This course focuses on the history and varying philosophical underpinnings of experimental practice in art and media. It provides students with knowledge of the history of experimental forms of art and media, skills in analysis and critical thinking, and an understanding of how the history of experimental forms informs current filmmaking and media arts practice.

5 hour weekly meetings (screening, lecture, seminar)

1 field trip (3 hours)

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N/A

Assessment

- Midterm Essay (1,500 words) based on critical response to field trip to contemporary art gallery in Glasgow or, if no appropriate exhibitions are available, based on one of the weekly screenings (20%).

- Major Essay (3,500 words) based on one of the weekly topics, to be agreed by tutor and discussed in private tutorial, and exploring how this critical/historical perspective informs practice (80%).

The course aims to:

■ provide students with knowledge of the history of experimental cinema/media arts practice.

■ illustrate the links between history and theory and students own film-making/media arts practice.

■ develop skills in the critical analysis of film-making/media arts practice that will contribute to students own reflective practice.

■ provide students with the necessary background in film and media arts to successfully complete both the practical core courses and the practice-based dissertation in the MSc in Film-making and Media Arts

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

■ demonstrate knowledge of the history of experimental cinema (in presentation and formal essay)

■ reflectively discuss their own practice with reference to the history and theory of experimental cinema (in short essay and class discussions)

■ critically analyse film-making/media arts practice.

■ apply critical approaches to film-making/media arts practice to their own projects

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