FMS8366 - Film and Political Action

• Offered for Year: 2025/26

• Module Leader(s): Professor Guy Austin

• Owning School: School of Modern Languages
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

• Capacity limit: 999 student places

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Aims

This module explores the power of film as a form of political action. Taking case study examples from a range of global film cultures, it will introduce students to theories of power and resistance, political filmmaking, issues of social justice, postcolonial theory, and documentary ethics. It aims to equip students with an in-depth awareness of how filmmaking can engage with political concerns in the contemporary world.

Outline Of Syllabus

 The syllabus will reflect the current expertise and activity of the contributors.

It may include the following topics:

• cinema of anti-colonial resistance
• filming ‘fortress Europe’ and journeys of immigration
• Chinese indie documentaries
• ethics in documentary cinema
• contemporary independent Cuban cinema
• using cinema and focus groups as part of a project in political filmmaking

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale and Relationship

Small group teaching (seminars), the primary teaching method to be used on the module, will facilitate all knowledge outcomes (K1--K4), plus skills outcomes S2-4, S6. Moreover, the small group will facilitate oral discussions and (informal, formative, non-assessed) mini-presentations which will enhance S5.

In addition, guided independent study will enable students to develop their written communication skills and independent researching skills (S1, S5), ensuring students are developing the skills of evidenced argumentation which are required for potential future dissertation work.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment