Film and Visual Culture

Film and visual culture is an interdisciplinary field that situates the study of cinema within the broader landscape of visual production and consumption in modern societies. Film studies examines one of the most significant cultural and artistic forms of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, while visual culture extends that inquiry to include photography, television, advertising, video games, digital media, social media images, and the full range of visual forms through which meaning circulates in contemporary life. Together they develop a sophisticated analytical toolkit for understanding how images work, what they mean, and how they shape and are shaped by the societies that produce and receive them.

At Swansea University, this three-year full-time programme is an exciting interdisciplinary offering for students interested in exploring a wide spectrum of visual culture and film. You will engage with rich media histories and contemporary culture, examining diverse social media platforms, video gaming, creative media, and the interplay between moving image culture and broader social and aesthetic questions. The programme develops skills in close analysis, cultural theory, film history, and critical writing, drawing on media studies, cultural studies, and film theory to build a rigorous interpretive practice.

Graduates from film and visual culture programmes go on to careers in broadcasting, film distribution and programming, cultural journalism, arts administration, digital content creation, education, screen production, and media policy. The analytical skills the degree develops are also valued in communications, marketing, and research roles. Further study at postgraduate level in film studies, media studies, cultural studies, or related disciplines is a well-established route for those who wish to pursue specialist expertise or academic careers.