THEOREL 306 : Religion in Film and Television

Arts

2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores the ways that religious themes, myths, and imagery are expressed within the narratives of some classic and contemporary films and television dramas. Students will learn skills to identify the articulation of religious beliefs, narratives, and the sacred or transcendent within the medium of film and television, and to discuss critically this cultural engagement with religion.

Course Overview

Religion in Film and Television; A Jewish Frame
Course Description
This year course will explore the ways that Jewish religious themes (sacrifice, sin, faith, prophecy), myths (creation, theophany, messianism) and imagery (religious artefacts, rituals, and locations), are given expression within the narratives of a number of classic and contemporary films and television dramas. Students will learn skills to identify the articulation of religious beliefs, narratives and the sacred or transcendent within the medium of film and television, and to comment critically and informatively on this contemporary cultural engagement with religion. This course will cover an important component for students taking Theology and Religious Studies as a major or minor who wish to develop their knowledge about the use of cultural themes and texts in the study of religion. Some of the films that may be shown will include Women’s Balcony (2016), Fill the Void (2012), Ushpizin (2000), The Wonders (2013), Angels in America (2003) Shteisel (2013-19) a serious man (2009) and Eyes Wide Open (2009) .
Course outline
• Religion on screen; binding myth with cinematic plots
• Biblical text in Motion pictures; cultural origins
• The integration of religious beliefs and practice for modern viewers
• Acting out of faith; only the Jewish orthodox women may participate
• Male and queer aesthetics within Jewish culture on screen

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II Restriction: THEOREL 206

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Develop skills necessary to identify and discuss religious themes, myths and images within classical and contemporary films and television dramas. (Capability 1.1)
  2. Address and contextualise Jewish religious expression on screen with New Zealand cultures. (Capability 6.2)
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the ways religious beliefs, myths and images utilise cinematic arts to critique or affirm religious identity (Capability 2.1)
  4. Be able to engage critically with different methodological approaches to researching film and television as a cultural medium within religious studies (Capability 4.2)
  5. Develop familiarity with some of the scholarly literature concerning religion and film/television that has been written by local, national and international scholars (Capability 2.3)
  6. Use some of the skills required in academic writing and guided through the process of composing an engaging, well-written and well-argued essay (Capability 4.1)
  7. Apply research and new knowledge to create visual expressions of myths and religious narrative (Capability 3.2)
  8. Able to define biblical narratives, contextualize and address religious questions or problems through multi- and/or interdisciplinary enquiry using performance and art mediums. (Capability 1.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Coursework/workshops 25% Individual Coursework
Coursework/film review 30% Individual Coursework
Essay/video 45% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect each week 2 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

 Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly

This course is not available for delivery to students studying remotely outside NZ in 2023.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Ongoing minor changes have been made to assessment and delivery in response to formal and informal student feedback

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

 

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 18/01/2023 11:54 a.m.