Module description
Affect and sentiment have earned a new currency in film studies as of late, as to have studies in carnal film and media. Meanwhile, the so-called ethical turn in film theory and philosophy investigates the spectator's sensorial and affective engagement with film and teases out the moral implications of responses such as affection, emotion, and fear and arousal. Affect becomes a key in thinking about politics and responsibility, and film's power to move us to both thought and action. It also – via the work of figures such as Sianne Ngai, Sarah Ahmed and Kara Keeling, amongst others, connects to topics such as race, postcolonialism, feminism and queerness. This module is designed to introduce students to key concepts and texts within studies of affect, such as sensibility, melancholy - and sentimentality, which will help students to trace out the philosophical traditions explored in contemporary film theories and criticisms. This module will further help students to hone their conceptual tools and analytic skills to critically assess various approaches to affective engagement with film. Seminars will be dedicated to close readings of philosophical texts and to probing the intersections of these texts with a range of globally significant films and media texts.
Topics may include: Cinema and Sentiment; Carnal Cinema; Affect and the Emotions; Ethics and Cinema
Assessment details
Educational aims & objectives
Affect and sentiment have earned a new currency in film studies since the 1990s, as have studies in carnal film and media. Meanwhile, the so-called ethical turn in film theory and philosophy investigates the spectator's sensorial and affective engagement with film and teases out the moral implications of responses such as affection, emotion, and fear and arousal. Affect becomes a key in thinking about politics and responsibility, and film's power to move us to both thought and action. It also – via the work of figures such as Sianne Ngai, Sarah Ahmed and Kara Keeling, amongst others, connects to topics such as race, postcolonialism, feminism and queerness. This module is designed to introduce students to key concepts and texts within studies of affect, such as sensibility, melancholy - and sentimentality, which will help students to trace out the philosophical traditions explored in contemporary film theories and criticisms. This module will further help students to hone their conceptual tools and analytic skills to critically assess various approaches to affective engagement with film. Seminars will be dedicated to close readings of philosophical texts and to probing the intersections of these texts with a range of globally significant films and media texts.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate intellectual and practical skills appropriate to a level 7 module and in particular, they will be able to demonstrate the . following; 1. a deep and systematic understanding of the philosophical text on sentiment, affect, the body and the emotions 2. an advanced understanding of the influence of various philosophical traditions on contemporary film theories 3. the ability to critically assess the philosophical concepts employed in contemporary film interpretations and criticisms 4. the ability to design and undertake substantial investigation to address the similarities and differences between the philosophy of emotion, affect the body and sentiment and contemporary film theories, as well as their intersections with political and historical concerns 5. the ability to propose an innovative way to address and interpret these similarities and differences 6. the ability to formulate their own arguments and questions regarding the relationship between philosophy and film theories.