BA (Hons) Film and English Literature (Placement Year) Bachelor's degree at Lancaster University

This module introduces key approaches to film theory, analysis and history while integrating practical filmmaking experience. You will examine cinematography, editing, sound and performance through close analysis of case study films from Hollywood and global traditions. As the module progresses, you will explore major developments in global film history, considering cinema’s role in shaping cultural and political contexts. Alongside theoretical study, you will take part in practical workshops covering camera operation, sound recording and post-production techniques. These sessions will equip you with the skills needed to collaborate on a group filmmaking project, where you will create a shor

Tracing the evolution of literature over time and in time, you will engage with an array of literary genres including plays, films, short stories, novels, poetry, essays and the graphic novel. You will encounter a wide range of literature - from the Middle Ages to the 21st Century, moving from Chaucer, through Shakespeare and Milton, to Virginia Woolf. You’ll also study contemporary writers such as Alison Bechdel and Paul Muldoon, and many others.

What does it mean to study media today? In this module, you’ll be introduced to major debates, theories and thinkers in studying media and culture. You will encounter a diverse range of material from different media, including: television, film, news, advertisements, social media, video games and more. You will explore the intersections between our cultural environment and our identities, aspirations, beliefs and value systems, to develop essential skills in critical thinking and analysis.

This module explores the role of the arts in building community, identity and confidence. You will engage with a variety of different art forms (such as painting, theatre, fiction, designed artefacts and film) and develop your own voice via collaborative projects such as a podcasts, video essay or presentation. You will also engage in individual critical reflection for example via a blog, journal or research project. This module fosters co-operation, intellectual experimentation and self-assurance.

Britain is one of the most successful and influential film industries in world cinema. In this module you will explore the key films, filmmakers and traditions that have shaped British cinema over the past century. Through a study of major genres, styles, filmmakers and themes, you will consider how British cinema has evolved and reflect on historical cinema-going habits. Alongside this historical overview, you will engage with critical debates. You’ll examine the relationship between national identity and cinema, the role of realism and recurring preoccupations with emotional repression, race, gender and social class. You will also explore how British cinema captures and shapes ideas of ‘’B

Look beyond the boundaries of traditional courses in English Literature and explore a wide and exciting range of literatures in English and translation from antiquity to the present day. Discover texts that have influenced the development of literary English, from the Bible and classical figures such as Ovid and Homer, through Medieval and Early Modern authors such as Dante and Rabelais to contemporary world authors in translation such as Kafka and Rushdie.

Join us as you explore the stylistic, industrial and cultural diversities of global cinema, through the close study of films from different historical and regional contexts. Whilst developing your analytical skills you will examine variations in cinematic style, aesthetics and production modes and consider how films reflect and shape social, political and industrial landscapes. Through lectures, screenings, readings and discussions, you will explore major cinematic movements and traditions such as: Silent cinema Classical Hollywood Global Neorealism Middle Eastern and European New Waves Contemporary independent filmmaking You will also engage with key debates on: Film authorship Digital tech

Exploring the adaption of literature to film and other media, this module focuses on the adaptation of literary texts to such forms as theatre, graphic novel, film, television, song, and game. You will be invited to reflect on adaptation as a powerful and complex cultural process, one that interprets literature as well as adapts it. Throughout the module you will normally complete either a critical essay on adaptation OR a creative project (plus short essay) that enables you to produce your own work of adaptation. This may take many forms -- written, (audio) visual, musical, digital, or three-dimensional and/or take the form of a game, production or performance, etc.

Reflect on what it means to do criticism in a post-theoretical age. This module asks what happens to literary interpretation after all its many theoretical upheavals – from Marxism and feminism to postcolonialism and queer theory. Is it time to get back to the close reading of literature? Is there still room for pleasure, appreciation and creativity in the practice of criticism? We might question whether literature, in the traditional sense, even exists anymore. You will pose these questions in relation to a range of traditional and non-traditional texts.

Explore the development of film genres in Classic Hollywood, examining how the studio system shaped genre conventions, storytelling techniques, and audience expectations. You will analyse key genres, such as Silent Cinema, Musicals, and Melodrama, considering their evolution, industrial contexts, and cultural significance. Through screenings and critical readings, you will assess how genre films establish recurring themes, visual styles and modes of performance. The module also explores how factors such as technological advancements, audience demand and the rise of the star system influenced genre filmmaking. By the end of the module, you will have developed a strong understanding of genre a

This dynamic module blends theory and practice to immerse you in the craft of screenwriting. Through lectures and hands-on workshops, you will develop essential skills in narrative structure, character development and dialogue, while working towards a 15–20-page screenplay. You will engage with the entire screenwriting process, from initial concept to final draft, receiving feedback through writing groups, table reads and peer critiques. The module emphasises both creativity and industry awareness, introducing you to funding opportunities, pitching techniques and the screenwriter’s role in film production. Alongside practical writing, you will refine your critical analysis skills by evaluating

Join us as we explore how cinema constructs, reinforces and challenges ideas of gender, race and ideology through global examples. You will engage with key theoretical frameworks, including feminist and queer film phenomenology, psychoanalysis, Marxism and postcolonial theory, to critically examine how films reflect and shape social and political structures. Through screenings and readings, you will analyse the work of women filmmakers, Third Cinema movements and representations of race and identity across different cultural and historical contexts. The module considers how film style, narrative and spectatorship contribute to ideological meaning, encouraging you to question dominant perspec

Explore literary criticism as it is now and what it may yet become. You will have the opportunity to consider a whole range of major theoretical and philosophical concepts, such as: The body Race Gender Violence Ecology God Time Death War Self The animal You will study a range of fascinating modern thinkers, ranging from Marx, Freud and Nietzsche, through to more recent figures such as Simone Weil, Walter Benjamin, Jacques Derrida, Judith Butler, Fred Moten, Cornel West and Sara Ahmed.

Explore postcolonial literature across a wide historical span. Your study will move from the explosion of new national literatures in the era of decolonisation through to contemporary writing that interrogates the legacies of racism and imperialism in our globalised world. You’ll read exciting major writers who defined the emergence of African, South Asian and Caribbean literature in English in the middle of the twentieth century. You’ll also encounter today’s new voices, grappling with the afterlives of empire. Cutting through all our thinking will be the question of how literature serves, in Ngugi wa Thiongo’s phrase, as a means of 'decolonising the mind'.

Move beyond introductory concepts to explore film theory in depth, examining how films construct meaning through form, representation, and audience engagement. You will critically assess cinema’s relationship with artistic expression and spectatorship, engaging with complex debates that have shaped film scholarship since the medium’s inception. Focusing on advanced theoretical analysis, this module equips you with the conceptual knowledge and critical vocabulary to interpret films using semiotic, psychoanalytic, formalist, philosophical and cognitivist approaches. You will explore key concepts such as cinematic modernism, subjectivity in film perception and cinema’s evolving relationship wit

In this module, you will collaboratively develop, produce, and complete a short dramatic film while engaging with sustainable industry-standard production practices. The emphasis is on technical competence, creative problem-solving, and reflective collaboration. At the start of the module, you'll form your own production groups and assign yourself one of the key creative roles within the team, Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Art Director, Sound Recordist/Designer, or Editor. Where needed, roles may be shared or doubled up to ensure all production responsibilities are met. The module is supported by advanced technical workshops in camera, lighting, grip, sound, editing, and post-productio

What we call ‘American Literature’ and how we define America and ‘the American experience’ depends on who is writing and to whom. In this module you will encounter many different voices, many conflicting and contrasting views, a diversity of complex experience and a great range of writing in form and style. You will explore such questions as: What role do different literary forms play in narrating the self? How does American writing seek to establish a new way of looking at the world? And how and why does literature help shape forms of protest and new critiques of modernity?

The years of Queen Victoria’s reign (1837-1901) saw great social, political and cultural transformation. Changing social conditions, extraordinary scientific breakthroughs and the emergence of new technologies all altered the ways in which Victorians thought about themselves and their environment. The literature of the period responded resourcefully to the turbulent circumstances from which it emerged. In this module, you will examine a wide range of Victorian writing, including novels, short fiction, poetry, drama and non-fictional prose and will explore and interrogate all the complexities of the Victorian age.

This module will allow you to spend the year working in a graduate-level placement role in the industry or sector that interests you most. Throughout the year, you will build an awareness of what is required in the professional workplace whilst developing a range of transferable skills. During the module you will reflect on and critically analyse: your own career readiness, the ongoing development of your self-awareness in terms of skills and professional knowledge, and your understanding of current workplace practices and professional etiquette. Our Careers and Placements Team will support you during your placement with online contact and learning resources.

This is the culmination of your studies, combining everything you have learnt to undertake an in-depth, self-directed research project on the topic of your choice. You will propose an area of investigation, and an appropriate supervisor will be assigned to provide guidance, helping you refine your research focus and methodology. Supporting independent research, creative exploration, and critical engagement with film and media practices, this module gives you the freedom to explore your personal interests. You may choose to complete one of the following: A traditional written dissertation An individual practice-based project such as a short film, screenplay, or other media work accompanied by

What is the contemporary? When did the present cultural moment start and how might it end. How do writers respond to the challenge, excitement, pressure and novelty of the ‘now’? And how is imaginative writing faring in the digital age? You will consider these questions in relation to the work of such major authors as Ali Smith, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Colson Whitehead

Examining the evolution of film genres in a global context, this module focuses on the ways contemporary filmmakers innovate within established and classic genre traditions. You will analyse key genres (which may include Science Fiction, Horror and Comic Book films), considering their artistic, industrial and technological developments across different cinematic traditions. Through case studies, you will explore how genre conventions adapt to national and transnational influences, addressing topics such as digital effects and world-building, genre hybridity and the role of franchises in global media. The module also considers how streaming platforms, audience reception and fan cultures shape

This advanced, practice-based module provides an industry-informed approach to documentary filmmaking. Working in small groups, you will research, develop and produce a short documentary, choosing either to pursue an independent concept or respond to a stakeholder brief. The module supports a broad range of documentary genres and styles, encouraging experimentation with form while maintaining professional standards. Through workshops and practical training, you will refine your skills in cinematography, sound recording and editing, while gaining awareness of ethical considerations, industry expectations, funding opportunities and distribution strategies across traditional and digital platfor

Study key texts and contexts from a short but remarkably intense period of literary history. Encompassing the work of writers such as Wordsworth, Blake, Keats and Shelley, you will explore the role of nature, the imagination and the sublime. You will also consider the emergence of the Gothic tradition and examine the interactions between literary and politics in a turbulent era of revolution and change.

This module examines the evolving structures, practices, and challenges of film industries across different historical and global contexts. You will explore key industrial processes such as censorship, marketing, promotion and sustainability, while also engaging with major film movements that have shaped contemporary cinema. Through case studies, you will analyse how national and transnational film industries adapt to technological, economic and political shifts. Topics may include digital cinema, green production initiatives and the role of institutions such as the BFI in shaping industry standards. The module also explores movements like Hong Kong and New Wave cinemas, assessing their impa

Discover cinema as a dynamic socio-cultural institution, exploring how films are circulated, exhibited and received. You will analyse the role of mediators such as programmers, distributors and critics, as well as the spaces where films are consumed and preserved, including cinemas, festivals, archives and digital platforms. Focusing on both historical and contemporary perspectives, the module considers how film cultures evolve within local and global contexts. Examples may include: The introduction of movie theatres in colonial settings The rise of multiplexes The role of film festivals in shaping regional industries You will also explore how exhibition and distribution shape audience engag

This hands-on module uses engaging workshops to explore Experimental Film Production and discover how it challenges mainstream narratives and disrupts traditional modes of spectatorship. Through a combination of critical discussions on selected films and hands-on creative experimentation, this module challenges you to rethink film form beyond conventional storytelling while encouraging you to bring your visions to life through practice. You will study key movements and approaches, starting from the historical avant-gardes – the influence of artistic movements like Dada, Surrealism and Structuralism- to contemporary artists’ moving image. By the end of the module, you will have developed a cr

Study the work of four giants of nineteenth-century British fiction: Jane Austen, Anne Brontë, Charlotte Brontë and Emily Brontë. Focusing on questions of class, gender, power, environment and artistic technique, you will explore the tensions between Austen and the Brontes (south vs north, Regency vs Victorian, realism vs Gothic) and trace the imaginative continuities between them.

Both the Gothic and science fiction emerged in response to the 18th century ‘age of reason’ and the Western world’s investment in logic and progress. The Gothic explores the terrors of the past and its return while science fiction imagines alternative futures; in doing so, both voice the concerns of the present. You will study both classic literary texts and contemporary film and other media. Exploring what the Gothic and science fiction each do, rather than what they each are, you will consider how these genres address some of the most pressing questions facing contemporary Western culture.

Ben Jonson claimed of Shakespeare ‘he was not of an age but for all time.’ This module, however, examines Shakespearean drama and poetry in its own time and as a platform in which early modern debates about agency and government, family and national identity, were put into play. The stage was and is a place in which questions of gender, class and race, gain immediacy through the bodies and voices of actors. By examining texts from across Shakespeare’s career, you will explore their power to shape thoughts and feelings in both their own age and in ours. You will consider how, in the past and in the present, Shakespeare’s texts exploit the emotional and political possibilities of poetry and dr