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SLL40390

Academic Year 2026/2027

European Film Analysis (SLL40390)

Subject:
Languages, Cultures & Ling
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Douglas Smith
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

In this module we will be focusing on some of the most significant theoretical and analytical approaches in film studies, ranging from early film theory to psychoanalysis, gender and postcolonialism. The weekly lecture-seminars will explore the main tenets of a range of theoretical perspectives through their application to some of the most exciting films made in post-war and contemporary Europe. Preparation for the lecture-seminars involves a weekly film viewing and reading programme. In this module students will learn how to analyse films from a variety of technical and theoretical viewpoints and to appreciate how the analysis of cinema is continually evolving. The core films we will focus on in 2025–26 are from Italy and France.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Students who successfully complete this module will:
• Have become familiar with a range of major theoretical debates in cinema
• Have developed a solid knowledge of the main concerns of modern and contemporary Italian and French cinema
• Have become aware of the main issues surrounding the role of cinema in post-war Italian and French culture and society
• Have gained the ability to write convincingly about cinema at an academic level and developed basic skills in presentation.

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

Collaboration

The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Not addressed

Critical Thinking

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

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. Proficient

Strategic

The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Not addressed

Integrated Problem Solving

The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Not addressed

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. Not addressed

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. Proficient

Anticipatory

The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Not addressed

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. Proficient

AI Literacy & Agency

The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Proficient

Wellbeing

Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Not addressed

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

20

Specified Learning Activities

100

Autonomous Student Learning

100

Total

220


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Weekly lecture-seminars including teacher presentation and student participation, based on a weekly programme of viewing and reading.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

BA studies or equivalent.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): 4000-word essay Week 14 Graded No
80
No
Individual Project: 10-minute recorded e-presentation. Week 12 Graded No
20
No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring 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?

Advice on assessment tasks will be available in advance and feedback available post-assessment.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 16:00 - 18:50