GM4078 Masculinities in Contemporary German Film, TV and Literature

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be arranged

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr T A Smith

Dr T A Smith
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr T Smith

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Recent popular culture and the media in German-speaking Europe have been fascinated with masculinity, a trend that coincides with a boom in scholarship on the subject. Masculinity is at the centre of contradictions in contemporary culture, with debates over so-called 'toxic masculinity' existing alongside a broadening of the term to include queer and female masculinities. This module explores what masculinity means in German-speaking culture and how literature, film and TV contribute to constructing, perpetuating and challenging gender norms. Students engage with representations of masculinity in a range of texts, films, television and advertising. We will consider depictions of sports, club culture, workplace and youth cultures as portrayed on page and screen, in order to gain a broad and nuanced understanding of contemporary gender. Students will gain advanced skills in film and narrative analysis and will gain an introduction to prominent theories of gender and masculinity studies, queer and trans studies.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

PERMISSION OF THE GERMAN HONOURS ADVISER

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 50%; 24-hour Take-home Examination = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour written examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

90-minute seminar

Scheduled learning hours

15

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

121

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.