FM4309 The Audiovisual essay: forms and practice

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

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

Students in non-Film Studies Honours degrees courses can apply to the Director of Teaching. Student numbers will be capped.

Planned timetable

TBC

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

Module coordinator

Dr L F Donaldson

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

Module Staff

Dr Lucy Donaldson

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

Module description

The audiovisual essay (or video essay or videographic criticism of videographic film and moving image studies) is a prominent 21st Century methodology and form of pedagogy and research in film and media studies. With its roots in a variety of moving image practices, from video installation to fan vids, the audiovisual essay has emerged to occupy a range of forms (supercuts, desktop documentaries, deformative, poetic, explanatory, to name a few) and is produced by a range of practitioners in differing contexts. This module will explore this variety while foregrounding what the audiovisual essay offers the film and media scholar, in both theory and practice. Students will engage with key audiovisual essays and scholarship in the field as well as creating their own audiovisual work in a series of practice-based workshops. No prior experience with video editing or video essay making is necessary.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE FM2002 AND TAKE FM2003

Assessment pattern

Coursework - 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework - 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 2 hour Seminar (10 weeks), 1 x 4 hour Workshop (6 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

55

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

Guided independent study hours

245

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • engage with videographic work as a research methodology, acquiring a range of skills in videographic criticism (editing sound and image).
  • assess specific aspects of the audiovisual essay as a creative practice, through textual and extra textual analysis.
  • have an understanding of where the audiovisual essay fits in the discipline of screen studies, historically and theoretically.
  • have an understanding of the audiovisual essay in relation to wider digital media practices, in academic, artistic and popular forms.
  • demonstrate the development of research, audiovisual and writing skills.