Course overview

Immerse yourself in two complementary subjects with this joint honours degree. On this course you will explore the history and culture of the United States, consider the USA experience, and examine how America is represented on film.

Explore American cinema across time and consider how it has reflected various political and social climates. The film movements you will study include the New Hollywood period of the 70s, and the independent cinema cycle of the 80s and 90s. You will also learn about the global cinematic influences that shape American cinema, and those that it influences.

Together we will explore a range of genres, styles and periods of cinema, both from America and from around the world. This includes:

Gothic and horror

Animation

Documentary film

Science fiction

Independent film

Cult and extreme cinema

Crime and Film Noir

Throughout your degree you will build the skills needed to investigate the techniques, styles and creative decisions behind film. Through varied modules which cross over different academic subjects, you will gain a broad understanding of American society, history and popular culture. We also consider film within its wider cultural context. This means exploring its relationship with:

Comic books

Literature

Television

Popular culture

The digital landscape

You can also choose to study abroad in your second year, experiencing America for yourself. You will gain valuable experience of living in another country, developing your independence and initiative.