23 June 2009

Film students to graduate alongside tutor

Graeme Finnie and the English and Film Studies cohort will graduate at 10am on Wednesday, June 24th.

The University of Dundee’s first cohort of students from the MA English and Film Studies course will graduate on Wednesday - as will the man who helped introduce the course to Dundee.

When Graeme Finnie matriculated at the University as a mature undergraduate English student in 1997 there was no existing Film Studies course on offer.

After graduating with a First Class Honours degree in 2000, Graeme - who had previously obtained a Film Studies degree from the University of Stirling - began working in the Continuing Education department at Dundee. It was there that he designed an evening module on film which proved popular with students.

At the same time, the then Head of English, Professor Peter Kitson, recognised that film studies would be a welcome addition to the courses offered at Dundee, having previously helped to introduce it elsewhere.

Securing funding, Professor Kitson spearheaded the initiative which saw Graeme working with another postgraduate, Chris Murray, to produce a series of modules that eventually became the English and Film Studies degree, and was offered for the first time in 2005.

While teaching part of the undergraduate and evening programmes, Graeme (51), who is originally from Falkirk and who now lives in Alyth, continued work on his PhD and his endeavours will pay off when he receives his doctorate qualification.

'After selling my business, I was looking or a new challenge and to return to University,' explained Graeme. 'English was the course that appealed the most to me. I asked if there was any possibility of designing and introducing some modules and, after doing so and teaching as part of the Continuing Education programme, I really felt I had found somewhere I belonged and was doing something I loved.'

'The students were very enthusiastic about the Film Studies and it just grew from there. As well as teaching, I saw the opportunity for me to study for my PhD, and did the two in conjunction.'

'It really has been the best of both worlds as I’ve been doing research as well as spreading the word about film studies. I’ve had to take a step back from teaching due to my PhD commitments, but now I hope to return to it.'

'I particularly enjoy working with mature students, having entered higher education in a similar way myself, and am still involved in continuing education programmes at the University.'

The success of English and Film Studies has led to three full-time teaching and research posts being created within the University, held by Dr Chris Murray, Dr Brian Hoyle and the newly appointed Dr Anthony Paraskeva.

Dr Chris Murray, who is now Head of the English Programme, in which Film Studies is housed, and who also helped introduce Film Studies to Dundee, congratulated his colleague and the first graduates from the course.

He said, 'We are delighted to see Graeme receive his PhD, and there is even more cause for celebration with the first cohort of five English and Film Studies students graduating on Wednesday. There will be ten students graduating next year, and hopefully English and Film Studies will continue to grow in popularity.'

'Studying film involves looking at camera work, editing, genre, actors, and the individual styles of directors. Film studies is also reaching out into other parts of the university, including collaboration with Duncan and Jordanstone College of Art and Design.'

'People get so much out of studying film, as it provides an exceptionally well-rounded education. Not only does a student studying film have to become very aware of how meaning is communicated visually, something that is increasingly important in our image driven culture, but they also need to appreciate literature, art history, philosophy, psychology, and politics.'

'The education provided by the combination of English and Film Studies at the University of Dundee is one that is both rigorous and appealing to students - which is the perfect mix.'

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 38478
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk