Students

MMCS132 – Performing Lives

2017 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer
Jon Burtt
Contact via 98502195
Y3A193C
Wednesday, 10.15-11.15 am
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit provides theoretical and embodied knowledge of some of the major theatre and performance practices of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Students also consider the ways in which they perform themselves in daily social exchanges and think critically about performance in their everyday lives. Teaching is in both lecture and workshop format with the opportunity for students to devise and present their own performance. This unit is suitable for students from diverse backgrounds interested in theatre, film, dance and music.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • 1. Interpret developments in contemporary performance practices in terms of the everyday.
  • 2. Apply theoretical modes of understanding to practical performance making.
  • 3. Prepare and produce practical experiments while developing communication skills.
  • 4. Demonstrate critical evaluation skills through students’ practical experiments.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Performance experiment 35% No In class, Week 12
Participant observation 30% No Friday, 5pm, 22nd Sept, 2017
Analytical essay 35% No Fri, 5pm, 17th Nov, 2017

Performance experiment

Due: In class, Week 12
Weighting: 35%

Small groups of students work together to produce a work-in-progress performance in class.

35% = 15% as group + 20% as individual

Students' group performance experiments will be assessed in terms of level of memorization, movement and blocking, overall effect, ensemble effect, and response to challenges.

Students' engagement with their group projects will be assessed in terms of contributions, taking responsibility, and working with others.

Feedback will be provided during the creative development process, after the group performance in the feedback session in week 13, and in written form via the Turnitin grade book.

More detailed information will be provided in class and available from iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 2. Apply theoretical modes of understanding to practical performance making.
  • 3. Prepare and produce practical experiments while developing communication skills.

Participant observation

Due: Friday, 5pm, 22nd Sept, 2017
Weighting: 30%

Students' engagement with lectures and workshops will be judged on the basis of their journal entries.

Journal entries (1 per week, weeks 3-7)  will be assessed in terms of quality of description, relevance, analysis, effort, and presentation.

Journal entries will be submitted via Turnitin. Feedback will be provided via Turnitin.

More detailed information will be provided in class and available from iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 1. Interpret developments in contemporary performance practices in terms of the everyday.
  • 2. Apply theoretical modes of understanding to practical performance making.

Analytical essay

Due: Fri, 5pm, 17th Nov, 2017
Weighting: 35%

On the basis of class discussion, students write a 1500 word performance analysis on group performance experiments in relation to their proposed objectives and outcomes.

Student essay will be assessed in terms of organisation, protocols, analytical thinking, and thematics.

Essays will be submitted via Turnitin.

Feeback will be provided via Turnitin.

More detailed information will be provided in class and available from iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 4. Demonstrate critical evaluation skills through students’ practical experiments.

Delivery and Resources

Classes

For lecture times and classrooms please consult the MQ Timetable website: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au. This website will display up-to-date information on your classes and classroom locations. From weeks 1 to 7 classes comprise a lecture from 12pm-1pm on Thursday in the Drama Studio (Y3A 187) and a practice-based workshop on Wednesday in the Drama Studio (Y3A 187); from weeks 8 to 12 classes comprise a practice-based workshop on Wednesday in the Drama Studio (Y3A 187) leading to a group-devised show in week 12; week 13 will be a feedback and discussion session. All students need to wear appropriate clothing to engage with the physical activities of this unit, ie short or long-sleeved t-shirt or leotard and knee or full-length tights or track pants.

On-Campus Sessions

Session 2

 

Time

Location

Thursdays

Lecture (W1-W7)

12pm-1pm

Y3A 187

 

Wednesdays

Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

12pm-1pm

1pm-2pm

2pm-3pm

Y3A 187

Y3A 187

Y3A 187

* While no Echo360 is attached to MMCS132, there will be a recording of the lectures available through the iLearn site.

Required Reading

There is no Unit Reader for MMCS132.

Recommended Readings

Schechner, Richard. 2006. Performance Studies: An introduction (2nd edition). London and New York: Routledge.

Reference Number: PN2041.A57 S34 2006

Pitches, Jonathan, and Sita Popat (eds.). 2011. Performance perspectives: a critical introduction. Houndmills, England: Palgrave Macmillan.

Reference Number: PN1584 .P44 2011

Read, Alan. 1993. Theatre and everyday life: an ethics of performance. London and New York : Routledge.  

Reference Number: PN2039 .R38 1993

Scheibe, Karl E. 2000. The drama of everyday life. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.

Reference Number: BF121 .S328/2000

Hewitt, Andrew. 2005. Social choreography: ideology as performance in dance and everyday movement. Durham, [NC]: Duke University Press.  

Reference Number: GV1782.5 .H49 2005

DeNora, Tia. 2000. Music in everyday life. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.  

Reference Number: ML3795 .D343/2000

A full list of recommended readings is available on iLearn.

Late Submissions:

Students who submit late work without an extension will receive a penalty of 5% per day. This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for Disruption to Studies is made and approved.

Re-Marks:

The in-session re-mark application form is available at http://www.mq.edu.au/pubstatic/public/download/?id=167914

Technologies Used and Required:

The unit uses the following technology: iLearn and Turnitin

Technology Used and Required

The unit uses the following technology: iLearn and Turnitin

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Additional information

MMCCS website https://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/faculties_and_departments/faculty_of_arts/department_of_media_music_communication_and_cultural_studies/

MMCCS Session Re-mark Application http://www.mq.edu.au/pubstatic/public/download/?id=167914

Information is correct at the time of publication

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • 2. Apply theoretical modes of understanding to practical performance making.

Assessment tasks

  • Performance experiment
  • Participant observation

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • 3. Prepare and produce practical experiments while developing communication skills.

Assessment task

  • Performance experiment

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • 4. Demonstrate critical evaluation skills through students’ practical experiments.

Assessment task

  • Analytical essay

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Interpret developments in contemporary performance practices in terms of the everyday.
  • 2. Apply theoretical modes of understanding to practical performance making.
  • 4. Demonstrate critical evaluation skills through students’ practical experiments.

Assessment tasks

  • Performance experiment
  • Participant observation
  • Analytical essay

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Interpret developments in contemporary performance practices in terms of the everyday.
  • 2. Apply theoretical modes of understanding to practical performance making.
  • 4. Demonstrate critical evaluation skills through students’ practical experiments.

Assessment tasks

  • Performance experiment
  • Participant observation
  • Analytical essay

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • 2. Apply theoretical modes of understanding to practical performance making.

Assessment tasks

  • Performance experiment
  • Participant observation

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 2. Apply theoretical modes of understanding to practical performance making.
  • 3. Prepare and produce practical experiments while developing communication skills.
  • 4. Demonstrate critical evaluation skills through students’ practical experiments.

Assessment tasks

  • Performance experiment
  • Participant observation
  • Analytical essay

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • 3. Prepare and produce practical experiments while developing communication skills.

Assessment task

  • Performance experiment

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • 3. Prepare and produce practical experiments while developing communication skills.

Assessment task

  • Performance experiment

Changes since First Published

Date Description
12/07/2017 clarification of journal dates