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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23 February 2026 - 29 May 2026

Weekly one-hour Zoom tutorials throughout the semester.

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.

Students will participate in film viewing, reading, group discussion and class presentation activities. They are encouraged to explore the materials in the learning management system, ARK, and do some pre-reading.

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

Assessment 1 - 25%

Assessment 2 - 25%

Assessment 3 - 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.