FT1CSS: Comedy on Stage and Screen

Module code: FT1CSS

Module provider: Film, Theatre and TV; School of Arts and Comm Design

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Tonia Kazakopoulou, email: a.kazakopoulou@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 27 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to give students critical insights into how comedy intersects with film, theatre and television through a series of case studies. Students will address key questions concerning how selected case studies engage with humour through creative choices that may raise such critical issues as (shifting) identity politics (gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, disability, etc.), taboo, embarrassment, cult or cancel/outrage culture. Each case study will be explored within its relevant production, industrial and socio-cultural contexts.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Deploy relevant film-, theatre- and television-related terminology confidently
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the key critical debates about screen and/or stage comedy
3. Analyse individual case studies informed by relevant theoretical and contextual perspectives
4. Achieve the following skills and competencies appropriaet to the level of study: oral communication and argument in group situations; deployment of research using printed and electronic resources; critical analysis and coherent argument; undertaking self-directed, independent work; presentation of written work using IT; identifying and addressing problems in the analysis of films and television programmes

Module content

The module will be structured by a number of relevant critical issues, introduced in lectures and explored through in-depth seminar discussion focused on selected case studies. Case studies may include: Classic and contemporary film comedies (e.g. screwball comedy, black comedy, romantic comedy, gross out comedy); musical comedies (e.g.The Book of Mormon,Avenue Q); stand-up comedy (e.g. Ali Wong, Hannah Gadsby, Donald Glover); sitcoms (e.g.Friends, Brooklyn Nine-Nine); or the work of specific creative practitioners (e.g. Joe Orton, Judd Apatow). There may be a visiting guest speaker. (Note: this outline content is indicative.)

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

A range of teaching styles will be used and may vary from week to week. Lectures will be used to establish contexts and relevant vocabulary, as well as to introduce issues for discussion and debate. Seminar-based discussion will concentrate on close analysis of case studies and discussion of critical approaches. Seminars and lectures will require preparation in the form of screenings and specified critical reading. There may be a visiting guest speaker. 

Study hours

At least 9 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

There will be oral feedback throughout the module.

Reassessment

Additional costs