Students

MMCC3130 – Music, Sound, and Moving Image

2023 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor and lecturer
Sarah Keith
sarah.keith@mq.edu.au
Contact via By e-mail
10HA 165G
By e-mail, or see iLearn
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Moving images, in whatever form we consume them, are nothing without the soundtracks that underpin them and the soundscapes that surround them. This unit caters for students wishing to explore, analyse and create image and audio-rich projects relating to their specialist interests. Students will complete a practical project that engages with unique interactions between combinations of sound, music, still and moving images, as we explore visual and sonic storytelling in a variety of contexts.

This unit also provides students with a sophisticated understanding of the affective and dramatic potential of sonic and visual design and production; it examines how meaning is constructed from these elements; explores how sensory and cognitive function informs audience reception; and surveys a range of cultural and historical expressions of audio/audio-visual media and other related performance forms. The unit explores histories of screen and sound technologies and their interactions, but also uses these as a way to imagine and predict how future developments might feel, play and sound out.

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: synthesise and communicate key debates in the field.
  • ULO2: apply theoretical knowledge to, and practical skills in, screen sound creation.
  • ULO3: apply focused and critical listening skills.
  • ULO4: evaluate the historical and technological developments in screen sound.
  • ULO5: analyse the role of sound in different musical and moving image genres.

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 written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Learning portfolio 30% No Weekly until 23:55, 26/5/23: In-class quizzes Wk 2 & Wk 5
Soundtrack analysis 35% No 23:55, 7/4/23
Soundtrack 35% No 23:55, 2/6/23

Learning portfolio

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Weekly until 23:55, 26/5/23: In-class quizzes Wk 2 & Wk 5
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will respond to a series of low-stakes activities provided on iLearn, including quizzes, reflections, short practical exercises, and brief critical listening tasks on relevant topics. Through these activities, students will demonstrate ongoing engagement with and reflection on unit and class content/discussions. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • evaluate the historical and technological developments in screen sound.
  • analyse the role of sound in different musical and moving image genres.

Soundtrack analysis

Assessment Type 1: Qualitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 23:55, 7/4/23
Weighting: 35%

 

Students will complete an analysis of a soundtrack using appropriate screen sound concepts and terminology. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • synthesise and communicate key debates in the field.
  • apply focused and critical listening skills.
  • analyse the role of sound in different musical and moving image genres.

Soundtrack

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 23:55, 2/6/23
Weighting: 35%

 

Students will create the soundtrack to accompany a short film. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • apply theoretical knowledge to, and practical skills in, screen sound creation.
  • apply focused and critical listening skills.
  • analyse the role of sound in different musical and moving image genres.

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

Required Equipment

Students will need to bring a pair of good quality headphones to all tutorials. Refer to iLearn for more information.

Students will also need access to a computer with software capable of producing a soundtrack to accompany a video. Students enrolled in on-campus tutorials will have access to lab computers and software. For students enrolled in online tutorials or undertaking work on their own computer, examples of suitable software include: Adobe Audition, Adobe Premiere, iMovie, Garageband, Final Cut Pro, Ableton Live, and Da Vinci Resolve. Refer to iLearn for more information.

Unit Schedule

Lectures commence in Week 1. Tutorials commence in Week 2.

  • Week 1: Introduction
  • Week 2: Hearing the screen
  • Week 3: Classical approaches
  • Week 4: Modern approaches
  • Week 5: Analysing music on screen
  • Week 6: Creating the soundtrack
  • Week 7: Sound design

— MID-SESSION BREAK —

  • Week 8: Documentary sound
  • Week 9: Popular music and the screen
  • Week 10: Horror and Sci-Fi
  • Week 11: Sound and Identity
  • Week 12: Interactive Sound
  • Week 13: No Lecture

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

Adjusted assessment weighting and timing following student feedback.

Unit information based on version 2023.01R of the Handbook