Students

MMCC2061 – Photo Media

2025 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Nicole Matthews
nicole.matthews@mq.edu.au
Contact via email
25WW B450
Mondays 11.30-12.30 or by arrangement
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

This unit examines the practice of photography across diverse cultural contexts and media platforms. It will introduce critical debates about the practice of photography and a number of key themes in the history of photography. The unit will consider a range of genres, texts and practices including snapshots and online photo sharing, family albums, photography as art and photojournalism. The unit will include the following topics: street photography and ethics; the photograph as evidence and instrument of organisation; domestic photography and amateurism; photography and otherness; and the place of photography in contemporary digital media cultures.

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: identify key themes, ideas and concepts in theories of photography.
  • ULO2: distinguish between and critically evaluate theoretical positions on photographic practices and texts.
  • ULO3: analyse and critically evaluate photographs according to themes, genres, and forms.
  • ULO4: communicate narratives and ideas through the combination of photographs and text
  • ULO5: evidence engagement with and reflection on contemporary photographic media.

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 non-time 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
Review task 50% No 11/04/2025
Photo essay and reflection 50% No 30/05/2025

Review task

Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 11/04/2025
Weighting: 50%

 

Students are required to write a review of a photography exhibition. Please see iLearn for further details.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • identify key themes, ideas and concepts in theories of photography.
  • distinguish between and critically evaluate theoretical positions on photographic practices and texts.
  • analyse and critically evaluate photographs according to themes, genres, and forms.
  • evidence engagement with and reflection on contemporary photographic media.

Photo essay and reflection

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 30/05/2025
Weighting: 50%

 

Students are required to produce a photo essay. Students will also provide a reflection on the process of developing their photo essay. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • identify key themes, ideas and concepts in theories of photography.
  • communicate narratives and ideas through the combination of photographs and text
  • evidence engagement with and reflection on contemporary photographic media.

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

Internal and external students (online flex) students will both access weekly recorded recorded lectures

Internal students will have weekly face to face tutorials from Week 1- Week 11.

External (online flex) students will not have tutorials.  Instead you will have a set of activities to complete online. These activities and tasks will give you the opportunity to engage with your peers in online forums and blog posts.  Assessment tasks are the same for both on campus and online flex students

Unit Schedule

Topics include: street photography; documentary photography; self-portraits and selfies; photo essays; exhibition reviews; landscape photography and climaete change; photography, surveillance and race; photography and feeling; family photography; travel photography; photography and feeling. For more details see ilearn for details.

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 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.

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 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.

Changes from Previous Offering

Assessment has been simplified in response to the University Assessment strategy to an exhibition review and a photo essay.

Unit information based on version 2025.05 of the Handbook