MOVING IMAGE ARTS - CONTEMPORARY CONTEXTS - 2023/4

Module Overview

This module engages with theoretical and cultural contexts for film, animation and digital arts. We do this not only by critically analysing current and future developments, but also by situating these within historical and philosophical debates and dialogues around creative arts in practice and creativity in general. Initial lectures will provide sessions on Research Methods for the Creative Arts, with a focus on the moving image. Some of these sessions will be drawn from the final year curriculum of the Digital Media Arts BA programme, and are likely to share content with its successor programme. Further sessions will explore contemporary debates reflecting this rapidly evolving area, and will be delivered by active researchers within the department and beyond.
The output of the module will be a research paper which complements and contextualises forthcoming work on the Final Masters Project.

Module provider

Music & Media

Module Leader

WEINBREN Jon (Music & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 20

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Not Applicable

Module content

The module will engage with a range of topics of contemporary and historical relevance to film, animation and digital arts practice, which could include issues surrounding representation, signification, identity and difference, as well as debates around authorship, spectatorship, democratisation and diversity. We will draw on relevant philosophical and theoretical contexts that not only frame current critical debate, but also inform contemporary creative arts practices.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

Students are given the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to apply contemporary debates in film, animation and digital arts through the development of a complementary and contextualising research paper, which situates their forthcoming practical project in the discourse of ongoing creative and technological developments within their chosen field.

Summative assessment for this module consists of:

Contextualising Research Paper (100%)

(1500 words)

Formative assessment and feedback is provided on a frequent basis through group discussions, debates, class presentations and tutorials.

In particular tutor feedback can be provided on drafts and works-in-progress prior to summative submission.

Individual tutorials are also provided; these can be both scheduled and -where practicable- on demand.

Module aims

• Advance theoretical and critical skills for the analysis and practice of film, animation and digital arts
• Engage critically with contemporary and historical debates in creative arts practice.
• Provide a set of conceptual tools to advance critical and creative practices.
• Facilitate individualised research to inform and contextualise an intended final masters project.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

A series of plenary lectures on relevant topics will be supported by seminars and discussions which facilitate curiosity, creativity, invention and original thinking. Students will be encouraged to formulate their own ideas in response to a particular topic and to engage with and interrogate theoretical cultural commentaries wherever they may be found – including but not limited to the ‘accepted’ academic literature. We anticipate the facilitation of lively debate.

In response to the module, students undertake their own research project to address a specific topic of their own interest in the context of the theoretical issues and concepts covered, directly linking the theoretical knowledge they develop to their own creative practice.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: DMAM001

Other information

N/A

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.