The Salvation Army Booth College

Cinema has the ability to entertain us, but have you ever considered a movie as a place where God is present? In this unit, you will have the opportunity to explore a series of films from a variety of genres and learn the skills to view them aesthetically and theologically.  Be empowered to appreciate cinema not simply as a form of entertainment, but as a resource for theological reflection.

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29 July 2024 - 1 November 2024

Weekly hour-long Zoom sessions.

Students are expected to attend all Zoom meetings having completed set readings and film viewings ahead of time, ready to engage with their peers and with faculty. Class presentations will be delivered in some of these meetings. Dates are to be set after consultation with the student cohort.

We recommend that you allocate 12 hours a week for all study activities.

24 points in Theology or equivalent

Asynchronous and synchronous online learning supported by weekly online tutorials.

*This unit is offered at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level. Students may engage with people across both levels when this unit is delivered.

1 x 2,000 word Critical Review - 25%

1 x 2,000 word Film or Video - 25%

1 x 3,500 word Essay - 50%

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a sound knowledge of film theory and film aesthetics at an intermediate to advanced level.

2. Apply descriptive, critical and analytic skills to the cinematic arts with precision.

3. Show the capacity to analyse theological ideas as applied to cinematic narratives.

4. Critically explore the role churches have played in film censorship, film production, film criticism, and film appreciation.

5. Analyse the concept of 'film cultures' and the way such cultures are produced.

There is no required text for this unit.