Film & Media Studies

This course examines the history of world radio and television, including its invention and development. It covers the current concepts and trends of radio and television journalism and communication in China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Topics include the characteristics and social functions of radio and television; the transmission elements of their sound and picture; radio and television news; satellite and cable TV journalism; and television in the internet era. 

This course examines the history of Japanese film and television animation, or what the English-speaking world refers to as “anime.” It proceeds chronologically through Japanese animation history to see how the industry, culture, and various styles of Japanese animation developed and crystallized, particularly in the postwar era. Students view and discuss a range of animated works from a variety of angles and contexts germane to the particular work at hand. The course topics examine anime as 1) expressive of particular artistic merit, techniques, and themes relating to the components of the animated medium, and 2) relating to the business, management, and promotion of animation in the Japanese contents industries. Style and production are not separate categories within animation development, but mutually reinforce one another. 

The Internship Workforce course provides students with an overview of working in the United Kingdom. The course looks at the changing organizational structures of work in Britain. It examines the social and economic changes that affect the workplace in the UK. Topics covered include: sociology of work, trade unions, 0ppression at work, generational changes at work, and the future of work. An internship while studying in London provides an opportunity to experience a “hands on” working situation and a different perspective on the workplace and working practises, while developing professional skills.
 

The key themes of this course are contextualizing the work of students by gaining a historical overview of genre filmmaking, and guiding students towards making a short film within the parameters of a chosen genre(s). From seminars and a series of instruction sessions in camera, sound and editing, students will develop, shoot and edit in groups an original short fiction film idea in a genre chosen from or combining, but not exclusive to, the following: crime, musical, horror, melodrama, western, science fiction, road movie, romantic comedy. This idea is brought to fruition in a series of seminars designed to develop students' creative potential, alongside screenings of relevant genre films. Secondly, students are asked to write an essay in which they analyze a feature film in a chosen genre and relate it to their own project idea.

This issue-driven course discusses both the theories and practices regarding social networking and converged/integrated communication via social media today. This course also examines interrelationships among media, communication, politics, economy, technology, business, social institutions, and individuals, as well as a variety of issues concerning the role and influence of social media and social networking in the society as a whole.