Bachelor of Arts - Film Studies and Literature (QW26)

Film at Essex equips students with the theoretical and background knowledge to understand the dynamics of global cinemas. Plus, combining their studies with Literature gives students an understanding of how to engage with media across comparative contexts. The Department introduces students to some of the most significant works of literature and film which have sparked movements or represented a crucial conceptual or aesthetic turn, giving them keen insights into the far-reaching influences of these media. Students will have a range of optional modules to choose from, and they could choose topics such as:

• American film authors • Film and propaganda • World cinema • Narrative and film • Documentary film • Psychoanalytic theory • Shakespeare • British romanticism • European literature • Writing of the American South • The Western in literature and film

Students also have the opportunity to take practical options in the second year, to develop their production skills and knowledge of the filmmaking process. From initial concept to research methods, addressing legal and consent requirements, filming, and editing, these options can give students an insider knowledge of what it means to work behind the camera.

The Department is ranked number 1 in the UK for film studies (Dance, Drama and Cinematics, Times Good University Guide 2019).