Nation, Race, Representation, Sex and Sexualities.

• By the end of this module, students will be expected to:
• think critically about the ways in which films represent gender and men in particular - and how those depictions of men and masculinities may impact perceptions of gender in different societies and periods.
• think critically about diverse forms of identity (gender, national, racial, sexual);
• critically analyse films (including technical aspects of filmmaking and subject-specific terminology)
• think critically about academic and journalistic texts read in the module and beyond;
• write about film with clarity and sophistication, using subject-specific language and academic writing style.

• By the end of this module, students should:
• develop research skills and independent study skills
• develop excellent analytical skills (including visual texts and especially moving image)
• develop writing skills appropriate to finalist level
• develop presentation skills
• enhance time management, IT, organisational, leadership and team-work skills (all essential for the presentation).

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module will be taught in Term 1 only.
• Weekly 2-hour seminars will typically start with a talk by the lecturer introducing key theoretical concepts and skills or aspects of visual analysis to manage during the session, followed by group discussion of a set of weekly reading and/or film.
• Each case study will usually be studied over a 2-week period. The first week will usually focus on theory (set readings) and the second week on the case study (set film).
• Students will be expected to be well prepared for the session and actively participate in class. This may involve preparation of (formative) presentations on some of the topics and films studied.
• The assessment will consist of a film commentary by the end of the teaching term and a written research project due the following term.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Seminar participation. Attendance and participation will be monitored. Quality of participation in class throughout the term.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University