BA (Hons) Film, Literature & Drama
What is Film, Literature and Drama? The BA (Hons) in Film, Literature and Drama degree combines Film Studies with Literary Studies into a rewarding and useful programme of interdisciplinary study. Literary Studies and Film Studies have very different points of origin, and their own quite distinct traditions, but as disciplines they have many aspects and issues in common: most particularly a primary focus on the close analysis and interpretation of texts, whether written or visual, but also a similar set of theoretical reference points, critical approaches and discourses. This makes the combination of these subjects natural and very coherent, allowing students to study film, literature and drama both in their own terms and in relation to one another, sponsoring interdisciplinary study and new ways of thinking about these important arts.
Aims and Objectives Film, Literature and Drama aims to provide a course of study that can appeal to a wide range of student interests and needs. The course is suitable for anyone interested in developing their knowledge and understanding of these major art forms, whether for personal or professional reasons, and for anyone who wishes to gain a good general humanistic education. While the course is primarily academic, focusing on the development of knowledge and of intellectual and critical skills, students will also acquire practical film making skills and a range of transferable personal skills that will be of direct benefit to them and their future careers, whether in further academic study or in numerous employment contexts. Taught by practitioners as well as academics, the Film elements of the course address the historical, theoretical, and practical aspects of the cinema. Students study the history of the cinema, the development of its technologies, the operation of the film industry, as well as the cinema’s narrative styles, genres and visual conventions. In addition, several practical modules introduce students to the technical aspects of film production. Students will be given supervised access to camera and editing equipment, and provided with an opportunity to produce their own film projects. This will be of direct benefit to those interested in entering the fields of film, television and theatre production. The Literature and Drama elements of the course provide both a detailed study of the traditional elements of a Literary Studies programme and a series of more developed and specialised studies. Students will study the history of verse, drama and fiction from the Renaissance to the contemporary world and then pursue more specifically focused strands of study in world literatures, theatre studies and literary theory. Students are taught how to interpret texts within historical, cultural and theoretical contexts and to appreciate and analyse the effective uses of language and rhetoric in their persuasive and affective qualities. The Literature and Drama element of the course also exploits our location within the Dublin theatre district by placing special emphasis on drama. Brought together, these two disciplines are designed to develop in students an intellectual flexibility and openness to new ideas, a conceptual sophistication in thought and argument, and the ability to dialogue with a variety of cultural frameworks and values. Programme Structure The programme is divided into three levels, with students commencing the programme at level one and progressing through to level three. The programme is taken in its entirety. Level 1 consists of modules that introduce the broad historical and theoretical foundations of the programme and provide the opportunity to develop key skills of reading, writing and analysis through the close study of a wide range of written and visual texts. Students are given a thorough grounding in the history of film and are introduced to key critical and theoretical debates within Film Studies; they are introduced to the close reading of Poetry and Fiction; they study the varying conventions and uses of Film and Drama from both Western and non-Western traditions; and they are provided with an opportunity to develop their own creative writing projects. In addition, students also take the ‘Film, Literature and Drama Learning Lab’ a year long module which introduces the academic conventions of higher education. The learning lab is a learner centered module which develops academic awareness, communication skills, research skills and encourages learner participation. Level 2 consists of modules that further develop the students’ interests and knowledge across a wide range of specialised historical and theoretical areas. Students pursue a number of key historical studies in film, literature and drama; they learn to think about art and culture from a wide variety of theoretical and cultural positions; they build on the academic and intellectual skills introduced at level 1. At level 2, students also begin the practical strand of the programme through participation in a series of workshops geared towards the production of a short film.
Level 3 consists of modules that extend the students’ understanding of the theory, conceptual frameworks and practice of the subject to a high level. Students will study a range of material focusing on the contemporary state of the arts of film, literature and drama; they will pursue an interdisciplinary module on the relations between film and literature; they will complete a practical film project. At Level 3 students also write a supervised thesis on an academic topic of their own choice. Each level thus incrementally builds the students’ skills across the span of the programme. Programme Duration This programme can be completed in four years, attending classes on 2 nights per week from 6:15 to 9:30 pm. Advice on module selection will be available to all students prior to the commencement of the course.
Teaching & Assessment The programme employs a wide variety of teaching and assessment methods. Course delivery is primarily through interactive lectures, seminars, practical and instructional activities, support workshops and direct personal supervision. Assessment Methods are designed to develop and test the student’s acquisition of skills of written and oral expression, thinking and research, and will include written examinations, essays and case studies, individual and group presentations, research and, sometimes, practical projects.
Further Career & Study Options The programme will be of use to those interested in pursuing a career in any area of work that requires high order skills of written expression, oral presentation, and conceptual and critical analysis. It is good preparation for working in education, the arts, the media industries, library and information work, and business. Graduates from the programme are currently working in the film and theatre industries, teaching, lecturing, advertising, and a range of other areas. The programme also has an excellent record of inspiring students to go on to further study, with progression onto masters programmes in Film, Literature or Theatre Studies being some of the most popular choices with our graduates. Programme Content Level 1
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- Cinema History
- Critical Approaches to Film
- Practical Criticism/Drama in Contexts
- Introduction to Fiction/World Dramas
- Creative Writing/Race and Ethnicity in Film
- Film, Literature & Drama Learning Lab
| Level 2
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- New Waves in European and World Cinema
- Visual and Dramatic Writing Workshop/Producing a Short Film
- Literary Theory/Camera and Directing Workshop
- Drama from Shakespeare to Chekhov
- The Rise of the Novel/Poetry: Romanticism to Modernism
| Level 3
| - Post Production Skills Workshop/Film & Literature
- Film & Gender/Current Trends in Film Theory
- Contemporary Drama/Contemporary Fiction and Poetry
- Twentieth Century Irish Literature/Critical and Cultural Theory
- Film or Literature Thesis
| Learner protection for this programme is provided in accordance with Section 43 of the Qualifications (Education and Training ) Act 1999.
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