Students

MMCC2065 – Documentary Media: Forms, Histories, Futures

2022 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor, Lecturer and Tutor
Dr Stefan Solomon
stefan.solomon@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
10HA 152
By appointment
Tutor
Dr Alison Walker
alison.walker@mq.edu.au
Tutor
Jessica Minshall
jessica.minshall@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

From its first gestures in the early twentieth century in radio and film to current multimedia experiments, the documentary has proved to be a resilient and compelling form. This unit examines the development of documentary and its current relationship to rapidly proliferating digital technologies across a range of formats - including radio, television and broadcasting, cinema, podcasting and online.

The unit considers the implication of documentary's aesthetic and rhetorical strategies in fashioning our relationship to the real and its corresponding status as a way of knowing and of experiencing the world. It also exposes students to the large body of work surrounding documentary media. Topics covered include questions of style/form; auteurship and notions of authenticity; the documentary idea within photography, film culture and public service radio; changing concepts and notions of the real; and the hybridisation of documentary as it develops across a range of mobile, immersive and online platforms.

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: analyse the historical production context of both early and contemporary audio and audiovisual documentary works.
  • ULO2: evaluate key modes relating to both historical and contemporary documentary production.
  • ULO3: apply key documentary concepts in the analysis of a range of audio and audiovisual non-fiction works.
  • ULO4: evaluate and reflect on the relationship of current trends in audio and audiovisual documentary works to the contemporary digital environment.

General Assessment Information

Assessment Standards and the MQ Assessment Policy

Assessment standards in this unit align with the University's grade descriptors, available at: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment

Feedback

Feedback on assessments and student learning will be provided in a range of ways. Students will receive formal individual feedback on their assessments in the form of general, rubric and in-text comments attached to assignments marked in Grademark/Turnitin. They may receive further individual feedback from the unit staff in email communication and personal consultations. You will also receive valuable feedback from your peers through the semester. This will take the form of written comments on the student forum on iLearn and through activities and discussion during tutorials.

Special Consideration

If you have experienced an unavoidable and serious disruption and are unable to complete a task by the due date, please request Special Consideration via ask.mq.edu.au. There is more information about the Special Consideration process at this link here.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty  

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of '0' (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.

The late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Reading Log and Commentary 25% No 23:55 on 26/08/2022
Film analysis 25% No 23:55 on 30/09/2022
Essay 50% No 23:55 on 04/11/2022

Reading Log and Commentary

Assessment Type 1: Log book
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 23:55 on 26/08/2022
Weighting: 25%

 

Students will offer commentaries on the set readings and required screenings from the first few weeks of the semester. They will provide explanations of the arguments presented in the readings Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse the historical production context of both early and contemporary audio and audiovisual documentary works.
  • evaluate key modes relating to both historical and contemporary documentary production.

Film analysis

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 23:55 on 30/09/2022
Weighting: 25%

 

Students are required to write a close analysis of one of the films set for viewing in the first half of the semester, with reference to the associated required reading. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse the historical production context of both early and contemporary audio and audiovisual documentary works.
  • evaluate key modes relating to both historical and contemporary documentary production.
  • apply key documentary concepts in the analysis of a range of audio and audiovisual non-fiction works.
  • evaluate and reflect on the relationship of current trends in audio and audiovisual documentary works to the contemporary digital environment.

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 23:55 on 04/11/2022
Weighting: 50%

 

In this assessment students are asked to write a research essay in response to one of the set questions provided. The essay will critically compare two documentary works by drawing on key terms of analysis offered during the unit, as well as additional scholarly sources. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse the historical production context of both early and contemporary audio and audiovisual documentary works.
  • evaluate key modes relating to both historical and contemporary documentary production.
  • apply key documentary concepts in the analysis of a range of audio and audiovisual non-fiction works.
  • evaluate and reflect on the relationship of current trends in audio and audiovisual documentary works to the contemporary digital environment.

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

CLASSES

Please consult the MQ timetable for up to date timetabling of lectures and tutorials.

Tutorials:

Tutorials begin in Week Two.

Please note, you must attend the tutorial you are enrolled in. If you wish to change your tutorial time you can do so via e-student. Your tutor/lecturer will not be able to change your tutorial enrolment. Do not turn up to a tutorial that you are not enrolled in. We cannot accept extra students into a fully enrolled tutorial.

ATTENDANCE

This unit has a one hour lecture and a one hour tutorial every week. Each week Lectures are recorded and available through Echo360. Students are required to prepare for tutorials by having attended or listened to the lecture, having viewed the film, having done the week’s readings and prepared questions and notes.

REQUIRED VIEWING

In most weeks, there is a required film or episode to view. These audiovisual works are available online through Kanopy or ClickView via the library website, or online elsewhere as specified. See iLearn for more details.

REQUIRED READING

Required readings are available online through the Leganto link on iLearn. 

RECOMMENDED READING

There is a list of further recommended reading for each topic - please refer to iLearn.

TECHNOLOGIES USED AND REQUIRED

Lectures will be recorded and available on iLearn. Details on readings, assessments and links to relevant material will be available on iLearn. Students are expected to regularly check iLearn and their MQ email addresses for announcements.

Unit Schedule

Week 1: Introduction to Documentary Media

MODULE 1: POPULAR FORMS

Week 2: Documentary Film

Week 3: Documentary TV

Week 4: Documentary Streaming

MODULE 2: CINEMATIC EXPERIMENTS

Week 5: Observation and Provocation

Week 6: Re-enactment

Week 7: Docufiction

MODULE 3: NATIONAL VISIONS

Week 8: The Imagination of Progress

Week 9: Documentary Revolution

Week 10: Indigenous Documentary

MODULE 4: DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

Week 11: Mixed Media and Data Visualization

Week 12: The Reality-Based Community

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:

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Changes from Previous Offering

The content of this unit has been updated with new screenings and readings.

Unit information based on version 2022.02 of the Handbook