The moving image, film, is one of the most striking and defining cultural achievements of modernity. It has not only established itself as a form of art, but as a form of knowledge and even a way of life. For this reason alone, it is essential to comprehensively understand and research film as a nuanced set of moving images. In recent decades, the moving image has once again evolved and expanded and continues to be in a state of flux. It has spread far beyond its traditional medium of the cinema, and not only through its digitisation; it is now present on all kinds of screens, even portable and very small ones. Through platforms like YouTube and all sorts of streaming services, the number of moving images has increased rapidly. Film has diversified into a multitude of local and small-scale film cultures. Global distribution and the exchange of moving images distributed through radically diverse media cultures has given rise to a new, multifaceted relationship between film cultures.
Film remains, however, simultaneously regulated by global hegemonic aesthetics and norms (Hollywood, for instance) and continues to be subject to monopoly-like technical protocols. These changes affect forms of film production and circulation, and they go hand in hand with evolving aesthetics and image epistemology, as well as dealing with moving pictures using new image practices. Moving images and imaging processes play an ever-increasing role in science itself; they are used in fields of design techniques, education and healthcare.
In the »Filmkulturen – Extended Cinema« Master’s degree programme, students acquire advanced competencies in these new film cultures. This will allow students to engage with the current and emerging issues that will they will be confronted with in their professional careers.
In order to achieve this, the initial focus is on classical and current film studies content. This is combined with both new and established methods, approaches and theoretical perspectives from the fields of film philosophy and digitalisation theory and criticism within the context of Weimar’s project-based course of study. Insights from general media cultural studies research provide significant contributions. Queer theory, gender theory and ethnographic approaches allow fundamental perspectives to be explored. The degree programme’s unique profile distinguishes it from more traditional film-related programmes.
Students in the Master’s programme will study film as it relates to all forms of moving audiovision. The programme begins by examining the feature film and extends to the storage, processing and transmission of images using various analogue and digital techniques, formats, genres and motifs. Formatting and re-formatting, implementation, uses, applications and appropriations experienced by audiovision in its navigation between various aesthetic and existential contexts are also topics addressed in the programme.
In the first two semesters, students focus on two major »Filmkulturen – Extended Cinema« project modules: a general film cultures module and an elective module from the Media Studies Master’s degree programme. In the third semester, students establish and develop a content-related specialisation of their choice from either Media Studies, Cultural Studies or Film Cultures. The final semester is dedicated to writing the Master’s thesis. After a successful thesis defence, students graduate from the university with a Master of Arts degree in Media Studies with a focus on »Filmkulturen – Extended Cinema«.
Modelled on the Bauhaus traditions, the faculty offers project-based courses of study: A combination of lectures and small-group seminars allow students to study content-related focal points in depth. Students may choose courses offered by our departments and can organise their timetables individually. A term at one of our partner universities is possible and strongly encouraged.
Weimar’s Media Studies, which generates pivotal momentum for international research, one of the leading centres for media research in Germany. The dialogue between our institutions and top international researchers is reflected in projects at the faculty and other associated events. Students are exposed to a high volume of research projects in their everyday studies and we provide a fostering culture of lectures, discussions and other event such as conferences and workshops featuring international guest researchers, for example at the Media Anthropology Research Training Group.
The course catalogue provides an overview of the current seminars and lectures offered. General descriptions of module content and learning objectives can be in the module catalogue.
The prerequisite for programme is a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies/Medienkultur with an above average final grade or a university degree recognised by the examination committee responsible for the subject.
The relevance of cultural studies, media studies and other programmes related to media is determined on a case-by-case basis. Alternatively, the examination committee may determine any additional requirements. In these cases, there is no guarantee of admission.
Letter of Motivation
A letter of motivation (approximately 3-4 pages) must be included with the application. This letter of motivation should include an overview of the applicant’s previous academic and professional/practical education, such as media-related projects, internships, study experiences abroad, academic extracurriculars and/or other academic activities. Proof of these activities must be included in the application. Additionally, individual future research goals should be presented with reference to focal points of the degree programme.
Application Deadline for the Winter Semester: 30 September of the current year
Application Deadline for the Summer Semester: 31 March of the current year
Matriculation Deadline for the Winter Semester: 30 September of the current year
Matriculation Deadline for the Summer Semester: 31 March of the current year
The Master’s degree programme qualifies graduates for further (media/historical) research and for further academic qualification through a doctoral or PhD programme.
The »Filmkulturen – Extended Cinema« degree programme also provides graduates with access to prospective careers in fields where film, all forms of moving image, image-related and image-based knowledge, as well as image competence and multi-perspective cultural competences are especially important. This includes mediation work at museums and educational institutions, curatorial and editorial work, advisory and entrepreneurial positions, conceptual, planning and implementation work at cultural institutions and festivals, NGOs, cultural administration and policy-making, public relations and new forms of photojournalism.
The university’s Career Services can help advise you on more opportunities after graduation.
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Wien | Universität Wien | Institut für Theater-, Film- und Medienwissenschaften | 2 | German | Prof. Dr. Andreas Ziemann |
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Belo Horizonte | Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais | Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas | 1 | Portuguese | Prof. Dr. Andreas Ziemann |
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Vancouver | University of British Columbia | Department of Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies | 2 | English | Prof. Dr. Jörg Paulus |
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Krakau | Jagiellonian University | Faculty of Philology | 2 | Polish/English/German | Prof. Dr. Jörg Paulus |
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Praha | Charles University | Faculty of Social Sciences | 2 | English | Dr. Simon Frisch |
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Lyon | Université Lumière Lyon 2 | Institut de la communication | 2 | French | Jun.-Prof. Dr. Eva Krivanec |
Lyon | Université Lumière Lyon 2 | UFR Lettres, Sciences du Langage et Arts | 2 | French | Jun.-Prof. Dr. Eva Krivanec |
Paris | Université Paris Cité | UFR Lettres, Arts et Cinéma | 2 | French, English | Jun.-Prof. Dr. Eva Krivanec |
Paris | Université Gustave Eiffel | UFR Lettres, Arts, Création, Technologies | 1 | French | Jun.-Prof. Dr. Eva Krivanec |
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Budapest | Eötvös Loránd University | Faculty of Humanities | 4 | Hungarian/English | Dr. Simon Frisch |
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Siena | Università degli studi di Siena | Department of social, political and cognitive sciences | 1 | Italian | Prof. Dr. Andreas Ziemann |
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Maastricht | Universiteit Maastricht | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences | 1 | Dutch/English | Jun.-Prof. Dr. Eva Krivanec |
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Ljubljana | Univerza v. Ljubljani | Faculty of Social Sciences | 1 | Slovene/English | Prof. Dr. Andreas Ziemann |
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Gwangju | Chonnam National University | Department of German Language and Literature | 2-4 | English | Dr. Simon Frisch |
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Girona | Universität de Girona | Facultat de Turisme | 2 | Spanish/Catalan | Prof. Dr. Andreas Ziemann |
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Basel | Universität Basel | Institut für Soziologie | 2 | German | Prof. Dr. Lorenz Engell |
City | University | Faculty | Places | Language | Support |
Zhongli, Taoyuan | National Central University | Department of English | 1-2 | English/Chinese | Dr. Simon Frisch |
For further information on the application procedure and the organisation of your stay abroad please check the links below:
Changes from color to monochrome mode
contrast active
contrast not active
Changes the background color from white to black
Darkmode active
Darkmode not active
Elements in focus are visually enhanced by an black underlay, while the font is whitened
Feedback active
Feedback not active
Halts animations on the page
Animations active
Animations not active