Cinema, Ideas and Society
This course would be ideally suited for students who have a strong interest in pursuing the study of cinema, but are still considering related disciplines like Philosophy, Social Studies or Anthropology. Thanks to its seminar-led approach, students will get the chance to engage with important themes and philosophical questions through the lens of cinema, which will help them to find their intellectual path as they move forward.
Subject content
The curriculum for this course explores key concepts and theories from Film Studies, with an emphasis on how the medium can contribute to our understanding of the world and our place in it. Students will also tackle some of the philosophical and anthropological problems that surround the study of cinema, both as an art form and as a cultural phenomenon.
Topic examples
- The World and Its Image
- Film Realities
- Rites of Passage and Biographical Narratives
- Politics of Spectatorship
- Mediated Truth and Documentary
These examples are merely a sample. Topics may change based on the expertise of the School members involved.
Academic skills
Through lectures and seminars, students will be introduced to a number of frameworks that will help them refine their critical thinking, while also providing helpful points of reference as they progress in their studies. By practising film analysis, students will also develop their interpretive skills and learn subject-specific vocabulary. Some of the activities will offer an opportunity to perfect writing skills, in an academic context and potentially beyond. Overall, by the end of the course students will find themselves more confident in their analytical skills, as well as more capable in assessing complex cultural artefacts.
Learning experience
Students will experience a mixture of lectures, film viewings, seminars, group work and independent study on this course. University staff and experienced graduate students of the University of St Andrews deliver the lectures.
Additional information
Students will also have the opportunity to learn about professional film criticism and learn about film-related career opportunities in Scotland.
Course outcomes
Students will receive an official certificate from the University of St Andrews to confirm their successful completion of the course.