We are all familiar with fictions from Romeo and Juliet to Jaws, from The Hobbit to Harry Potter. Despite this familiarity, the nature of fiction and of our engagement with it appears puzzling. On the one hand, fictional characters do not exist. On the other hand, we can think and talk about them. Indeed, it seems we can make true claims about them, e.g. that Romeo is the son of Montague. But how can that be true, if it is also true that there is no such person as Romeo? It is as puzzling that we appear to feel for fictional characters. We might weep for Juliet when she finds Romeo dead, even though we know that no one has really died. The aim of this module is to explore what fiction is, what our relationship with fiction involves, and whether we engage with fictions outside of the realm of art and literature, for example, when talking about morality or possibility.
Each student undertakes an investigation which includes both practical and theoretical components. The theory component will consist of a critical review of the literature relating to the proposed experimental component of the project. The fieldwork is related to the appropriate degree programme. Each student is assigned to an appropriate supervisor who will advise on and direct the project and the preparation of a written report. The aim of this module is to allow students to carry out an extensive field-based project on a special topic related to his/her main area of study, and to complete a literature survey on a topic related to this area of research.
Over the last four hundred years progress in understanding the physical world (theoretical physics) has gone hand in hand with progress in the mathematical sciences, so much so that the terms applied mathematics and theoretical physics have come to be almost coterminous. Vector calculus is one of the main mathematical tools to study the world around us. Many physical quantities are described by vector or scalar fields. Examples include not only velocities and forces (particularly useful in fluid mechanics), but also particle displacements (useful in solid mechanics), and electric and magnetic fields (electromagnetism). In this module we use the vector calculus as a tool to understand some basic theories in theoretical physics. We also introduce tensors and the tensor calculus. Tensors extend the idea of a vector. A tensor is a multi-index array (e.g. a matrix) with well-defined transformation rules under coordinate transformations. This module applies vector calculus in fluid mechanics and electromagnetism. We concentrate on fluids which do not have any resistance to flow (inviscid fluid flow) and electromagnetiism in vaccum. The mathematical models we discuss all involve solutions of equations including vector derivatives (i.e. div, grad and curl and their tensor generalisations). A particularly interesting feature of our development is the close mathematical similarity between equations from different branches of theoretical physics.
This module introduces fundamental concepts in electric fields, electromagnetism and mechanics, as a foundation for more advanced topics in electromagnetic theory and mechanics. It also equips students with basic techniques of engineering electromagnetism and engineering mechanics with emphasis on the application of these methods to the solution of typical problems.
Fieldwork is an integral part of the archaeological process. Whether through excavation or survey, it is one of the primary means by which archaeological data is generated. It is essential that students gain some experience of fieldwork in order to: develop comprehension of how the archaeological record is manifest; the techniques employed to scientifically investigate deposits, sites and landscape; and the means by which they are recorded. It combines the principles of both practice and theory. Fieldwork experience also provides invaluable transferable skills, such as problem solving, decision making, teamwork and personal responsibility. At the core of this module is participation in at least three weeks of fieldwork and/or related activities by means of a field school or research project, and in certain cases post-excavation or similar activities. Through this, you will master the key skills of field and practical archaeology, and understand how new insights into past societies are generated 'at the trowel's edge'. You will be asked to consider the relationship between research designs and methods, and the way field projects are organised. It is a requirement of all Archaeology degrees at Southampton, both single and joint honours, that they participate in at least three weeks of archaeological fieldwork, normally on a project organised by the University of Southampton.
Geology and Environmental Geoscience students attend two residential field courses: during the Easter vacation, and at the end of Year 1. The module builds on the ideas and methods learned in other modules in a classroom setting. We start from the fundamentals of "Locate - Observe - Record", developing a range of techniques which can be used to systematise each step, and builds to production of a geological map of a ~5km2 area. Students gain experience visualising the structures in 3D and make and interpret geological cross sections from their maps.
When we speak about protest in Britain today, it divides our society: from the politicians who want to curb our rights and the columnists who worry about protests going too far, to the activists who argue that protesting is one of our democratic rights as citizens. But there is rarely any discussion of the long history behind British protesting. We will explore that history from the mass trespass on Kinder Scout in the 1930s to the boycotts and pickets of the anti-apartheid movement into the 1990s. We will explore different tactics, from strikes to marches to boycotts to riots. We will think about what protestors want, how they fight for it, and whether they have been successful. And we will explore the historical context behind the protests that we see in Britain and around the world today.
The dissertation is an extended piece of work of 8,000 words in length which is the result of an in-depth study of an area of film studies. The subject matter could be a movement, a director, a studio or production company, a national cinema, genre or theoretical issue. It should not replicate assessed work in the other final year module.
Composing music for films has a rich, 100+ year history, and technological advances and inspired and innovative teams continue to evolve this dynamic sector of the creative industries. You will be introduced to this history and a series of contemporary techniques and processes central to the practice of synchronising original music to film, creating your own scores to a selection of film cues provided on the module.
This module offers a comparative study of contemporary global film industries, with particular focus on the UK, Europe and East Asia. It addresses how government and industry policy initiatives help to shape developments in the production and dissemination of film. It examines the interrelationship between national policies and the international contexts of today’s cultural industries.
The module explores issues of stardom and media celebrity in relation to debates on persona, performance, iconography, consumerism and capitalism, as well as issues of gender, sexuality and ethnicity. The emphasis will be on historical and industrial context throughout, highlighting within each case study and through the module as a whole, the ways in which stars and celebrities are interrelated to their media industrial and hisotrical context.
The dissertation is a personal research project of 10,000 words, which is completed with some guidance from a personal supervisor. It takes place over the Summer period and should involve original research and high-quality formal written presentation of material.
This involves an in-depth study of a specific area in film analysis, history or theory. Subject areas are chosen in collaboration with the MA Coordinator, and content is negotiated individually between the student and the tutor with relevant expertise. Course content and assessment modes are agreed by the end of the second week of the semester in which the course is taken and recorded on the student’s course selection form (returned to the MA Coordinator). This module provides students on the Film Studies MAs with a short, highly supervised ‘bite’ of research on a topic of their choosing (within the range of topic for which the Department can provide expert supervision) in preparation for the more extended and independent work required for the MA dissertation.
The module will introduce you to some of the debates key to film criticism, by reference to influential film theorists and to some fundamental ideas from which contemporary critical approaches have been developed.
This module will introduce you to some of the principal realist and documentary movements, asking how the simple aim to ‘show things as they really are’ has resulted in a range of creative and wildly different cinematic forms. It will consider the issue as one of film aesthetics, and will trace its development historically, ranging from early cinema to reality TV, and as a global question of film movements. It will discuss the different political purposes of different types of realist and documentary cinemas, their relationship to industrial questions and state institutions, and ask how their social aims produce different artistic and formal outcomes, each of which expresses an idea about how cinema functions as a way of knowing the world and of changing it – or of keeping it as it is.
The dissertation is an independent research project which is the result of an in-depth study of an area of Film, TV and Digital Media studies. A dissertation gives you the opportunity to study a subject in much greater depth than usual and, with guidance from a supervisor, you will rigorously explore your topic, formulate a research question and develop a distinctive argument. You will be able to choose between a traditional dissertation or a practice dissertation: -the traditional dissertation is a sustained piece of independent study (8,000 words) on an area of Film, TV and/or Digital Media studies. - a practice dissertation consists of two parts: a digital media or data-based output (e.g. data collection project, a short film or video essay or other digital media output), plus an independent critical analysis of 4,000 words. It should not replicate assessed work in other final year modules.
The Final Design Project is the capstone module of the MA Design Innovation and Technology programme and offers you the opportunity to initiate, develop, and realise a substantial and original design-led investigation. This is a self-directed body of work that demonstrates the culmination of knowledge, critical thinking, and technical expertise gained throughout the programme. The project should respond to a clearly defined research question or design challenge situated within the broader contexts of innovation, technology, and responsible design. You will be allocated a Project Supervisor who will provide guidance and support throughout the project. Engagement with industry - through collaboration, consultation, or real-world application - is also encouraged to enhance the relevance and impact of your project and to develop professional-level skills and insights.
