Media and film studies

Debates in Screen Documentary

Module code: P4125
Level 5
30 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Not yet finalised
Assessment modes: Coursework

Documentary Studies is a burgeoning sub-field of Film Studies. You will explore some of the major questions in the study of documentary film as a way of introducing non-fiction forms in the cinema and beyond. Topics may include: • Documentary realisms • Authorship and documentary authority • Objectivity and subjectivity • Documentary re-enactment • Essayistic and experimental documentary modes • Documentary and the internet We will explore key documentary movements and trends including the mockumentary, the interactive documentary, and documentary’s move into the art gallery. Case studies will be international and may include Citizenfour, The Gleaners and I, Behemoth, Fahrenheit 911, The Act of Killing, and Close-Up.

Module learning outcomes

• Demonstrate an appropriate understanding of the key themes, issues, and debates in documentary studies.
• Identify major films that have influenced the field and their contribution.
• Identify the key historical movements in documentary practice
• Demonstrate the ability to integrate critical sources in their construction and development of written analysis and argument.