GERM1132: Literature, Film, and Image

• Grade A in a foreign European language at A level or an equivalent qualification

• Modern Languages, Combined Honours and all Joint and 'with' programmes: German Language 1A (post-A level) (GERM1011) or German Langauge 1B (ab initio) (GERM1112). Other: see Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

• None

• To familiarise the students with key terms, concepts, and theories pertaining to literary, film, and visual studies
• To teach and practise skills for the critical analysis of literature, film, visual studies
• To apply theoretical knowledge to carefully selected primary materials

• introduce and discuss core terms and concepts in the areas of literary studies, film studies, and visual studies
• introduce and discuss central methodologies in the areas of literary studies, film studies and visual studies
• explore and analyse primary materials in relation to these terms, concepts, and methodologies

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• have an overview and firm grasp of pertinent methodologies in German studies in the areas of literary studies, film studies and visual studies
• understand core terms and concepts in German studies in the areas of literary studies, film studies and visual studies
• have a thorough understanding of a representative selection of primary materials from the German-speaking world

Subject-specific Skills:

• to be able to navigate complex theoretical discourses and to engage independently with methodologies in relation to materials from the German-speaking world
• to analyse and interpret aesthetic texts/films/visual objects from the German-speaking world by drawing on key theories and methodologies in the respective fields
• to understand secondary literature on primary materials from the German-speaking world

Key Skills:

• understand complex theoretical arguments
• formulate theoretical arguments coherently in oral and written form
• be able to apply theoretical concepts to primary materials
• be able to assess ideas critically and independently
• be able to organise their work and manage their time independently

• The module will be taught in term 1 and in term 2.
• The module will be taught in 20 lectures, 10 seminars and two three-hour block seminars
• Summative assessment will consist of a 2000-word essay at the end of term 1 and a three-hour long exam at the end of term 2; in the essay, students are required to formulate a coherent theoretical argument in relation to specific primary materials; in the exam, students will compose a robust critical argument in relation to unseen primary materials; it will ensure that students engage with the module in its entirety; as an exam, it will encourage students to absorb, process, internalise, organise, and apply knowledge of contexts and methods to new questions (without any use of AI).

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