Students
MHIS3030 – Screening the Past: History on Film and Television
2023 – Session 2, Online-flexible
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lecturer
Michelle Arrow
Unit Convenor
Abbie Hartman
25B Wallys Walk
please email for appointments
Tutor
Taylah Evans
25B Wallys Walk
please email for appointments
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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 MHIX units at 2000 level)
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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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
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.
This 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly Quiz | 30% | No | 23:59, wk4 (18/8/23), wk 8 (29/9/23), wk12 (27/10/23) |
| Research Project Proposal | 20% | No | 23:59 week 7 (8/9/23) |
| Research essay | 50% | No | 23:59 Week 13 (3/11/23) |
Weekly Quiz
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: 23:59, wk4 (18/8/23), wk 8 (29/9/23), wk12 (27/10/23)
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 Project Proposal
Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 23:59 week 7 (8/9/23)
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.
Research essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 23:59 Week 13 (3/11/23)
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
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution 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
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.
- Workshops
- Chat with a WriteWISE peer writing leader
- Access StudyWISE
- Upload an assignment to Studiosity
- Complete the Academic Integrity Module
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:
- IT Support
- Accessibility and disability support with study
- Mental health support
- Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues
- Student Advocacy provides independent advice on MQ policies, procedures, and processes
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.
Unit information based on version 2023.01R of the Handbook