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CCI30010

Academic Year 2026/2027

Labour and Film (CCI30010)

Subject:
Creative & Cultural Industries
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Art History & Cultural Policy
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Benjamin Anderson
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

*Note: this is a new module offered by a new member of Creative & Cultural Industries staff, Dr. Benjamin Anderson, a specialist on labour and media. Students from CCI, Film Studies, and electives are welcome to enrol.*

Labour and film share a common history, both in terms of film production and cinematic representation. This module investigates this mutual history through the examination of popular cultural depictions of the labour movement and the working class. At the same time, it explores the nature of work in the film industry and the ways in which this work contributes to the production and dissemination of narratives of work and class. It does so by connecting critical literature in film and media studies with core texts in labour studies, political economy, and working-class history. This literature is further supplemented with a weekly screening of a film illustrating the thematic exploration for each unit of the module.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

- Students will develop skills and explore historical contexts that will assist in the critical reception and assessment of film on or related to work, class and the labour movement.
- Students will receive training in the systematic analysis of cinematic representation both in terms of narrative structure and technical production.
- Students will be challenged to articulate their ideas about and criticism of cinematic texts in writing and discussion.

Indicative Module Content:

In this module, students will critically examine the intersections of labour and film. They will view and review examples of labour oriented film, using critical readings on work and labour to inform their interpretations.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Advanced Beginner

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Advanced Beginner

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Novice

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Novice

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Novice

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Seminar (or Webinar)

24
Specified Learning Activities

26
Autonomous Student Learning

26
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, discussions, and a weekly film screening comprise the primary approaches to this module.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Assessment of and critical response to the weekly screening (4 total entries). 500-750 words each. Week 3, Week 5, Week 7, Week 10 Graded No
60
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Critical film analysis (40%): Critical analysis of 1-2 films of the student's choice. 1200-1400 words.
 Week 14 Graded No
40
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 09:00 - 10:50
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 12:00 - 13:50
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