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FIL-20033 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

FIL-20033 - The Power of Cinematic Representation
Coordinator: Hollie Price
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

This module explores issues of representation, inequality and activism in global film culture. You’ll build on your knowledge from the first year, critically assessing theories of cinematic representation around aspects of identity including gender, sexuality, race and ethnicity. Through an array of mainstream, independent and experimental films, you’ll extend your understanding of film form, spectatorship and industry, as well as cinema’s capacity to engage with society and culture, exploring issues such as poverty, migration, transgender rights, and the environment.

Aims
This module explores the significance of cinema, both historically and in the present day, for representing identity and as a vehicle for political contestation and struggle. It aims to foster students a set of theoretical and methodological tools for critically analysing a range of cinematic texts, and for recognising the potentials of cinema as a political medium. It encourages a ranging, trans-national, inter-cultural approach that develops students' awareness of varied film cultures and themes. The assessments build students' critical and interpretive facilities and their skills in presenting their own work.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Examine historical and political issues and film's potential roles in exploring these issues: 1,2
Demonstrate an understanding how representations of identity and of political issues relate to broader social debates
: 1,2
Critically analyse a range of visual texts that represent and negotiate identities and political viewpoints in various ways
: 1,2
Outline, critically assess and apply various theories of cinematic representation and of spectatorship
: 1,2
Apply cross-cultural and inter-textual methods of reading film: 1,2
Develop skills in researching film and television texts across a variety of historical and contemporary traditions, movements and contexts: 1,2

Study hours

Lectures 11 hrs
Seminars 20 hrs
Assessment workshop/consultation with tutor 3 hrs
Film screening/discussions 16 hrs
Working on presentation 75 hrs
Working on essay 75 hrs
Seminar preparation (reading and wider viewing) 100 hrs

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 50%
Themed Report
Students will produce a recorded individual presentation of approx. 10 minutes on one of the themes covered in class. The presentation can be based on readings, television shows or films whose content engages with issues of representation, inequality or activism but are not covered elsewhere in class. An exemplary list of potential topics will be provided. Students can choose to focus on a range of texts relevant to their topic. The presentation can take the form either of a recorded powerpoint presentation (or one using similar tools), or can take the form of a video, using voiceover commentary and/or textual annotation.

2: Essay weighted 50%
Essay
Students will produce a 2500 word essay, based on one of a set of questions provided, which will engage with one of the module's key films plus another film or TV text of the student's choice. These essay questions will cover all of the themes presented on the module. Students will be asked to include a range of visual evidence as part of their discussion, and also to apply theoretical concepts and include a critical analysis of the wider socio-cultural and/or media context(s) in which the texts were made.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026