Film & Television Herstory - British Women Behind and In-Front-Of the Camera

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This course explores the contribution of female film and television creatives in Britain. From the recent global successes of directors such as Emerald Fennell and Molly Manning Walker to the long-standing triumphs of producer Tessa Ross, women in the British Film and Television industry exemplify the, often overlooked, significant contributions made to global screen culture by women. Early screenwriters such as Alma Reville and Muriel Box carved a space for women in the film industry, while British women particularly thrive in television today. Showrunners such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Micaela Coel wittily confront issues faced by contemporary women in their critically acclaimed series. The intersectional identity markers of these various female creatives enable important discussions about what stories get made, whose stories are told and by whom. The course develops these discussions through considerations of race, class and gender in on-screen representations as well as the festival as a site for emerging female voices. In doing so, it critiques globally exported notions of British femininity. Engaging with the local cinema culture, this class will include field trips to popular London cinemas, exhibits and events, guest speakers from the film and television industries, and, where possible, film festivals.