Seminarium magisterskie

proficiency in English at B2 level

Hours realized with the participation of an academic teacher:

Classes: 30 hours

Individual consultations: 2 hrs and by appointment

Non-contact hours (students own work):

Preparation for classes: 20 hours

Preparation for presentations: 18 hours

Studying literature (selecting films) and preparing thesis: 50 hours

Total: 120 hours = 4 ECT

Presentations

Class discussion

Preparing various portions of thesis each semester

This seminar will explore issues of intercultural diversity in film. The practical goal of the seminar is for the participant to write a thesis demonstrating intercultural sensitivity. Intercultural communication studies concern both what connects different cultures and how they simultaneously differ. An important part of intercultural communication is for the parties involved to have a strong sense of themselves combined with openness toward the other. Communication invariably involves ethical issues, thus communication ethics will likewise be studied. In such a context intercultural communication raises the problem of to what extent ethics is a culturally bound concept or whether it should be understood as transcending specific cultures.

The above issues will be explored through their presence and specific nature in films from different cultures. Film is a mass art and part of its success in cross cultural communication – proved by its appeal to an international audience – stems from tapping into ethical problems that are common to people throughout much of the world. In the world of film, narratives in different nations are often devoted to similar issues. For this reason among others, what can be called intercultural remakes in which particular narratives are culturally reformulated will be discussed after examining both the original and new national versions. Also films from different countries that deal with similar problems even if their narratives largely differ will also be studied.

The seminar will engage its participants in analyzing selected films from the perspective of such issues as well as related concerns, and subsequently to write a thesis on the basis of films they themselves have chosen taking them into account. During the introductory phase a number of films will be viewed in accordance with how they depict problems in different national contexts, e.g. the elderly in Make Way for Tomorrow (USA, 1938) and in its remake Tokyo Story (Japan, 1953) or weddings in Monsoon Wedding (India 2001) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (USA 2002). The selected films will be accompanied by appropriate literature. Moreover, some elements of film language will be studied to probe how film form conveys different problems. By the end of the first semester participants are expected to have made a preliminary selection of pairs of films – whether from a suggested list or chosen independently – as primary sources for their thesis, prepare a working plan, and a basic bibliography of secondary literature related to their thesis. In the second semester work on the thesis will continue primarily through student presentations and individual consultations. Much more independent work will be expected of the student from this point resulting in at least a chapter of the thesis by the end of the semester. The final semester will proceed much the same as the second with the participants bringing their theses to completion.

Japp, P., Meister, M. and Japp, D. eds. (2005) Communication Ethics, Media, & Popular Culture. Peter Lang.

Teays, W. (2012) Seeing the Light: Exploring Ethics through the Movies. Wiley-Blackwell.

Thompson and Nakayama, (2010). Intercultural Communication in Contexts. McGraw Hill.

Timmerman, T. and Segaert, C. eds. (2007) How to Conquer Barriers to Intercultural Dialogue: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Peter Lang.

Cheney, G., May, S. and Munshi, D. (2011) The Handbook on Communication Ethics. Routledge.

Knowledge:

K_W01 - The graduate has extended knowledge and profound understanding of the relevant aspects of intercultural communication in focus during the seminar; the graduate knows the relevant terminology and research traditions of the field

K_W03 - The graduate has a broad knowledge of specific issues relating to the problems of intercultural communication discussed during the seminar, including national and ethnic minorities or the linguistic and cultural diversity of the world

Skills:

K_U01 - The graduate is able to identify and analyze relevant research problems relating to the aspects of intercultural communication discussed in the seminar; he or she is able to select appropriate methods and tools in order to solve them

K_U03 - The graduate is able to communicate on specialized specific topics relating to intercultural communication; he or she is able to conduct debates on those problems, assess them critically and construct relevant arguments

Social Competences:

K_K02 - The graduate is ready to function in situation of intercultural and multicultural content, such as the seminar, at the same time actively challenging and overcoming negative stereotypes

K_K03 - The graduate is ready to perform professional roles responsibly, cooperate with peers from other cultural and linguistic backgrounds acting with tolerance and openness to other cultures; he or she is creative and acts without prejudice