Course Catalogue

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This course explores a wide range of films from South Korea, situating them in relation to their historical background. The historical focus is contemporary (from the restructuring of the industry during the economic crisis in the late 1990s onwards), albeit with recent films being situated within the longer history of their genres/forms in South Korea. It examines especially the international circulation and understanding of South Korean cinema, which enables a decolonizing reflection on how this particular national cinema comes to resonate in contexts like Scotland.

1 x 1hr Lecture

1 x 1hr screening

1 x 2hr seminar over 10 weeks as scheduled on mycampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into Film and Television Studies, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation

None

None

The standard assessments for this course:

■ Essay 1 (1800 words) - 40%

■ Essay 2 (2200 words) / Curatorial Programme Pitch (2200 words) / Video Essay (6 minutes) - 60%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the essay, but a flexible deadline and extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

■ There is no alternative to the essay 2/curatorial programme pitch, but a flexible deadline and extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.

[No exceptions]

This course aims to:

■ Enable students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the diverse output of the national cinema of South Korea, beyond solely its international aspect.

■ Critically analyse South Korea films situated in context, situating contemporary cinema in relation to national and international historical, cultural and film industry developments (e.g. the increase in international coproductions since the Cold War).

■ Develop the skills of critical reflection necessary to understand how global processes of circulation and reception shape popular and critical understandings of South Korea Cinema internationally.

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

■ Comprehend the diversity of South Korean cinema in both its national and international aspects.

■ Apply the skills required to critically analyse South Korean films in relationship to the historical and industrial contexts from which they emerged (national and international).

■ Critically reflect, verbally and through written argument, on how global processes of circulation and reception shape popular and critical understandings of South Korea Cinema.