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72934-01 - Research seminar: Cinema and the Second World War (4 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2024 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Ina Habermann (ina.habermann@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | During the Second World War, British cinema emerged as a key medium of propaganda. British film came into its own with the ‘wartime wedding’ of the documentary and the feature film as producers, film crews and actors, often backed by the Ministry of Information, responded creatively to the questions ‘What are we fighting for?’ and ‘How do we fight?’, also demonstrating ‘the need for sacrifices if the war is to be won.’ In this course, we will trace the development from early war films to films which looked back to the war from the postwar period, often going beyond propaganda. We will explore the depiction of social communities and of the services, class, gender and myths of Englishness and Britishness. Films to be discussed include "In Which We Serve" (1942, dir. Noël Coward), "Millions Like Us" (1943, dir. Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder), "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp" (1943, dir. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger), "A Canterbury Tale" (1944, dir. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger), "The Third Man" (1949, dir. Carol Reed), and "Ice Cold in Alex" (1958, dir. J. Lee Thompson). |
| Learning objectives | Students will extend their knowledge of media history and film styles and hone their skills in reading and discussing film. They will learn how films help to construct and explore national identity. |
| Bibliography | The purchase of individual films will be discussed in the first session. There will also be some film screenings on Monday evenings. Other materials will be available on the ADAM server space. |
| Weblink | ADAM |
| Admission requirements | This seminar is for MA students. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 17.09.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 24.09.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 01.10.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 08.10.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 15.10.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 22.10.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 29.10.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 05.11.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 12.11.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 19.11.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 26.11.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 03.12.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 10.12.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 17.12.2024 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Modules |
Modul: Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Master's degree subject: English) Modul: Literatur- und kulturwissenschaftliche Forschung (Master's degree program: Literary Studies) Modul: Research in Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Master's degree subject: English) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Regular attendance, active participation, presentation |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |