This course focuses on the study of key Latin American films. By situating films in a clear socio-historical context, the course will familiarise students with wider issues in Latin American society, particularly those relating to social inequality, gender and sexuality, violence, race, and memory.

20 x 1 hour sessions over both semesters as scheduled in MyCampus.

This is one of the honours options in SMLC and may not run every year. The options which are running this session are available on MyCampus.

None

None

Critical Commentary (750 words) - 20%

Essay (2000 words) - 50%

Group Presentation within which each student will talk for c. 5 minutes (15% group mark and 15% individual mark) - 30%

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to:

■ explore the history of Latin American cinema;

■ familiarise students with a wide range of Latin American films and filmmakers;

■ introduce students to concepts in Film Studies;

■ explore developments in Latin American culture and society;

■ help students understand key social issues such as class, race, gender, urban violence and the environment in the context of Latin America.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ develop a critical response to a range of Latin American films;

■ describe economic, political and social aspects of the Latin American film industry in its national and transnational contexts;

■ discuss how films contest, negotiate and/or reproduce dominant discourses on national identity, race, gender and social class;

■ apply appropriate concepts and terminology when discussing films;

■ present coherent and relevant arguments orally and in writing;

■ conduct independent research for oral presentations and support arguments with evidence from the primary text and secondary literature.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.