EA256-5-FY-SO:
Contextual Studies II

The details
2024/25
East 15 Acting School
Southend Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 27 June 2025
15
21 April 2023

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BA W412 Acting and Fight Performance

Module description

Term One – History of Fights on Film


In this unit you will study the history of combat in theatre and film. As you view and document performances from the past century, you will continue to develop your research skills. These skills will be combined with your growing knowledge of stage combat, as you will also be asked to analyse choreographic logic, film techniques, commitment to character, text and movement, and an actor’s ability to ‘sell a fight’.  The unit will develop alternative research methods, as you will be called upon to resource films, film scripts, interviews and, when possible, notes from a director and/or a fight director


Term Two and Three – 20th Century Performance


This course will introduce you to some of the major theories and practitioners of the 20th century.  It is designed to take you past the theories of Stanislavski and explore other contemporary forms of theatre and staging.  The guiding aims are to widen your knowledge of a range of theatre styles and further develop your analytical skills.  By studying various theatrical movements, you will be more prepared to analyse any number of forms of contemporary performances.  This will involve creative thinking, decision-making and clearly expressing self-formulated views.  You will come away from the ability to apply a wide range of theories to performance practices.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:


History of Fights on Film



  • To widen knowledge of the history of combat performance

  • To encourage students to explore different periods, styles and methods of presenting combat performance

  • To give the students a sense of the social, philosophical and cultural background to conflicts and their presentation in performance media

  • To develop skills so that they can express themselves objectively, either in oral or written form


20th Century Performance



  • To widen students knowledge about contemporary developments in theatre

  • To examine key theoretical and contextual issues and debates

  • To develop critical analysis and reflection

  • To develop an understanding between performance and cultural theory

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to have the ability to:


History of Fights on Film



  1. Produce a range of research materials collected for use in presenting written and verbal analysis

  2. Understand different theories, methods and styles of presenting acted combat for the screen

  3. Analyse and present a detailed analysis of a filmed scene


20th Century Performance



  1. Demonstrate competence and confidence in presenting information and academic conventions

  2. Demonstrate understanding of contemporary theatre practice

  3. Demonstrate skills in critical analysis and reflection

  4. Identify the key theoretical movements of twentieth century theatre practice

Module information

Assessment
- History of Fights on Film (Weighting 70%)
The students will be asked to give a presentation of their evaluation of filmed fight sequences in a group seminar format, with a record of research undertaken and materials collected in relation to the unit and a written outline of their presentation.
- 20th Century Theatre (Weighting 30%)
Students are assessed through:
o one presentation with accompanying written documentation
o the Personal Record of Analysis and Reflection

Learning and teaching methods

Lectures, Seminars, Presentations, Tutorials, Research.

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   History of Fights on Film    70% 
Coursework   20th Century Theatre    30% 
Coursework   Red Book  20/06/2025   

Additional coursework information

The overall pass mark for this module is 40.

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Chris Main, email: cmain@essex.ac.uk.
Chris Main, Zois Pigadas
For further information please email cmain@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information
East 15 Acting School

Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.