Students
MMCC2065 – Documentary Media: Forms, Histories, Futures
2024 – Session 2, Online-scheduled-weekday
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor and Lecturer
Stefan Solomon
Tutor
Jessica Minshall
Tutor
Alison Walker
Tutor
Desmond Bravo
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Log and Commentary | 25% | No | 11:55PM on 23/08/2024 |
| Film analysis | 25% | No | 11:55PM on 13/09/2024 |
| Essay | 50% | No | 11:55PM on 01/11/2024 |
Reading Log and Commentary
Assessment Type 1: Log book
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 11:55PM on 23/08/2024
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: 11:55PM on 13/09/2024
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: 11:55PM on 01/11/2024
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
Lectures
Lectures will take place each Wednesday from 2-3PM in the T1 Theatre at 10 Hadenfeld Ave (10HA). These lectures will also be live streamed, and recorded and uploaded to Echo360 on the same day.
Tutorials
Tutorials are available both online and face-to-face, and begin in Week 2. Please note, you must attend the tutorial you are enrolled in. If you wish to change your tutorial time you can do so via eStudent. Your tutor/lecturer will not be able to change your tutorial enrolment. Do not turn up to a tutorial in which you are not enrolled. We cannot accept extra students into a fully enrolled tutorial. Students are required to prepare for tutorials by having attended or viewed the lecture, having viewed the required screenings, and having completed the week’s readings and prepared questions and notes.
Please note, too, that only students who are enrolled in the online offering of the unit may attend online classes.
Please consult the MQ timetable for up to date timetabling of lectures and tutorials.
Required Screenings
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. Some small additional payment may be required for accessing particular screenings. See iLearn for more details.
Required and Recommended Readings
All readings will be available online through the Leganto link on iLearn. There is a list of further recommended reading for each topic - please refer to iLearn.
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:
- 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 connect.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 the Service Connect Portal, 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 2024.01R of the Handbook