Students
MHIS3030 – Screening the Past: History on Film and Television
2021 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update
The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.
This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.
Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit convenor, Lecturer
Michelle Arrow
Contact via 9850 8840
Level 2 25 Wally's Walk Building B
please email for an appointment
Tutor
Michael Nicholls
please email for an appointment
Michael Nicholls
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above OR (20cp in HIST or MHIS or POL or POIR or MHIX or POIX units at 2000 level)
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
MHIX3030
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| Unit description |
Unit description
Recent surveys of popular historical awareness have demonstrated that most people find out about the past from film and television, yet visual histories are often criticised for the ways they present the past. This unit will consider the limitations and possibilities of history on screen. Do filmic histories represent a more 'authentic' engagement with the past, or do they peddle false versions of history to a gullible public? How might we read historical films and television programs carefully and critically to understand diverse historical interpretations? This unit will develop student's understandings of the critical study of history on film, examining the ways that all historical texts (including films) make arguments about the past. The unit will examine cinematic and televisual representations of Australian, American and British histories. |
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:
- ULO1: Locate historical films and television programs within the context of their production.
- ULO2: Demonstrate understanding of the ways that films and television programs produce interpretations of the past.
- ULO3: Conceptualise and create an original research project by presenting a coherent historical argument that is situated in the relevant historiography.
- ULO4: Successfully undertake independent primary and secondary historical research.
- ULO5: Develop and apply a critical vocabulary for the analysis of film and televisual materials as primary sources.
General Assessment Information
Unless a special consideration request has been submitted and approved, a) a penalty for lateness will apply - 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date and b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (including weekends) after the original submission deadline.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Project Proposal | 20% | No | 23:59, 10/09/2021 |
| Weekly Quiz | 30% | No | 12:59, Wednesday, weekly |
| Research essay | 50% | No | 23:59 5/11/2021 |
Research Project Proposal
Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 23:59, 10/09/2021
Weighting: 20%
This task will assess your ability to develop a research question and approach, as well as your ability to locate and analyse primary and secondary sources. You will respond to a series of questions to prepare the proposal.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Locate historical films and television programs within the context of their production.
- Demonstrate understanding of the ways that films and television programs produce interpretations of the past.
- Conceptualise and create an original research project by presenting a coherent historical argument that is situated in the relevant historiography.
- Successfully undertake independent primary and secondary historical research.
- Develop and apply a critical vocabulary for the analysis of film and televisual materials as primary sources.
Weekly Quiz
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: 12:59, Wednesday, weekly
Weighting: 30%
A set of two short answer quiz questions that will be embedded in the online lecture and should be completed before the weekly tutorial/online discussions.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Locate historical films and television programs within the context of their production.
- Demonstrate understanding of the ways that films and television programs produce interpretations of the past.
- Develop and apply a critical vocabulary for the analysis of film and televisual materials as primary sources.
Research essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 23:59 5/11/2021
Weighting: 50%
This assessment task evaluates student’s ability to construct an argument in response to a self-devised research question, based on primary and secondary sources. This task is the culmination of the assessment tasks in this unit; all previous assessments provide "scaffolding" for this final task.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Locate historical films and television programs within the context of their production.
- Demonstrate understanding of the ways that films and television programs produce interpretations of the past.
- Conceptualise and create an original research project by presenting a coherent historical argument that is situated in the relevant historiography.
- Successfully undertake independent primary and secondary historical research.
- Develop and apply a critical vocabulary for the analysis of film and televisual materials as primary sources.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Delivery:
this unit is taught through a combination of a lecture, a film screening and asynchronous, online tutorial discussions - the lecture and film screening will be available online, and you must listen to the lecture and watch the film before you before you participate in the online discussions.
Resources:
All the required readings for MHIS3030 are available via the MHIS3030 iLearn site or directly through the University Library. You do not require any textbooks.
The library holds most of the required films for this unit, as well as a large number of other films you will find useful or relevant. You can also access many films through your online rental or streaming services. You may have to purchase access to one or two of the film texts we study in the unit.
Unit Schedule
Unit Schedule
- Introduction
- Genre, Humour and the Holocaust: Life is Beautiful
- Fabrications, Inventions and historical 'truth': JFK
- Slavery and Abolition I: Amazing Grace
- Slavery and Abolition II: Django Unchained
- Ancient Rome I: Spartacus
- Ancient Rome II: Gladiator
- Early Modern Political Biography I: Elizabeth
- Early Modern Political Biography II: Elizabeth R
- War and National Identity I: Gallipoli
- War and National Identity II: Dunkirk
- Women's Liberation and the Sixties I: Mad Men
- Women's Liberation and the Sixties II: Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
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
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.
Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook