Constructing Reality 1: Documentary filmmaking and culture (P02191)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : LLC-P-P02191

The course adopts a comparative methodology to examine how both social theorists and documentary filmmakers use their chosen mediums to constructreality;. Concentrating on cultural themes; such as exile, gender, belief and imagination, the course seeks to understand the visual, structural and emotional strategies employed by filmmakers and writers in their attempts to represent reality to an audience.

By approaching visual truth as the result of careful construction students will be introduced to the creative art of documentary filmmaking and will be empowered to critically engage with the truth claims of factual films. Furthermore the course intends to introduce students to the basic tenets of practice-based research by undertaking a short video project.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Common Courses (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures), (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the students will:
- have an understanding of the divergent strategies employed in the construction of visual truth claims
- be able to understand the role of documentary films and factual television in contemporary culture
- be able to conduct an analysis of documentary films, critically engaging with visual strategies for constructing reality, and be able to communicate such an analysis
- be able to contrast and compare written strategies with visual strategies
- have an insight into the skills necessary to conduct practice-based research in the area of cultural studies.