Students
MECO702 – Studies in Authorship
2017 – S2 Day
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
John Potts
Contact via 9850 2163
Y3A 165J
Monday 10 - 12
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| Credit points |
Credit points
4
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit is an inter-disciplinary study of authorship. The author is understood as literary author, composer/songwriter, film-maker, visual artist, choreographer or other creator of original works. The unit includes a historical study of changing conceptions of authorship, as well as consideration of the author in the age of the Internet and digital technology.
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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:
- Gain advanced knowledge of the literature in the field of authorship studies.
- Evaluate, synthesise and analyse various texts (music, media, literary, theoretical) and scholarly literature relevant to the research topic.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and evaluation of the arguments of others and a development of their own ideas and arguments in relation to the scholarly literature.
- Communicate (performative or oral and written) to present a clear and coherent exposition of the theoretical and analytical knowledge and methods utilised in the field of research.
- Apply knowledge and ideas to new contexts and multiple mediums.
General Assessment Information
The Minor Essay and Major Essay are to be submitted via Turnitin by the due dates.
A 10% per day penalty applies for late submission of assignments.
Marking Criteria for the presentation are available on iLearn.
Marking Criteria for the two essays are included below:
MECO702 Essay Grading Criteria
HD High Distinction 85-100
D Distinction 75-84
CR Credit 65-74
P Pass 50-64
F Fail 0-49
Criteria for Assessment of Essays
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High Distinction (85-100) |
Distinction (75-84) |
Credit (65-74) |
Pass (50-64) |
Fail (0-49) |
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Conceptual |
Demonstrates a clear understanding of the topic and links this ides to related or contrasting concepts. Examples used clearly and effectively link to this central idea, and may address wider debates. Examples may be linked together to develop secondary arguments. |
Demonstrates a clear understanding of the topic, and may link this idea to related or contrasting concepts or arguments. |
Demonstrates a clear understanding of the topic. Most examples chosen illustrate this idea effectively, although there may be some points where links could be clearer. |
Shows a fair understanding of the topic but includes some errors or vagueness. Case studies or examples may generally link to the idea, but not illustrate it effectively or may lead to confusion. |
May include major misunderstandings of the topic. There may be no examples or the examples chosen may not relate to key ideas. |
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Sources |
Identifies and effectively uses appropriate sources, including some found independently of convenor’s help. May use a number of sources. Shows an understanding of the differences and similarities between the sources used. |
Identifies and effectively uses appropriate sources. Demonstrates effort to move beyond texts set for class. |
Identifies and uses appropriate sources. These may be restricted to those suggested by convenor. |
Identifies and uses at least some appropriate sources. These may be restricted to those suggested by convenor. The assignment may draw on only one main source. |
Shows little evidence of reading or research. The assignment may rely primarily on lectures. |
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Communication
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Strategy for communicating ideas reveals imagination, flair, ambition or possibly perspectives drawn from other units or outside interests. Case studies or examples are innovative and original. |
Clear evidence of having thought carefully about a strategy for communicating ideas. Case studies or examples are innovative and/or effectively developed. |
Evidence of a considered strategy for communicating ideas, although this strategy may not be entirely effective. Case studies or examples are thoughtfully selected. |
There may be evidence of having thought about a strategy for communicating ideas but this strategy may not be particularly effective. At the lower end of the pass range, case studies or examples may be primarily drawn from materials provided by the tutor or lecturer. |
Little evidence of thought about the appropriate communication strategies. The work may be rushed with little evidence of planning. Case studies may be topical but are not connected to issues or debates within the discipline. |
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Style and Referencing |
Dynamically written, well proofread and fluently written – a pleasure to read. Full and accurate referencing. |
Fluently written and well proofread. Full and accurate referencing. |
Clearly written with complete referencing but may have some minor errors. |
Generally clearly written but may include some unclear passages or hyperbole. Fairly complete referencing but may have some errors in ordering of information or some minor pieces of missing information. |
Poorly written, incoherent, showing little evidence of proofreading. Little or no referencing. |
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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| Minor Essay | 30% | No | 22 September |
| Seminar presentation | 20% | No | Weeks 11-13 |
| MajorEssay | 50% | No | 13 November |
Minor Essay
Due: 22 September
Weighting: 30%
The first assignment is a minor research paper, of 2000 words, written on a topic of your choice related to authorship.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Evaluate, synthesise and analyse various texts (music, media, literary, theoretical) and scholarly literature relevant to the research topic.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and evaluation of the arguments of others and a development of their own ideas and arguments in relation to the scholarly literature.
- Apply knowledge and ideas to new contexts and multiple mediums.
Seminar presentation
Due: Weeks 11-13
Weighting: 20%
A presentation delivered in the seminar of 20 minutes duration.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Evaluate, synthesise and analyse various texts (music, media, literary, theoretical) and scholarly literature relevant to the research topic.
- Communicate (performative or oral and written) to present a clear and coherent exposition of the theoretical and analytical knowledge and methods utilised in the field of research.
- Apply knowledge and ideas to new contexts and multiple mediums.
MajorEssay
Due: 13 November
Weighting: 50%
This essay is the major research paper, of 3,000 words, on a topic of your choice within the domain of authorship studies. This essay must be on a different topic to the minor research paper, but it may expand on the topic of your seminar presentation. It should demonstrate wide reading, excellent research skills and in-depth critical analysis.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Gain advanced knowledge of the literature in the field of authorship studies.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and evaluation of the arguments of others and a development of their own ideas and arguments in relation to the scholarly literature.
- Apply knowledge and ideas to new contexts and multiple mediums.
Delivery and Resources
A book of readings on authorship will be provided by the convenor.
The bibliography lists other relevant works held in the library. Additional readings from these texts are suggested in the weekly schedule. Various press, magazine, film, TV and web sources will be provided throughout the semester.
Unit Schedule
SEMINAR SCHEDULE
WEEK 2: INTRODUCTION TO THE UNIT
7 August
WEEK 3: WHAT IS THE AUTHOR?
14 August Michel Foucault, 'What Is an Author?' (1969)
Martha Woodmansee, 'On the Author Effect: Recovering Collectivity' (1994)
Additional Reading: Andrew Sarris, 'Towards a Theory of Film History' (1968)
(auteur theory) in Bill Nichols (ed) Movies and Methods, Berkeley: University of California Press (1976)
WEEK 4: THE HISTORY OF THE AUTHOR
21 August Andrew Bennett, 'Authority, Ownership, Originality' in The Author (2005)
Sean Burke, 'Changing Conceptions of Authorship' in Authorship: From Plato to the Postmodern, A Reader (2000)
WEEK 5: COPYRIGHT AND TECHNOLOGY
28 August Joanna Demers, 'Music as Intellectual Property' in Steal This Music (2006)
Cory Doctorow, 'How Copyright Broke' (2008)
Additional Reading: Lawrence Lessig, Free Culture (2004)
WEEK 6: 'THE DEATH OF THE AUTHOR': POST-STRUCTURALISM AND POSTMODERNISM
4 September Roland Barthes, 'The Death of the Author' (1969)
A. Murphie & J. Potts, 'Digital Aesthetics: Cultural Effects of New Media Technologies' in Culture and Technology (2003)
Additional Reading: Andrew Goodwin, 'Sample and Hold: Pop Music in the Digital Age of Reproduction' in Frith and Goodwin (eds) On Record, London: Routledge, 1990
WEEK 7: FILM AUTHORSHIP (Karen Pearlman)
11 September Aaron Meskin, 'Authorship' (2008) in Livingston and Plantinga (eds) The Routledge Companion to Philosophy and Film, London: Routledge, 2008
MID-SEMESTER BREAK
WEEK 8: PUBLIC HOLIDAY
2 October
WEEK 9: COPYRIGHT: FOR AND AGAINST
9 October J. Smiers and M. Van Schijndel, 'A Level Cultural Playing Field' (2009)
Steve Collins, 'Kookaburra v. Down Under: It's Just Overkill' (2010) in Scan Journal Vol 7 No 1 2010
WEEK 10: THE NEAR-DEATH OF THE AUTHOR: DOWNLOADING
16 October Linda Jaivin, 'Big Content' in Phillipa McGuinness (ed) Copyfight (2015)
D. Hunter & N. Suzor, 'Claiming the Moral High Ground in the Copyright Wars'
in Copyfight (2015)
Additional Reading: Felicity Fenner, 'It's a Copy, Right?' and Jose Borghino,
'Codified Respect: Copyright as Ethics', both in Copyfight (2015)
WEEKS 11 - 13: STUDENT SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS
23 October - 6 November
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bennett, Andrew, The Author, London: Routledge, 2005
Bently, L., Davis, J. and Ginsburg, J (eds) Copyright and Piracy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010
Bettig, Ronald V., Copyrighting Culture: The Political Economy of Intellectual Property, Boulder: Westview, 1996
Burke, Sean (ed) Authorship From Plato to the Postmodern: A Reader, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2000
Burke, Sean, The Death and Return of the Author, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2010
Demers, Joanna, Steal this Music: How Intellectual property Law Affects Musical Creativity, Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2006
Doctorow, Cory, Content, San Francisco: Tachyon Publications, 2008
Lessig, Lawrence, Free Culture: How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity, New York: Penguin, 2004
McGuinness, Phillipa (ed) Copyfight, Sydney: NewSouth, 2015
Moran, Joe, Star Authors: Literary Celebrity in America, London: Pluto Press, 2000
Murphie, Andrew and Potts, John, Culture and Technology, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003
Postigo, Hector, The Digital Rights Movement, Cambridge: MIT Press, 2012
Smiers, J. and Van Schijndel, M., Imagine There is No Copyright and No Cultural Conglomerates Too..., Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures, 2009
Woodmansee, Martha and Jaszi, Peter (eds) The Construction of Authorship, Durham: Duke University Press, 1994
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.
MMCCS re-mark procedure: 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
PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative
Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Gain advanced knowledge of the literature in the field of authorship studies.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and evaluation of the arguments of others and a development of their own ideas and arguments in relation to the scholarly literature.
- Communicate (performative or oral and written) to present a clear and coherent exposition of the theoretical and analytical knowledge and methods utilised in the field of research.
- Apply knowledge and ideas to new contexts and multiple mediums.
Assessment tasks
- Minor Essay
- Seminar presentation
- MajorEssay
PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Gain advanced knowledge of the literature in the field of authorship studies.
- Evaluate, synthesise and analyse various texts (music, media, literary, theoretical) and scholarly literature relevant to the research topic.
- Apply knowledge and ideas to new contexts and multiple mediums.
Assessment tasks
- Minor Essay
- Seminar presentation
- MajorEssay
PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Gain advanced knowledge of the literature in the field of authorship studies.
- Evaluate, synthesise and analyse various texts (music, media, literary, theoretical) and scholarly literature relevant to the research topic.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and evaluation of the arguments of others and a development of their own ideas and arguments in relation to the scholarly literature.
- Apply knowledge and ideas to new contexts and multiple mediums.
Assessment tasks
- Minor Essay
- Seminar presentation
- MajorEssay
PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Evaluate, synthesise and analyse various texts (music, media, literary, theoretical) and scholarly literature relevant to the research topic.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and evaluation of the arguments of others and a development of their own ideas and arguments in relation to the scholarly literature.
- Communicate (performative or oral and written) to present a clear and coherent exposition of the theoretical and analytical knowledge and methods utilised in the field of research.
- Apply knowledge and ideas to new contexts and multiple mediums.
Assessment tasks
- Minor Essay
- Seminar presentation
- MajorEssay
PG - Effective Communication
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Communicate (performative or oral and written) to present a clear and coherent exposition of the theoretical and analytical knowledge and methods utilised in the field of research.
Assessment task
- Seminar presentation
PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens
Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Evaluate, synthesise and analyse various texts (music, media, literary, theoretical) and scholarly literature relevant to the research topic.
- Communicate (performative or oral and written) to present a clear and coherent exposition of the theoretical and analytical knowledge and methods utilised in the field of research.
Assessment tasks
- Minor Essay
- Seminar presentation