Program Overview

University of Cape Town Programs

The University of Cape Town offers a range of programs through its Faculty of Humanities, including undergraduate and postgraduate studies in film and media.

Undergraduate Studies

• BA in Film & Television Studies
• BA in Media & Writing
• BA in Film & Media Production: Screen Production
  • Undergraduate Courses:
    • FAM1001F - Media and Society
    • FAM1000S - Analysing Film & Television
    • FAM2000F - Writing and Editing in the Media
    • FAM2003S - Media, Power & Culture
    • FAM2004S - Cinema: Histories and Movements
    • FAM2013F - Introduction to Screen Genres
    • FAM2014FS - Screen Production I
    • FAM2017FS - Multimedia Production I
    • FAM3000F - The Media in South Africa
    • FAM3001S - Advanced Media Studies
    • FAM3003S - Advanced Film Studies
    • FAM3005F - Film in Africa
    • FAM3016FL/P - Screen Production II
    • FAM3017FS - Senior Research Project: Screen Production
    • FAM3018FSL/P - Multimedia Production II
    • FAM3019FS - Multimedia Production III

Postgraduate

Honours

• Honours in Film & Television Studies
• Honours in Film Theory & Practice
• Honours in Media Theory & Practice
• Honours in Political Communication

Masters

• MA in Documentary Arts
• MA in Film & Television Studies
• MA in Film Studies
• MA in Media Studies
• MA in Media Theory & Practice
• MA in Political Communication
• Twinned MA degree in Global Media (LSE and UCT)

PhD

• PhD in Film Studies
• PhD in Media Studies

Postgraduate Courses

Honours Level Courses

• FAM4007F - Narrative Journalism
• FAM4012H - Media Creative Project
• FAM4000W - Video Project
• FAM4001W - Research Essay/Project
• FAM4004S - Avant-Grade Film
• FAM4008F - Media Theory & Media Research
• FAM4009H - Media Research Project
• FAM4010F - Media and Brand Management
• FAM4011F/S - Media Internship
• FAM4013F - Political Communication
• FAM4014S - Political Journalism
• FAM4017F - Advanced Television Analysis
• FAM4018S - Crisis Communication in Africa
• FAM4033F/S - Writing for Television: Honours
• FAM4036S - Film and Environment
• FAM4037F - Approaches to Film & TV
• FAM4038F - Authorship in Cinema
• FAM4039F - Documentary Film: Forms & Theories
• FAM4040F - Writing for Film: Honours
• FAM4041S - Media and the Public Domain

Masters Level Courses

• FAM5006W - Minor Dissertation
• FAM5011S - Media and the Public Domain
• FAM5012W - Media Creative Project
• FAM5013F - Advanced Media Methodology
• FAM5014F/S - Media, Development and the Environment
• FAM5015W - Making the Critical Documentary
• FAM5017F - Political Communication
• FAM5018S - Political Journalism
• FAM5019F/S - Media Internship
• FAM5020S - Advanced Brand Management
• FAM5039F - Approaches to African Cinema
• FAM5045F - Documentary Film: Forms & Theories
• FAM5046S - Film and Environment
• FAM5047F/S - Contemporary Moving Image Theories

Short Courses

• UCT Digital Photography online short course
• UCT Copy-Editing Online Short Course
• UCT Feature Journalism online short course
• UCT Web Design online short course
• Impact Facilitator Short Course

SARChI Chair

• SA-UK SARChI Bilateral Research Chair in Digital Media Sociology
• The Digital Media Sociology (DMS) Lab

Course Details: FAM3003S - Advanced Film Studies

Convener

Dr Viraj Suparsad

Entrance Requirements

The course is open to third-year Film and Media Production Students in good standing, and to students who have completed FAM1000S, FAM2004F/S, FAM2013F/S, and FAM3005F, or at the discretion of the Head of Department.

Course Outline

The course builds on cineliteracy, socio-political understanding, and theoretical insights acquired in the preceding film courses. The lectures and seminars aim to broaden and deepen students' grasp of key contemporary developments in film theory that will be illustrated by means of case studies drawn from a wide diversity of films from around the world.

Lecture Times

4th period, Monday and Tuesday; Screening: 6th and 8th periods, Friday. Seminars: double period or 2 single period weekly

DP Requirements

All written work must be submitted by the stipulated dates. Students who miss more than two seminar classes will lose their DPs.

Assessment

Continuous assessment (essays, projects, tests, etc.) counts 100%. The lecture series counts 50% and the seminar 50% of the final mark for the course.