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

Essay 1 (1800 words) - 40%

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

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:

■ 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.

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