6 ECTS credits
152 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4020339EER for all students in the 1st semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Possible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Communication Sciences
Educational team
Ronald Geerts (course titular)
Activities and contact hours

20 contact hours Lecture
6 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
126 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

Analysis of how narrative strategies are used in audiovisual media.

Part 1

  • Historical evolution of screenwriting
  • Cultural diversity in screenwriting

Part 2

  • The doxa: the closed narrative structure (First Blood)
  • The episodic or open narrative structure (Histoires d'Amérique)
  • Mixed form (The Last Temptation of Christ)
  • Screenwriting as a Process (The Broken Circle Breakdown)
  • Complex storytelling structures
    • Subjectivity as a narrative strategy (The Singing Detective, I'm Not There)
    • Seriality as a narrative strategy (Alain Robbe-Grillet, Treme)

We also analyze the construction of various types of characters and how the representation of reality functions in a narrative (story worlds). This also includes the important collaborative action of the spectator.

Specific attention for the narrative construction / dramaturgy of series.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Scenario: narratieve strategieën in audiovisuele media, Bibliografie en syllabus, Canvas
Practical course material (Required) : Videofragmenten
Additional info

Not applicable.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

This course contributes to the following general learning results of the master in communication sciences, media en cultuur.

  • students have knowledge and understanding of the diverse paradigms, main theoretical currents, concepts and research traditions within communication sciences, including different levels (micro-meso-macro), types ‘e.g., corporate, government, journalistic, … communication) and components (sender, medium, message, receiver),
  • students have specific knowledge and understanding of the diverse paradigms, main theoretical currents, concepts and research traditions within communication scientific approaches to media and culture,
  • students show insight in the position and mutual relations of the diverse paradigms, main theoretical currents, concepts and research traditions within the discipline and in relation to other theories, methods, concepts and models in other disciplines (interdisciplinarity),
  • students demonstrate insight in the underlying human and worldview and (the historical development of) assumptions of the diverse paradigms, main theoretical currents, concepts and research traditions in general and their approach to the relation between media, communication and society in particular,
  • students have knowledge and insight regarding applicable research methods in the discipline,
  • students have knowledge and understanding of historical and recent developments in media and communication,
  • students have knowledge and understanding of the structures, operation and processes of media and communication organisations, media and communication practices, and media and communication markets and their relations with media and culture,
  • students are able to detect trends and issues within a media landscape, analyse these on the basis of a theoretical framework of reference and analysis, and estimate their societal, professional and policy implications,
  • students can detect and analyse trends and issues within a media landscape and estimate their societal, professional and policy implications on the basis of a theoretical framework of reference and analysis linked to communication scientific approaches to media and culture,
  • students demonstrate insight in the diversity of sources and search techniques,
  • students show a critical attitude with regard to sources and literature,
  • students can develop their own scientifically grounded judgement and act in the spirit of free inquiry – i.e. with an open, critical-constructive and a-dogmatic attitude. Students do not seek ‘ultimate truths’, yet respond to scientific debate and the relative uncertainty of insights from an open position,
  • students reflect upon their own position as scientists, construe assumptions and identify and explicitate critically their presuppositions,
  • students demonstrate an honest attitude, ethical stance and engaged position, permitting a relevant contribution to current scientific and societal debates,
  • students act upon an open attitude in a culturally diverse international context. They critically reflect on their own (geographical, social, cultural, local, personal, …) position,
  • students develop an attitude of willingness to listen and respect to one another in order to engage in debates on the basis of scientifically and empirically grounded arguments,
  • students can – with guidance – learn and act independently, creatively, critically and entrepreneurially,
  • students demonstrate an interested, studious and inquisitive attitude and have an open attitude to life long and independent learning,
  • students apply, under supervision and on a general and junior level, knowledge and insights regarding diverse research methods of Communication sciences,
  • students are competent to set up and accomplish communication scientific research, inspired by, in the framework of, or analogous to existing studies.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Oral Exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Not applicable.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Adult Education: Profile Cultural Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Communication Studies: Media and Culture (only offered in Dutch)