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FS4017: FILM AND MUSIC (2024-2025)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:07


Course Overview

Music has been fundamental to the way that cinema tells stories. Whether through a specially-composed soundtrack or through the careful selection of existing pieces, music cues characters, evokes a sense of place or atmosphere, be it suspense, horror, nostalgia, or romance. This course will offer students the opportunity to critically engage with some of the most emblematic film soundtracks in the history of cinema.

This interdisciplinary course is suitable for students of Film & Visual Culture or Music. You do not need to be experienced in the study of both subjects to take this course.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term First Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Katya Krylova

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Undergraduate Programme
  • Either Film And Visual Culture (FS) or Music (MU)
  • Either Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

Yes

One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.


Course Description

Even before the advent of synchronised sound, and irrevocably thereafter, music has been fundamental to the way that cinema tells stories. Whether through a specially-composed soundtrack or through the careful selection of existing pieces, music cues characters, evokes a sense of place or atmosphere, be it suspense, horror, nostalgia, or romance. This course will offer students the opportunity to critically engage with some of the most emblematic film soundtracks in the history of cinema. Proceeding broadly chronologically and focusing on specific case studies, we will examine renowned film scores by composers such as Max Steiner, Nino Rota, Ennio Morricone, and Bjork. The course will examine innovative use of music in cinema from around the world, including Britain, the US, Italy and Chile, focusing on films by directors such as Lean, Antonioni, Coppola, von Trier, Kubrick, and Ruiz. As well as writing a course essay, students will have the opportunity to critically engage with the course material through a practice-based creative project.

This interdisciplinary course is suitable for students of Film & Visual Culture or Music. Whatever your main subject, you will bring your own disciplinary expertise to the discussion. You do not need to be experienced in the study of both subjects to take this course.

 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Tutorial/Seminar Participation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 8,9,10,11,12,14,15,16,17,18 Feedback Weeks 21

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Feedback

Feedback will be provided within 3 weeks of completion of the course.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseTo gain knowledge and understanding of film composers and directors who have utilised music in innovative ways in film, and of the social and cultural context in which these collaborations arose.
ConceptualUnderstandTo gain knowledge and understanding of the way that music is utilized in films of different periods and genres to evoke character, place and emotion.
ProceduralApplyImprove ability to discuss complex ideas orally and in writing.

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks 14 Feedback Weeks 17

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Feedback

Feedback will be provided within 3 weeks of submission

Word Count 2500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseTo gain knowledge and understanding of film composers and directors who have utilised music in innovative ways in film, and of the social and cultural context in which these collaborations arose.
ConceptualUnderstandTo gain knowledge and understanding of the way that music is utilized in films of different periods and genres to evoke character, place and emotion.
ProceduralApplyImprove ability to discuss complex ideas orally and in writing.

Creative Project and Reflective Report

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks 18 Feedback Weeks 21

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Feedback

Reflective Report: 1,000-words

Creative Project and Reflective Report. Students will be able to either create a short video essay or plan a curated film series, accompanied by a short reflective report.

Feedback will be provided within 3 weeks of submission.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseTo gain knowledge and understanding of film composers and directors who have utilised music in innovative ways in film, and of the social and cultural context in which these collaborations arose.
ConceptualUnderstandTo gain knowledge and understanding of the way that music is utilized in films of different periods and genres to evoke character, place and emotion.
ProceduralApplyImprove ability to discuss complex ideas orally and in writing.
ReflectionCreatePlan and successfully execute a creative, practice-based project showcasing the skills learned during the course.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Feedback will be provided within 3 weeks of submission

Word Count 5000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandTo gain knowledge and understanding of the way that music is utilized in films of different periods and genres to evoke character, place and emotion.
ConceptualAnalyseTo gain knowledge and understanding of film composers and directors who have utilised music in innovative ways in film, and of the social and cultural context in which these collaborations arose.
ProceduralApplyImprove ability to discuss complex ideas orally and in writing.
ReflectionCreatePlan and successfully execute a creative, practice-based project showcasing the skills learned during the course.

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