Film Studies

Course detail Description

Contemporary film studies is a diverse, interdisciplinary field that incorporates a variety of approaches to the analysis of film and film culture. Our Film Studies MA builds on the research strengths of our distinguished staff to offer modules that examine a wide range of cinema styles and approaches to studying film.

We have designed this course for students who want to deepen their knowledge of the world’s cinemas and explore the very latest approaches to studying them. You will participate in a number of research activities, including a programme of lectures by nationally and internationally distinguished scholars, international conferences, twice-weekly 35mm cinematheque screenings, a focused graduate training course, and a student-organised work-in-progress conference in May.

The course comprises five taught modules and research project leading to a dissertation.

Teaching
If you are a full-time student, we will provide you with six hours in first semester and at least four hours of teaching in second semester each week through lectures and seminars. We will expect you to undertake 32 hours of independent study.

If you are a part-time student, we will provide you with four hours in first semester, two hours every semester thereafter of teaching each week through lectures and seminars, and we will expect you to undertake 16 hours of independent study.Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment
We assess the majority of our modules through coursework essays (normally 5,000 words) and occasionally exams. For your dissertation, you will write a 4,000-word critical survey and a 15,000-word essay.

Regulating body
King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.

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Structure

Year 1 Courses are divided into modules. Each year you will normally take modules totalling 180 credits.
A Film & Philosophy pathway is also available for this course.* Required Modules

You are required to take:

• Dissertation (90 credits)
• Formations of Film Studies: an Advanced Introduction to the Field (20 credits)

* If you are taking the Film & Philosophy pathway you are required to take at least two modules from a list that typically includes:

• Cinema & Sentiment (20 credits)
• Experimental Film & Philosophy (20 credits)
• Film History & the Cinema Experience (20 credits)
• Thinking Cinema (20 credits)
• Reconfiguring Film Theories & Philosophies: A Cross-cultural Perspective (20 credits)
• Media Aesthetics (20 credits)

Both pathways

In addition, you are required to take 40 to 80 credits (depending on your pathway) from a range of optional modules, which may typically include:

• History & Memory in Film (20 credits)
• Cinema & War (20 credits)
• 21st Century Hollywood (20 credits)
• French Cinema: History, Ideology, Aesthetics (20 credits)
• Film History & the Cinema Experience (20 credits)
• Art Cinema (20 credits)• Thinking Cinema (20 credits)
• Popular European Cinema (20 credits)
• Cinema & Sentiment (20 credits)
• Experimental Film & Philosophy (20 credits)
• Analysing Film Performance (20 credits)
• Reconfiguring Film Theories & Philosophies: A Cross-Cultural Perspective (20 credits)
• Global Queer Cinema (20 credits)
• The Moving Image of Art (20 credits)
• A range of Master’s modules offered across the Faculty of Arts & Humanities or Global Institutes, subject to approval
• Up to 20 credits from master’s modules offered by similar Departments within the University of London, or from other members of the Screen Studies Group (Birkbeck, SOAS, Goldsmith’s, UCL and QMUL), subject to approval

If you are a part-time student, you will take your dissertation in your second year, along with 40 credits of optional modules. You will take everything else in your first year.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.