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This module serves as a toolbox, designed to introduce you to some of the key skills and strategies necessary for studying literature and film at university level. The module introduces you to the necessary close reading and film analysis skills required at degree level, and asks you to practice applying those skills by responding critically and creatively to a number of short stories, poems, and films. You will explore what it means to learn actively and independently at university, and will be introduced to expectations and criteria for successful university study. As such, you’ll also learn academic writing skills associated specifically with critical analysis, including analysing quotations and screen shots, and developing inferences and arguments from textual analysis.

On this module, you will study a wide range of key literary and cinematic works in many genres. The module will begin with discussion and analysis of several contemporary short stories by Ali Smith. We will then look at several selections of poetry ranging from the 16th century to the present day, including authors such as Christopher Marlowe, Alexander Pope, Edna St Vincent Millay, Adrienne Rich, Warsan Shire, and more. Alongside the literary readings, you will learn essential terminology for literary studies, and apply key terms to your own close readings of the assigned texts. The last part of the module will turn to film analysis, and each week you will learn about a particular aspect of film form, such as mise-en-scène, editing, cinematography, and more. Each week we will watch a different film, and you will have many opportunities to respond critically and creatively to these films. By the end of the module, you will have accumulated a substantial glossary of specialised terms essential for literary and film studies, and will have had substantial practice applying core methodologies of close reading and formal film analysis (both in class and in your assessments).

LO1. Acquire skills for active and effective learning at university level.
LO2. Develop an awareness of key methodologies and terminology for both literature and film studies.
LO3. Acquire skills in literary close reading, formal film analysis, and associated skills for written and oral presentation of analysis.
LO4. Respond critically and imaginatively to a wide range of poems, short stories, and films.
LO5. Acquire skills for producing academic work independently.