Theory and History of Film and Audiovisual Culture

The aim of Master's degree study is to educate graduates for highly qualified and specialized professional and academic professions in film science, cinematography, audiovisual industry, creative and cultural industries, media, cultural, memorial and educational institutions, public and state administration.

Master study leads to the comprehension and understanding of cinematography, i.e. film and audiovisual industry as a complex phenomenon in relevant historical, social, cultural, economic, technical and aesthetic contexts.
The graduate is able to independently solve professional and research tasks and conceptually and critically contextualize, analyze and interpret the given issue.

Master's study provides a systematic set of advanced and specialized knowledge and skills in the field, within a wider framework of humanities and social sciences. The standard corresponds to the level of advanced specialized education.
The curriculum is based on a set of predominantly compulsory and compulsory elective courses (lectures and seminars), the components of which are:

1) subjects on the theory and history of film and audiovisual industry focused on key research areas,

2) subjects focused on the methodology of research and academic reading and writing,

3) subjects focusing on the master's thesis realization,

4) subjects of leading experts from foreign universities (in English),

5) selective research and project subjects,

6) subjects focusing on internships and traineeships, including the compulsory foreign internship.

The curriculum contains subject sets of interrelated types and functions: (a) subjects providing theoretical and methodological knowledge, (b) subjects providing applied research solutions, (c) subjects providing an international perspective and fulfilling the necessity of internacionalization, (d) subjects linking the academic sector with the practical sector and strengthening the practical applicability of graduates to the labor market.

The curriculum is designed to enable the student to individually choose a specific set of subjects and teachers, corresponding to his / her interests and needs, especially with regard to the nature of the Master's project.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• Conceptually use advanced knowledge in the theory, methodology and history of the field, in the wider frame of humanities and social sciences and in domestic and international contexts.
• Use methods of conceptual, analytical and critical thinking, reading and academic writing.
• Solve independently the professional and research tasks.
• Apply theoretical and methodological concepts to adequately solved professional and research problems.
• Make use of experience from a professional (practical) internship and a foreign (academic) internship.

Master's degree provides prerequisites for professional application especially in the following areas and positions:

1) academic and professional staff in cinematographic, audiovisual and film science institutions.

2) Professionals and creative staff in media, creative and cultural industries, cultural, memorial and educational institutions, public and state administration.

3) Publicists and critics in the field of film and cultural journalism, public relations, editorial and translation activities.

4) Cultural management: cinema managers, managers of cultural and educational institutions, film festivals, etc.

5) Dramaturgy and production practice: film, TV, cinema, festivals.

Practice falls under the category of compulsory elective courses. Every student has to pass up to two practical trainings within two subjects:br>

The subject of Publishing and Conference Practice is focused on gaining competencies and practical experience with the presentation of study and research projects or results: includes the obligation to publish a professional article (study or academic review of at least 5 standard pages = 9,000 characters, or a set of shorter texts in the range of at least 10 standard pages = 18,000 characters) in a professional publication (periodic or non-periodic) or to present a contribution at a professional conference. There are also other possibilities for admissible practice, e.g. editorial or translation activities.br>

The subject Professional Internship is focused on gaining direct work experience in the practical sector: it involves the obligation to undergo a professional traineeship of min. 4 weeks (20 business days) in professional institutions such as the National Film Archive, State Cinematography Fund, Czech Television, the festivals IFF Karlovy Vary or IDFF Jihlava, the university cinema Scala, production companies, etc.

Master's thesis has a minimum range of 140,000 characters (attachments - bibliographic, filmographic and documentary - are not counted in the minimum range, unless the supervisor decides otherwise).

Master's thesis is realized continuously and gradually during the four consecutive Diploma Seminars I-IV, from the 1st to the 4th semester. The Diploma Seminar I serves for the preparation of deatiled conspectus, the Diploma Seminars II and III are for the realization of the working version of the thesis and the Diploma Seminar IV for finishing the final version of the thesis.

Students have to demonstrate the ability to solve the research problem, to perform (archive) research, to work critically with sources and literature, to apply theoretical and methodological concepts, to place the problem into historical context, to realize a proper analysis and interpretation and to arrive to original conclusions.
Detailed procedure including individual outputs is described in the manual for the realization of Master's thesis

http://fav.phil.muni.cz/studium/magisterske-navazujici-studium/realizace-magisterske-zaverecne-prace.

The graduate of the Master's degree study program in Theory and History of Audiovisual Culture can (after fulfilling the conditions for admission) continue to study doctoral studies in the field of Theory and History of Theater, Film and Audiovisual Culture - specialization in film science, or other disciplines (if applicable).