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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Design

Undergraduate Course: Visual Narratives in Design and Screen Cultures (DESI08087)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course introduces students to the theories of visual narratives within design and screen cultures by examining key texts in contemporary popular culture and to methods of deconstruction to aid understanding from both audience and practitioner perspectives.
Course description The Visual Narratives course is designed to help students explore and develop their sense of visual narrative in a wider context. The course will begin with an overview of some of the key theories of visual narrative and look at a broad range of examples from within design and screen cultures to help consider how images and spaces can tell stories with or without accompanying words. Narrative perspectives of the maker, the audience and visual form itself will be examined to aid students understanding of the visual culture around you, and your role as a maker in its creation.

Topics covered: Moving Image (film, animation, television), Illustrated Narrative (Graphic Novels, Picture Books), Interactive Narratives, Authorship & Audience, Genres & Narrative Spaces, Music Videos, Factual Narratives.

The course is delivered through weekly lectures and seminars. Each week students will be required to undertake research activities as part of their directed learning hours, for presentation or discussion in seminar and in preparation for the final submission.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  100
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 10, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 174 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) There is one formative assessment point, designed as preparation for the final summative task. This will take the form of a presentation and will be set at the mid point of the course. Feedback will be provided in class by peers and tutors.

The final summative assessment will be in the form of a 2500 word essay at the end of the course which will be assessed against all learning outcomes. This will receive written feedback and grades via the course VLE within 15 working days of the submission date.

Relationship between Assessment and Learning Outcomes

The Summative Assessment takes the form of one 2500 word written submission (essay), which will be graded against the three Learning Outcomes. Each outcome will be weighted equally.
Feedback Written feedback and indicative grades for the formative assessment will be released on the VLE within 15 working days of the submission date. Written feedback and grades will also be given for the summative assessment. This will also be released on the course VLE within 15 working days of the submission date.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Use a variety of appropriate research approaches to show an understanding and awareness of the subject area of visual narratives.
  2. Undertake a critical analysis and evaluation of selected examples to demonstrate the relationship between visual narratives and audiences.
  3. Convey your findings in an articulate and appropriately illustrated essay which communicates your understanding of narrative construction and analysis.
Reading List
Altman, R (2008) A Theory of Narrative, New York; Columbia University Press.
Barry, P (2002) Narratology, Beginning Theory, Manchester, MUP.
McLeod, S. (1994) Understanding comics : the invisible art, Harper Collins
Meadows, S. (2003) Pause and Effect: The art of Interactive Narrative, Indianapolis, New Riders
Ryan, Marie-Laure (Ed) (2004) Narrative Across Media: The Languages of Storytelling, Lincoln; University of Nebraska Press.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Upon completion of the course students will:
Be able to identify, define and analyse problems and identify or create processes to solve them and be able to critically assess existing understanding and the limitations of their own knowledge;
Be open to new ideas, methods and ways of thinking;
Make effective use of oral, written and visual means to critique, negotiate, create and communicate understanding.
Be able to flexibly transfer their knowledge, learning, skills and abilities from one context to another; understand social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities and issues.
KeywordsVisual culture,narrative theory,deconstruction,moving image,interactive narratives,authorship
Contacts
Course organiserDr Agnese Sile
Tel: (0131 6)51 5800
Email: Agnese.Sile@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Ruth Lee
Tel:
Email: clee5@ed.ac.uk
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