52712 Global Cinema
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 54081 Global Cinema AND 58323 Contemporary World Cinema
Description
Global Cinema examines the key themes, production techniques, and cultural contexts that shape contemporary world cinemas. Students become familiar with different national and regional cinematic traditions, develop critical vocabularies for understanding and interpreting cinematic storytelling devices, and consider the role that cinema plays in addressing social inequalities and injustices. The subject also invites students to explore diverse forms of film-making, which may include high-budget national cinemas, films by Indigenous communities and film-makers, independent and experimental film-making, multilingual and diasporic cinemas, cinema as political activism, and documentary cinema (among others). Throughout, students are given opportunities to focus on specific elements within film-making processes, including narrative, genre, and characterization; cinematography, editing, lighting, sound, and production design; and the industrial contexts of production, distribution, and reception.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| a. | Analyse film-making traditions and production processes in diverse national and cultural contexts |
|---|---|
| b. | Explain key terminologies, concepts, and debates in the field of screen studies |
| c. | Use appropriate critical vocabulary to write about film in an informed and scholarly way |
| d. | Explain the role that cinema can play in promoting ethical citizenship and transforming societies |
| e. | Engage in independent research around film production and reception |
| f. | Analyse representations of Indigenous people on screen and understand creative practices by contemporary Indigenous film-makers |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
- Employ appropriate research and inquiry skills to independently gather, organise and analyse information across diverse platforms (2.1)
- Demonstrate a strong awareness, knowledge of, and sensitivity to, diversity, equity and global contexts (3.1)
- Apply knowledge of Indigenous issues in professional practices and engage responsibly in communicating with and about Indigenous people and communities (4.1)
- Exemplify effective and appropriate communication in different communication industry contexts (6.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
The key subject learning activities include a weekly lecture and tutorial, a weekly feature film, and required scholarly readings relating to the chosen film or film-making tradition. The lectures offer a comprehensive overview of the key ideas and issues relating to the weekly feature film; examine clips from film texts and provide tools for identifying and understanding key cinematic techniques; and provide historical and cultural contexts for relevant film-making traditions. Tutorials include close readings of film scenes and techniques, student-led discussions of the weekly readings, and groupwork activities organised around specific scenes or elements of the weekly film or film-making tradition.
Prior to tutorials, students view the featured film, watch the lecture, read the required scholarly readings, and complete online activities that will help to provide a better understanding of the scholarly materials. Some weeks are dedicated to independent research and online activities where students are invited to select their own film or film-maker case studies for further critical investigation. Formative feedback on online pre-work and in-class activities is provided by the tutor, including opportunities for students to workshop specialist terminologies in the analysis of film-making techniques.
Content (topics)
The subject content is organised around key concepts and themes in the cultural study of global cinema, and case studies are drawn from a variety of geographical regions. Each week focuses on a film for close reading, and these are chosen for their innovative forms (e.g. neo-realism, film noir, experimental cinemas), their roles as catalysts for social or political change (e.g. protest cinema), or their historical relationships to a significant film movement or genre (e.g. Bollywood). Films are made available online through UTS library streaming services (e.g. EduTV, Kanopy). Required subject readings provide broad contexts for film analysis, production and consumption, and introduce critical concepts for analysing cultural meanings. A number of regions are studied and may include: Australasia and the Pacific Islands, South Asia (e.g. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh), East Asia (e.g. China, Japan, South Korea), African and African diasporic cinemas (e.g. Nigeria, Ghana), Latin America (e.g. Brazil), Europe (e.g. France), South East Asia (e.g. Thailand, Indonesia), North America (e.g. Canada, the United States) and the Middle East (e.g. Lebanon, Iran). There are also scholarly readings and case studies focusing on the cultural and historical contexts for Indigenous film-making in Australia.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Film Analysis
| Objective(s): | a, b, c and d | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type: | Essay | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 40% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1200 words | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Global Films in Cultural Context
| Intent: | Students choose one of two options provided for this project. The options all involve engagement with a minimum of one featured film from Block II and one featured film from Block III. Detailed assessment prompts are provided on Canvas. Option 1: Research Essay. In response to essay prompts, this option requires textual analysis, a discussion of cultural contexts, and a critical comparison between at least one featured film from Block II and one featured film from Block III. Option 2: Metro Magazine Commentary. This option requires an extended critical commentary on at least one featured film from Block II and one featured film from Block III in the style of Australia's Metro Magazine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective(s): | a, b, c, d and f | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Essay | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 60% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1800 words | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
Attendance at classes is essential in this subject. Classes are based on a collaborative approach that involves essential workshopping and interchange of ideas with other students and the tutor to build capacities towards meeting the subject learning objectives. A roll will be taken at each class (whether on campus or online). Students who have more than two absences from class will be refused marking of their final assessment (see Rule 3.8).
Other resources
HELPS
HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) is dedicated to provide English language and academic literacy support to all UTS students. Programs and services are free. Topics addressed will include weekly study/ reading/ writing/ speaking skills workshops, daily drop-in consultations, individual consultations by referral and/or appointment, writing clinics, conversations@UTS, and intensive academic English programs. HELPS is located in Building 1, Level 3, Room 8 (opposite the Concourse Cafe): helps@uts.edu.au http://www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps/index.html