FIL-30010 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2020/21

Race and Sexuality on Screen departs from James Baldwin¿s assertion that `race and sexuality have always been entwined¿ (2001: xi). Race and sexuality will be considered not as separate objects of study, but as socially constructed and interconnected identities that impact upon an individual¿s lived experience in the world. Students will study a range of contemporary films from Hollywood, American indie and European art-house cinema traditions, as well as some examples from television. Topics to be covered include: invisible/idealized whiteness in LGBT representation, constructions of sexuality, masculinity and femininity in African American film, the transgender gaze, emotion and empathy in queer and critical race theory, form, content and aesthetics in queer filmmaking, biography and self-representation, stereotypes, drag and camp, and controversy.
Overall, the module will pay attention to how representations of minorities have changed over time with changing social attitudes, and how the director's biography and aims impact upon the representation of a particular group. Alongside the study of the films in question, students will be introduced to a number of significant theorists such as Laura Mulvey, bell hooks, Richard Dyer, Judith Butler, E. Patrick Johnson, Judith/Jack Halberstam and Kimberlé Crenshaw in order to gain an understanding of race and sexuality as a cultural and social constructions, influenced by political movements such as feminism, LGBT activism, and Civil Rights. Films and television shows to be studied may include Brokeback Mountain (2005), Boys Don¿t Cry (1999), Girlhood (2014), Boyz n the Hood (1991), Tomboy (2011), Paris is Burning (1991), Ru Paul¿s Drag Race (2009-present), Get Out (2017), and Moonlight (2016).
*While it is not obligatory for students to have taken FIL-20001 `Gender and the Cinematic Gaze¿, it will be useful to have some background in gender theory, and so contacting the lecturer for introductory readings in advance of the module is advised.

This module will:
1. Allow students to examine the intersections between film, gender, race and sexuality
2. Develop students' understanding of how black and minority ethnic populations have been depicted on screen, asking whether these representations have changed over time
3. Develop students' understanding of how members of the LGBTQ community have been depicted on screen, asking whether these representations have changed over time
4. Introduce students to black, minority, and LGBTQ filmmakers
5. Allow students to critically evaluate the style and aesthetics of minority filmmakers who work both inside and outside Hollywood
6. Encourage critical analysis of cinematic and theoretical material and reflection on the practice of criticism

Intended Learning Outcomes

demonstrate an understanding how the representation of race, ethnicity and sexuality in film relates to broader social and political debates: 1,2
critically evaluate the representation of members of the LGBTQ community in film, considering how these representations disrupt or confirm dominant notions of masculinity and femininity: 1,2
evaluate theories of race and sexuality and consider how they impact upon the representation of race, ethnicity and sexuality in film: 1,2
critically evaluate the representation of African American masculinities and femininities in film, considering how these representations change over time: 1,2
critically evaluate the representation of minority ethnic populations in relation to masculinity and femininity in film, considering how these representations contrast with dominant media narratives: 1,2
critically evaluate the representation of members of the LGBTQ community in film, considering how these representations change over time: 1,2
critically assess the value of a director's biography and politics in relation to their cinematic output: 1,2
critically interpret aesthetic, narrative and stylistic choices made by black, minority ethnic and LGBTQ filmmakers: 1,2
demonstrate their development of skills in self-motivated study and independent research: 1,2
critically evaluate how different cinematic industries (Hollywood, Europe and world cinema) influence and impact upon the representation of minority communities: 1,2
1,2

Study hours

24 hours - seminars
38 hours - working on essay
16 hours - working on presentation
22 hours - watching films
50 hours - seminar preparation (reading)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment