Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL1112: Philosophy of Film

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

This module is intended as an alternative introduction to philosophical thinking, adding an audio-visual dimension to more text based modules such as Introduction to Philosophical Analysis. The module prepares students for further studies at stages 2 and 3 by introducing them to various ways in which philosophical thinking can be applied productively to hypothetical and real life problems in a wide variety of contexts. The module also provides important analytical and interpretative skills essential in an increasingly visual social world.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. demonstrate familiarity with a representative selection of philosophically important films and the issues they address; 2. extract abstract philosophical content from concrete narrative structures;
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. analyze images and narratives with respect to their rational content; 4. talk and write about images and narratives intelligently;
Personal and Key Skills	5. construct and evaluate abstract ideas; and 6. assess and criticize the views of others.

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Students are required to write one essay plan	Approximately 500 words	1-6	Written comments and classroom discussion

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
50	50	0

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Examination	50	2 hours	1-6	Written
Essay	50	3,000 words	1-6	Written

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Exam	Exam (2 hours)	1-6	August/September reassessment period
Essay	Essay (3,000 words)	1-6	August/September reassessment period

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Allen, Richard (ed.), Film Theory and Philosophy (Oxford: Clarendon, 1997).

Carroll, Noël (ed.), Philosophy of Film and Motion Pictures: an Anthology (Oxford: Blackwell, 2006).

Mullhall, Stephen, On Film (London: Routledge, 2002).

Shaw, Daniel, Film and Philosophy: Taking Movies Seriously (New York: Wallflower, 2008).

Wartenberg, Thomas E. (ed.), The Philosophy of Film: Introductory Text and Readings (Oxford: Blackwell, 2005).