FT1WD: Wildlife Documentary: Ecology and Representation

Module code: FT1WD

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 Adam O'Brien, email: adam.obrien@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE FT2WD OR TAKE FT1ATP OR TAKE FT1ATF (Compulsory)

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 the intersections of filmmaking and ecology through a series of case studies. Students will address key questions concerning how films and television programmes address and/or seek to make an intervention into ecological challenges through creative choices that are shaped by and speak to 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- and television-related terminology confidently 
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the key critical debates about screen representations of ecological issues 
3. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of a range of ways that filmmakers have explored ecological ideas and related formal, stylistic and thematic concerns 
4. Analyse individual films and television programmes, informed by relevant critical and theoretical perspectives 

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: Nature documentaries such as March of the Penguins and Blackfish in relation to matters of style, technology, documentary practices and modes of address; climate change films such as An Inconvenient Truth or Ice and the Sky in relation to issues of authorship and advocacy; David Attenborough’s landmark BBC series (The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, etc.) in relation to public service broadcasting; films such as Grizzly Man and HORN in relation to performance, reflexivity and hybridity. There may be a Q&A with a guest speaker from the creative industries, and there will be tutorials for the summative assessment. (Note: this outline content is indicative, and may vary in practice.) 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Recorded lectures will be used to establish contexts and relevant vocabulary, as well as to introduce issues for discussion and debate. In-person 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 Q& A with a guest speaker from the creative industries. 

Study hours

At least 5 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