MA Film & Television Aesthetics MA

About the course

Innovative critical approaches inform teaching on the MA programme, which reflects contemporary reassessments of stylistic criticism of film and television, and the application of aesthetic principles to these art forms. You can expect to investigate such topics as the stylistic content of a wide range of films and television programmes, the nature of value and the criteria of a 'good' film or series, the visual articulation of sexual and gender identity, representations and censorship of screen violence, and the dynamics of film festivals. A major aspect of the MA is a final extended project, which allows you to develop a particular research interest arising out of the MA programme. Example dissertations might include work on topics ranging from female performance through to the impact of digital effects, cinematic television, and representations of masculinity in the horror film.

Why choose this course?

This course uniquely offers you the opportunity to look closely at the style and meaning of films and television programmes. As well as exploring elements like star performances, camerawork and music, you will receive hands-on experience of designing film festivals, and promotional activities. Across the course, you will also be equipped in the art of writing film and television criticism. Equally, this year we will be focusing on representations of screen violence, style and sexuality, and interpreting the modern American TV drama.

MA Film & Television Aesthetics PDF

Study routes

• Full Time, 2 Years
• Full Time,

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Teaching methods

Structure of the programme

Modules may change year by year. In 2011-12 we will be offering:

• Film and Television Style, Interpretation and Evaluation
• Festivals, Programming and Promotion
• Screen Philosophy / Screen Violence / Screen Performance
• Research Methods 1: Critical and Theoretical Debates
• Research Methods 2: Advanced Research Skills

You will also have the opportunity to choose one of the following extended projects:

Researching and writing a 14,000 word dissertation on a topic of your choice.

OR

Working on an extended project of your choice with a 2000 word report

OR

Taking part in a 4-5 week work placement in a media-based environment.

For all of the above, you will be supported by a programme of close one-to-one supervision with an appropriate member of staff.

Whilst this programme has a strong professional orientation, you are also expected to engage in academic activities to extend skills in: critical thinking and problem solving; interpersonal and mediated communication; writing processes and styles; collaborative working practices and research methods in this area.

Professional Accreditations

Based in the School of Humanities, the MA calls on the expertise of staff who are distinguished in their field and publishing cutting-edge research. The MA coordinator for Film and Television Aesthetics is Dr. Steven Peacock, who has published extensively on the subject of film and TV style.

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Festivals, Programming and Promotion

  This module seeks to develop new frameworks for the critical analysis and practical study of film and television exhibition, distribution, programming and marketing. Through historical, close case study analysis and a practical understanding of debates and issues surrounding exhibition, this module seeks to explore film and television texts and their role in national and international cinema exhibition, film festivals, archives and education programming. We will explore the contemporary structures of distribution facing film and television programmers, analyse and critique current national and international film festivals, explore economic concerns around funding, consider the role of film and television marketing and audiences, and understand the important role that education plays in developing new audiences. We will explore these factors through historical and textual analysis alongside the opportunity for practical experiences in programming, archives and exhibition with local and national venues.

• Film and Television Style, Interpretation and Evaluation

  This module's content is structured around two central elements: 1. to explore the main concepts, theories and instruments of film and television criticism as they have developed to the present day; 2. to engage in close stylistic and interpretative analysis of film and television texts from across the ages and the globe. Students on the module will be introduced to the close analysis of film and television texts at postgraduate level. They will examine how meaning is communicated through film and television style; develop and employ a sophisticated critical vocabulary in interpretative and evaluative formulations; and engage in some of the debates surrounding medium specificity and the criteria of artistic evaluation.

• Research Methods 1: Critical and Theoretical Debates B

  This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of some of the theoretical approaches and related critical methodologies which are influential in the scholarly analysis of media texts. Areas covered may include quantitative and qualitative methods (essential differences and complementarities); content analysis and media sampling; interview and survey strategies and interpretation; audience research methods and consumption studies; focus groups and observation in studying culture via archive and online research; technological convergence, new business models and audience fragmentation. There will be an emphasis on the practical application of these theoretical approaches, and you will be invited to assess the strengths and limitations of each.

• Research Methods 2: Advanced Research Skills B

  This module is designed to help you to develop some of the advanced skills necessary for postgraduate study. Topics covered may include, for example:- using search engines and databases; accessing electronic journals; interdisciplinary research; planning and structuring longer pieces of work; writing abstracts; constructing annotated bibliographies; presenting research to an audience; writing for publication. This module will equip you to embark on your Masters final project and any further postgraduate research and you will develop a valuable portfolio of transferable skills relevant to a wide range of graduate careers.

• Screen Violence: Contemporary Issues in Screen Studies

  This module seeks to develop new frameworks for analysing the portrayal of violence in cinema and television, based on interdisciplinary studies of violence and textual analysis. Taking into account different types of violence, this module will explore the aesthetics of violence through its different representations in world cinemas and television. By means of detailed analysis of cinematic and television texts, we will explore how screen violence is a very complex phenomenon, which is shaped by what can be summarised as the following six factors: genre characteristics, narrative, social and ideological dimensions, stylistic choices, industry (different contexts of production), and audiences.

Optional

• Dissertation/Extended Project

  This module gives students the opportunity to investigate and write/visually demonstrate ideas about an area of individual interest in depth and detail. The emphasis is on independent thought, research and writing, but this will be supported in an agreed programme of supervision. The topic should be appropriate to postgraduate level, and chosen by the student in consultation with his or her supervisor. The dissertation should be 13000 - 15000 words in length, and aim to make a distinctive contribution to work in the relevant field. MEDIA OPTION Students wishing to take the media option to visually demonstrate ideas about an area of individual interest in depth or detail can use a range of multimedia tools from Final Cut Pro to Indesign and Photoshop. Video Essay. The video essay should be 10 minutes in length, be formed from existing footage and (where appropriate) a new soundtrack, narrative voiceover and intertitles edited using appropriate software. It should be accompanied by a written reflective report of 2000 words in length. OR An examination of an idea related to corporate communications to be demonstrated by using a range of social networking tools, print publications or a website. It should be accompanied by a written reflective report of 2000 words in length. OR An examination of an idea related to magazine publishing to be demonstrated by writing a portfolio of articles suitable for a print based or web-based magazine and produced using software tools such as Dreamweaver, Indesign and Photoshop. It should be accompanied by a written reflective report of 2000 words in length.

• Festivals, Programming and Promotion

  This module seeks to develop new frameworks for the critical analysis and practical study of film and television exhibition, distribution, programming and marketing. Through historical, close case study analysis and a practical understanding of debates and issues surrounding exhibition, this module seeks to explore film and television texts and their role in national and international cinema exhibition, film festivals, archives and education programming. We will explore the contemporary structures of distribution facing film and television programmers, analyse and critique current national and international film festivals, explore economic concerns around funding, consider the role of film and television marketing and audiences, and understand the important role that education plays in developing new audiences. We will explore these factors through historical and textual analysis alongside the opportunity for practical experiences in programming, archives and exhibition with local and national venues.

• Film and Television Style, Interpretation and Evaluation

  This module's content is structured around two central elements: 1. to explore the main concepts, theories and instruments of film and television criticism as they have developed to the present day; 2. to engage in close stylistic and interpretative analysis of film and television texts from across the ages and the globe. Students on the module will be introduced to the close analysis of film and television texts at postgraduate level. They will examine how meaning is communicated through film and television style; develop and employ a sophisticated critical vocabulary in interpretative and evaluative formulations; and engage in some of the debates surrounding medium specificity and the criteria of artistic evaluation.

• Research Methods 1: Critical and Theoretical Debates B

  This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of some of the theoretical approaches and related critical methodologies which are influential in the scholarly analysis of media texts. Areas covered may include quantitative and qualitative methods (essential differences and complementarities); content analysis and media sampling; interview and survey strategies and interpretation; audience research methods and consumption studies; focus groups and observation in studying culture via archive and online research; technological convergence, new business models and audience fragmentation. There will be an emphasis on the practical application of these theoretical approaches, and you will be invited to assess the strengths and limitations of each.

• Research Methods 2: Advanced Research Skills B

  This module is designed to help you to develop some of the advanced skills necessary for postgraduate study. Topics covered may include, for example:- using search engines and databases; accessing electronic journals; interdisciplinary research; planning and structuring longer pieces of work; writing abstracts; constructing annotated bibliographies; presenting research to an audience; writing for publication. This module will equip you to embark on your Masters final project and any further postgraduate research and you will develop a valuable portfolio of transferable skills relevant to a wide range of graduate careers.

• Screen Violence: Contemporary Issues in Screen Studies

  This module seeks to develop new frameworks for analysing the portrayal of violence in cinema and television, based on interdisciplinary studies of violence and textual analysis. Taking into account different types of violence, this module will explore the aesthetics of violence through its different representations in world cinemas and television. By means of detailed analysis of cinematic and television texts, we will explore how screen violence is a very complex phenomenon, which is shaped by what can be summarised as the following six factors: genre characteristics, narrative, social and ideological dimensions, stylistic choices, industry (different contexts of production), and audiences.

• Work Placement

  This module will give students the opportunity to work in a professional environment and put into practice the knowledge and skills developed over the year. Students will be typically be expected to have spent a minimum of 20-25 days on an internship or on a work experience placement.

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £5,250 for the 2013 academic year

International Students

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply