Cinema and the Five Senses

Discover cinema as you’ve never experienced it before. This course explores film through all five senses - sight, sound, touch, smell and taste - revealing how directors around the world create movies we don’t just watch, but physically feel.

Each week, you’ll dive into a new sensory dimension, from the visual poetry of Vertov and Sciamma to the sonic brilliance of Hitchcock and Marder, the tactile worlds of Campion and McQueen, the evocative scents of Tykwer and Bong Joon ho, and the surprising flavours that shape on screen storytelling.

Alongside rich film examples, you’ll engage with critical texts and build confidence in key cinematic concepts. Whether you’re a film lover or simply curious about how movies move us, this course invites you to experience cinema in a deeper, more immersive way. Join us and sharpen not just your eyes and ears, but your whole sensory imagination.

Any recommended reading will be advised by the course teacher once the course is confirmed to run. You will require access to a computer or other device with internet connection. 

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course you should be able to:

• Appreciate cinematic representations of senses other than vision and hearing;
• Describe the cinematic devices used to evoke them
• Demonstrate a broad understanding of the various approaches to studying film, in particular sensual and phenomenological theories
• Discuss the selected films in more depth.

This course will appeal to anyone interested in watching and studying film.

We welcome all and are committed to fostering a positive culture and sense of community among learners and staff. We expect learners to treat others with dignity and respect. Learners must be aged 16+.

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, health condition, or personal circumstances which may affect your learning, please let us know so that we can make appropriate adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Wherever possible, we mainstream adjustments in line with the University’s Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy.

Learners will have limited access to the University’s student support services who will signpost appropriate local sources of support.

No previous knowledge needed; just an interest in watching and discussing film.

You will need to have reading, listening and communication skills, including the ability to understand detailed ideas and information presented verbally and in writing. You must be comfortable learning in English if it is not your first language. You will need basic digital skills, such as using a computer and navigating a website, to access the learning materials.

Booking is available until 23:59 the day before the course start date, unless the course is full or cancelled.