FI941-30 Film Seriality and Franchising
Introductory description
n/a
Module aims
This module explores different modes of film seriality and franchising such as: the film serial, the film sequel, the spin-off, the remake, the transmedia franchise and worldbuilding. An overview of historical and industrial conditions for serialised and franchise cinema is provided, while emphasis is placed on analysing the narrative and aesthetic potentials of serialised and franchise cinema through examining the ways in which different forms of intertextual relation shape film series and franchises.
Each week, students will watch multiple films in a given film series or franchise to enable them to evaluate different ways in which film series and franchises can develop over time, across national borders and through dialogue with cultural contexts.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Indicative Screenings: Daredevils of the Red Circle (John English, William Witney, 1939); Dracula (Tod Browning, 1931) and Dracula's Daughter (Lambert Hillyer, 1936); Four Daughters (Michael Curtiz, 1938) and Four Wives (Michael Curtiz, 1939); The Avengers (Joss Whedon, 2012) and Avengers: Endgame (Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, 2019); Three Colours trilogy (Krzysztof Kieślowski, 1993-1994); The Souvenir (Joanna Hogg, 2019) and The Souvenir: Part II (Joanna Hogg, 2021); Koi … Mil Gaya (Rakesh Roshan, 2003) and Krrish (Rakesh Roshan, 2006); King Kong vs. Godzilla (Ishirō Honda, 1963) and Godzilla vs. Kong (Adam Wingard, 2021); Rocky (John G. Avildsen, 1976) and Creed (Ryan Coogler, 2015); Kung Fu Panda (John Stevenson, Mark Osborne, 2008) and Kung Fu Panda 3 (Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Alessandro Carloni, 2016); Ghostbusters (Paul Feig, 2016) and Ghostbusters: Afterlife (Jason Reitman, 2021)
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Identify and compare different modes of film seriality and franchising, situating these historically, industrially and culturally.
- Mobilise a range of critical concepts and methodologies in the analysis of serialised and franchise cinema.
- Offer critical, evaluative textual analyses of serialised and franchise films that is attentive to the ways in which different kinds of intertextuality shape meaning both within individual films in a series/franchise and across the series/franchise.
- Formulate nuanced arguments pertaining to the ways in which particular film series/franchises, both within and beyond the bounds of the module corpus, change over time, across national borders and through intercultural exchanges.
- Articulate their understanding of the above with clarity in writing and orally.
- Develop research questions that intervene in or develop existing debates about serialised and franchise cinema.
Indicative reading list
Reading lists can be found in Talis
Subject specific skills
This module develops skills of audio-visual literacy, through close textual and/or contextual analysis in relation to the
moving image and sound. It also develops understandings of historical, theoretical and conceptual frameworks
relevant to screen arts and cultures
Transferable skills
- critical and analytical thinking in relation
- independent research skills
- team work
- clarity and effectiveness of communication, oral and written
- accurate, concise and persuasive writing
- audio-visual literacy
Study time
| Type | Required | Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 9 sessions of 1 hour (3%) | |
| Seminars | 9 sessions of 1 hour 30 minutes (4%) | |
| Tutorials | (0%) | 4 sessions of 30 minutes |
| Other activity | 36 hours (12%) | |
| Private study | 241 hours 30 minutes (80%) | |
| Total | 300 hours |
Private study description
required and additional reading; additional screenings; private research into module topics that goes beyond the module readings/screenings to help formulate personal research questions.
Other activity description
Screenings: 3 hour screening weekly screening slot + additional digital screenings = average 4 hours per week
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| Essay plan | 10% | Yes (extension) | |
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A detailed plan for the 5000 word research essay, on a topic agreed with the module tutor. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Essay | 90% | Yes (extension) | |
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Title designed by the student after consultation with the module leader. This assessment is prepared for by the 1000 word essay plan. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Detailed written feedback will be given on both the essay plan and essay, along with the option of individual tutorials before submission and after grading.
Courses
This module is Option list B for:
- Year 1 of TFIA-W5P1 Postgraduate Taught Film and Television Studies
This module is Option list D for:
- Year 1 of TPHA-V7PN Postgraduate Taught Philosophy and the Arts