UWAS-C0058 - Film as an Emotional Artifact, Lecture, 15.9.2021-20.10.2021

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Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

During the course, students will learn about Human Dimensions of audience s research in film industry. They will be able to identify what are the cognitive and emotional aspects that conform the experiences of film viewers and how they can vary across cultures. For that, students will be familiar with the state-of-art of emotions theories, user experience and how they apply to film experience. They will also learn different methods for measuring audience experiences. Students will take close attention of cultural aspects of the cognitive & emotional aspects of experience understanding the different theories and reflecting and   debating about them.The course will use films studies as an example of artistic/technological artifact where users experiences play a critical role, but it will extend this example to pure technological and artistic products.

Credits: 5

Schedule: 15.09.2021 - 20.10.2021

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Maria Villa Largacha, Jose Canas Bajo, Verna Kuusniemi

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    We are living in the era of images. In our everyday life we are exposed to many types of audio-visual contents that conform the way we construct our collective imaginary (News, Films, Advertisements, Social Media, political speeches, etc.). It has become critical for our societies to understand how we emotionally and cognitively experience such images and how they influence the way we think and reflect about the world around us. It is also important for us to learn how to communicate using images in the digital era to be able to promote new ideas, new products or project our self-image to the rest of the world.

    In this course we will explore how narratives and the use of images impact on the emotional and cognitive experience of the audience. We will identify the main theories on emotions and its influence on people´s way of thinking and reasoning. Through examples from Movies, we will analyse how films and other types of audio-visual products make use of these theories to create a strong and consistent intended impact on the audience. And finally we will discuss how cultural factors influence audience's experiences.

    During the lectures we will discuss the following topics:

    • User´s experience and Viewer´s experience.
    • Brief history of Film Theories.
    • Brief history of Emotion Theories.
    • Psychology of Interest.
    • Interest, Engagement and Enjoyment in films.
    • Character structure, Empathy and Interest.
    • Aesthetics aspects of Film Experience.
    • Cultural aspects of Film Experience.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Attendance 20% Participation 20% Final group assignment 60%

Workload

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    24 hours of lectures and case studies and 45 hours of independent and group work.

    Attendance 80%.

DETAILS

Study Material

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The reading material of the course will consist on different articles and book chapters about emotion theories, emotional design and cultural aspects of cognitive and emotional experiences. The following list is an example of it: Apkon, S. (2013). The age of the image: Redefining literacy in a world of screens. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Tan, E. S. (2013). Emotion and the structure of narrative film: Film as an emotion  machine. Routledge. Barrett, L. F. (2017). How emotions are made: The secret life of the brain. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Silvia, P. J. (2006). Exploring the psychology of interest. Oxford University Press.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    UWAS course selection criteria: Registration order is not the primary selection criteria for this course. In order to ensure that students from different programs and schools of Aalto University may take UWAS courses, the selection is also based on the variety of students' disciplines. Master's students are also welcome.

    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021 Autumn I

    2021-2022 Autumn I

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=UWAS-C0058

    Registration for Courses: Sisu replaces Oodi on 9 August, 2021. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-in-aalto-arts

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