ML3FWF: Future Worlds in Film

Module code: ML3FWF

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Ute Wolfel, email: u.wolfel@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): Before taking this module, you must have a Pass in Part 2. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Driven by technological development, our world has been changing incredibly fast over the last 150 years. The ensuing social, political, and cultural transformations have found popular expression in science fiction, a multimodal genre that reflects the sense of wonder as well as uncertainty inspired by technological development  

Students will analyse and assess representative examples of global science-fiction cinema. Based on individual films from different traditions and periods, students will examine the genre features, contexts, and aesthetic genesis of science-fiction films. 

Students will analyse formal and thematic features of the films. They will identify central ethical questions the films raise, relating them to academic discussions of the respective topics, including questions of gender equality, artificial intelligence, political power structures, and environmental justice.   

Students will evaluate each film in its specific cultural, political, and social context comparing films across cultures and periods to identify key strands of the history of science-fiction cinema. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Analyse cinematic conventions of sci-fi cinema 
2. Explain science fiction films’ culturally specific functions in their national contexts; identify the ethical questions the respective films raise 
3. Show the general negotiating role of popular film within discourses of the future of human societies 

Module content

The module introduces students to science-fiction cinema spanning silent films after World War One to the present with the focus on examples from Germany, France, Italy, the Spanish speaking world, Russia and Japan. The module is structured thematically, including gender, the environment, justice and political systems, sources of energy, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering and cloning. The themes will be introduced through short key texts which students will prepare and discuss before they analyse and compare two films, which will provide filmic interpretations of the themes under discussion. Students will evaluate the films’ approaches and identify recurring concerns and cinematic means across the films discussed. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The course will follow a thematic structure linking notable international films to debates about the future of human societies. There will be a mixture of interactive lectures and student-led seminars. Focussed seminar discussions are based on students’ preparation of primary material and/or reading of secondary literature. Students will acquire important background information from the interactive lectures and will be guided to undertake independent work in preparation of seminar discussions and assignments.

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will have the opportunity to contribute and to participate in group discussions/seminars, and to give and receive feedback about other formative activities. 

Reassessment

Additional costs