PORT10090

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

- Analyse the role of film and literary productions in reflecting and shaping national identities
- Demonstrate a deeper understanding of Portuguese-speaking cultures and history through the lens of cinema.
- Identify key themes in Portuguese-speaking film and fiction that explore concepts of memory, identity and social change
- Develop strong arguments and participate in informed discussions about the representation of the Portuguese-speaking societies on screen.
- Develop strategies for analysing film and fiction, while gaining an appreciation for the artistic productions.

Indicative Module Content:

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary, it is envisaged that the course will include the following topics:

- The Colonial War and the Collapse of the Empire: Women's voices - The Murmuring Coast, by Margarida Cardoso; The Murmuring Coast (Chapter 1: The Locusts) by Lidia Jorge.

- The Carnation Revolution (April Captains, by Maria de Medeiros)

- Colonial Impressions in Mozambique (We killed Mangy-Dog and Other Mozambique Stories, by Luís Bernardo Honwana)

- The Civil War (Sleepwalking Land, by Teresa Prata)

- Angola: in search of a Nation (Yes, Comrade! by Manuel Rui)

- Angola: Post-Conflit and Marginality (The Hero, Zézé Gamboa)

- "Favelas" & Violence (City of God, by Fernando Meirelles)

- Afro-Lusophone Urban Life (Colossal Youth by Pedro Costa)

- Indigenous Voices (The Dead and the Others, João Salaviza)

- LGBTQ+ Representation in Lusophone Film (Madame Satã, Karim Aînouz)

Student Effort Hours:

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

This module will be delivered face-to-face through two weekly sessions, combining lectures with interactive discussions, in-class group activities, and student participation. It is designed to introduce students to film analysis and to situate selected films and literary pieces within the broader social, political, and cultural context of the Portuguese-speaking world.
Lectures will demonstrate film analysis and build students' understanding of the relationship between film and its production context. Students will be expected to watch films ahead of the class, to prepare questions or read secondary sources for seminars and to participate actively in discussions. This tertulia activities prompt independent learning and provide the opportunity for individual engagement with particular aspects of the module. The end-of-trimester video-essay teaches students to develop their own research topic and trains creative and critical skills.
As this module is an Elective, it is expected that students are not necessarily students of languages, cultures or literature, and the Teaching/Learning approaches will reflect this non-specialist awareness, ensuring that all students can participate regardless of prior familiarity with film and fiction analysis.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.

Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy

 

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback individually to students on quizzes and final graded assessment Feedback to the class, on activities developed in class, where appropriate

Students are not required to purchase any materials for this module.
All films will be available on Brightspace (with English subtitles). I will also provide you with selected readings from different texts in order to give you some background to Portuguese-speaking history, filmmaking and fiction.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.