Film and Media History

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/L_AABAMKD202

Course Objective

At the end of this course, students are expected to:Have acquired basic knowledge of the historical chronology and major developments of visual mass media from the second half of the 19th century until the present day, in particular in Western Europe and the United States, regarding their context of production, distribution, and exhibition as well as sociocultural aspects;Have acquired knowledge of the crossovers between individual media forms and different constellations of a media landscape;Be able to historicise the specificity of contemporary social media;Have acquired knowledge of the perspectives of conventional vs. alternative media historiographies; Be able to critically reflect on media history, using the right academic terminologies; Be able set up a basic research proposal.

Course Content

This course is concerned with three central questions: first, how have particular visual mass media developed over time?, second, how do we situate these media in their (Euro-American) social-cultural contexts of production, distribution, and reception?, and third, how can these media developments of the past be related to the recent emergence of social media? We will confront these historical perspectives with different theoretical insights concerning medium specificity and spectatorship. In this way, the course will establish a foundation for subsequent courses on media theory, media analysis, and post-media developments. The lectures will be accompanied by related viewings.

Teaching Methods

Lectures, seminars, and viewings. The lectures and seminars of this course are offered in English only. Students following the Dutch (i.e. bilingual) track can submit all written assignments in either English or Dutch. Exceptions are multiple-choice tests, assignments with peer reviewers across language tracks, and group assignments (across language tracks)

Method of Assessment

This course comprises small written assignments (40%) and 1 written exam (60%). All components have to be passed with a sufficient grade. Connection between learning objectives and assessment: Learning objective 1: written assignments, exam Learning objective 2: written assignments, exam Learning objective 3: written assignments, exam Learning objective 4: written assignments, exam Learning objective 5: written assignments

Literature

A list of mandatory class literature will be published on Canvas and/or the Study Manual.

Target Audience

This course is compulsory for all BA MKDA students in their second year who chose Media as their specialisation, and for pre-Masters Comparative Arts & Media Studies.

Additional Information

For attendance rules, see Teaching and Examination Regulations. Students should be aware that regular attendance is necessary to pass the course.

Entry Requirements

See the Onderwijs
- en Examenregeling (OER), c.q. Teaching and ExamRegulations (TER) for MKDA.