LN323 Mediterranean Cinema
| Module Code: LN323 |
|---|
| Module Name: Mediterranean Cinema |
| Module Coordinator: Dr Douglas Morrey |
| Term 1 |
| Module Credits: 15 |
Module Description
This module aims to enhance students' understanding of Mediterranean history, culture, and identity. Cinema will be used to explore issues such as travel, tourism, migration, orientalism, colonialism and postcolonialism. Students will develop a detailed knowledge of the area, explore the impact of colonially and postcoloniality on national cultures, understand how the Sea has been narrated though moving images. The topics discussed will include the orientalist representation of early cinema and how Europeans have filmed in North Africa; French colonial cities and their struggle for independence; the Mediterranean as a site of conflicts and encounters; the role of islands as a cinematic place; the current migration crisis. The analysis of the texts will be informed by theories of the Mediterranean, culture and film studies, national identity construction. Students will develop an awareness of how terms such as transnationalism, post colonialism, orientalism can be applied to the Mediterranean case.
Course Outline
Week 1: Introduction – Io capitano (Matteo Garrone, 2023) [Douglas Morrey]
Week 2: Algiers 1 – Pépé le Moko (Julien Duvivier, 1937) [Douglas Morrey]
Week 3: Algiers 2 – La battaglia di Algeri (The Battle of Algiers, Gillo Pontecorvo, 1966) [Douglas Morrey]
Week 4: Cairo – Bāb al-Ḥadīd (Cairo Station, Youssef Chahine, 1957) [Douglas Morrey]
Week 5: Naples - Nostalgia (Mario Martone, 2021) [Jennifer Burns]
Week 6: Reading week
Week 7: Lampedusa - Fuocoammare (Fire at Sea, Gianfranco Rosi, 2016) [Jennifer Burns]
Week 8: Barcelona 1 - En la puta vida (In This Tricky Life, Beatriz Flores Silva, 2001) [Tom Whittaker]
Week 9: Barcelona 2 – En construcción (José Luis Guerin, 2001) [Tom Whittaker]
Week 10: Conclusion and assessment workshop [Tom Whittaker]
All films are available with English subtitles.
Mode of delivery
In academic year 2025-26 the mode of delivery will consist of one in-person lecture and one-hour seminar in each teaching week of the relevant term.
Assessment method:
- 1 x 1250-1500-word commentary/ scene analysis (30%)
- 1 x 2500 word essay (70%)
