Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor Jane Simon jane.simon@mq.edu.au Contact via jane.simon@mq.edu.au
Credit points	Credit points 3
Prerequisites	Prerequisites 12cp
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
Unit description	Unit description This unit is an introduction to: 1) some of the main theoretical issues and debates that have defined film studies as an area of cultural interest; and 2) some of the key historical moments in classical Hollywood filmmaking and international filmmaking (from the 1940s through to more recent times). Lectures and tutorials, in conjunction with weekly film screenings, consider topics such as the codes, conventions, and aesthetics of film narrative; film genres; film styles; film canons; modes of storytelling; the relation between fiction film and documentary film (and their hybrids).

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:

An understanding of key debates, themes and concepts in the broad field of Film Studies.
An expanded historical knowledge of film theory.
The ability to critically evaluate theoretical positions on film practices and texts.
The ability to critically analyse films according to themes, genres, form and cultural contexts.
Skills in independent academic research in the discipline, including identifying and using appropriate articles in academic journals.
The ability to critically evaluate and analyse film texts and theories of film in both written form and in verbal discussions.
Ability to present work in a manner conforming to accepted academic standards in both written and spoken form.

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Due
Participation	15%	Ongoing
Essay One	20%	4pm Monday 25th March
Essay Two	40%	4pm Friday 17th May
Film log	25%	4pm Friday 7th June

Participation

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 15%

Students are expected to attend, be punctual for and participate in at least 80% of all lectures and tutorials to pass the unit. You must notify your tutor as soon as possible if you believe you may be absent at any stage and you should provide your tutor with evidence of a medical or personal emergency. You will be expected to participate in class discussions as much as possible and you must come prepared to every tutorials having:

a) closely read the required readings

b) attended the screening and lecture

On successful completion you will be able to:

An understanding of key debates, themes and concepts in the broad field of Film Studies.
The ability to critically analyse films according to themes, genres, form and cultural contexts.
The ability to critically evaluate and analyse film texts and theories of film in both written form and in verbal discussions.

Essay One

Due: 4pm Monday 25th March
Weighting: 20%

1000 word essay.

Topics will be distributed in class and on iLearn.Your essay should demonstrate wide reading and in-depth critical analysis. You are expected to draw upon the weekly readings that relate to your chosen essay topic as well as find other relevant academic sources. You should base your research on academic journal articles and books.

On successful completion you will be able to:

An understanding of key debates, themes and concepts in the broad field of Film Studies.
An expanded historical knowledge of film theory.
The ability to critically evaluate theoretical positions on film practices and texts.
The ability to critically analyse films according to themes, genres, form and cultural contexts.
Skills in independent academic research in the discipline, including identifying and using appropriate articles in academic journals.
The ability to critically evaluate and analyse film texts and theories of film in both written form and in verbal discussions.
Ability to present work in a manner conforming to accepted academic standards in both written and spoken form.

Essay Two

Due: 4pm Friday 17th May
Weighting: 40%

A 2000 word essay.

For your final essay you must choose from one of the topics/questions distributed in class and posted on iLearn. Your essay should demonstrate wide reading and in-depth critical analysis. You are expected to draw upon the weekly readings that relate to your chosen essay topic as well as other relevant academic sources.

On successful completion you will be able to:

An understanding of key debates, themes and concepts in the broad field of Film Studies.
An expanded historical knowledge of film theory.
The ability to critically evaluate theoretical positions on film practices and texts.
The ability to critically analyse films according to themes, genres, form and cultural contexts.
Skills in independent academic research in the discipline, including identifying and using appropriate articles in academic journals.
The ability to critically evaluate and analyse film texts and theories of film in both written form and in verbal discussions.
Ability to present work in a manner conforming to accepted academic standards in both written and spoken form.

Film log

Due: 4pm Friday 7th June
Weighting: 25%

The film log takes the form of five brief (250 word entries). You need to write an entry for a film from each of the four modules (e.g. one entry on a film from Module: Key Terms Wk 1-4, one from a film shown in Module: Politics of Representation Wk 5 -8, one from Module: Non-Fiction Wk 9-10 and one from Module: Canons & Auteurs Wk 11-13). The fifth entry can be on any film from throughout the unit, however none of the entries should be on a film discussed in your two essays.

On successful completion you will be able to:

An understanding of key debates, themes and concepts in the broad field of Film Studies.
The ability to critically evaluate theoretical positions on film practices and texts.
The ability to critically analyse films according to themes, genres, form and cultural contexts.
The ability to critically evaluate and analyse film texts and theories of film in both written form and in verbal discussions.
Ability to present work in a manner conforming to accepted academic standards in both written and spoken form.

Delivery and Resources

CLASSES

Lectures and screening: Wednesday 2-5pm pm Y3A T1

Tutorials: For tutorial times and classrooms please consult the MQ Timetable website: https://timetables.mq.edu.au/2013/. This website will display up-to-date information on your classes and classroom locations.

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.

Tutorials begin in Week Two.

ATTENDANCE

Students are required to attend a screening, a one hour lecture and a one hour tutorial every week. i-lecture should be used as an additional tool, not as a replacement for lecture attendance.

Students are required to prepare for tutorials by having attended the lecture and screening and having done the week’s readings and prepared questions and notes.

REQUIRED READING

The Reader for MAS205 is available at the Co-Op Bookshop.

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 screenings will be available on ilearn. Students are expected to regularly check iLearn and their MQ email addresses for announcements.

ASSESSMENTS

You must complete all components of this course in order to pass the unit. Work submitted late without extension and/or proof of illness or serious misadventure (this does not include having to work) will incur a 5% penalty for each day after the due date.

Hard Copy Submissions

Written work must be submitted through the Arts Student Centre (via the appropriate assignment box) on Level 1, W6A. Students must print and attach a completed coversheet to all submitted work. A personalised assignment coversheet is generated from the student section of the Faculty of Arts website at:

http://www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate/admin_central/coversheet.

All written work must also be submitted to turnitin, via the link on ilearn.

Return of marked work

During semester, marked work will be returned to students via tutorials.

Special Consideration Policy

http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html

Applying for Special Consideration

Students applying for Special Consideration circumstances of three (3) consecutive days duration, within a study period, and/or prevent completion of a formal examination must submit an on-line application with the Faculty of Arts. For an application to be valid, it must include a completed Application for Special Consideration form and all supporting documentation.

The online Special Consideration application is found at: http://www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate/admin_central/special_consideration.

What has changed?

In 2013 the assessment structure has been altered to allow for more engagement with films and concepts from across the entire unit. The film log, in combination with the two essays, will allow students to respond to several films across all four module of the unit.

Unit Schedule

For detailed schedule of screening and readings please refer to ilearn.

MODULE ONE: KEY TERMS

Week One: Introduction to MAS205, Film and its Contexts

Week Two: Film and Genre

Week Three: Film and Narrative

Week Four: Film and Sound

MODULE TWO: POLITICS OF REPESENTATION

Week Five: History and memory in Cache

Week Six: Australian Contexts

Week Seven: Feminism on Film

Week Eight: Reading Week

MODULE THREE: NON-FICTION FILM, REALITY & THE REAL

Week Nine: Diary Films and Autobiography

Week Ten: Non-fiction Filmmaking

MODULE FOUR: CANONS & AUTEURS

Week Eleven: Critiquing Canons

Week Twelve: The French New Wave

Week Thirteeen: Auteurs and Wong Kar Wai

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

UniWISE provides:

Online learning resources and academic skills workshops http://www.students.mq.edu.au/support/learning_skills/
Personal assistance with your learning & study related questions.
The Learning Help Desk is located in the Library foyer (level 2).
Online and on-campus orientation events run by Mentors@Macquarie.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au/ses/.

IT Help

If you wish to receive IT help, we would be glad to assist you at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.

When using the university's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students and it outlines what can be done.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

The ability to critically evaluate theoretical positions on film practices and texts.
The ability to critically analyse films according to themes, genres, form and cultural contexts.
The ability to critically evaluate and analyse film texts and theories of film in both written form and in verbal discussions.
Ability to present work in a manner conforming to accepted academic standards in both written and spoken form.

Assessment tasks

Participation
Essay One
Essay Two
Film log

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

An understanding of key debates, themes and concepts in the broad field of Film Studies.
An expanded historical knowledge of film theory.
The ability to critically evaluate and analyse film texts and theories of film in both written form and in verbal discussions.

Assessment tasks

Participation
Essay One
Essay Two
Film log

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

An understanding of key debates, themes and concepts in the broad field of Film Studies.
An expanded historical knowledge of film theory.
The ability to critically evaluate theoretical positions on film practices and texts.
The ability to critically analyse films according to themes, genres, form and cultural contexts.
Skills in independent academic research in the discipline, including identifying and using appropriate articles in academic journals.
The ability to critically evaluate and analyse film texts and theories of film in both written form and in verbal discussions.
Ability to present work in a manner conforming to accepted academic standards in both written and spoken form.

Assessment tasks

Participation
Essay One
Essay Two
Film log

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

An understanding of key debates, themes and concepts in the broad field of Film Studies.
An expanded historical knowledge of film theory.
The ability to critically evaluate theoretical positions on film practices and texts.
The ability to critically analyse films according to themes, genres, form and cultural contexts.
Skills in independent academic research in the discipline, including identifying and using appropriate articles in academic journals.
The ability to critically evaluate and analyse film texts and theories of film in both written form and in verbal discussions.

Assessment tasks

Participation
Essay One
Essay Two
Film log

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

The ability to critically evaluate theoretical positions on film practices and texts.
The ability to critically analyse films according to themes, genres, form and cultural contexts.
Skills in independent academic research in the discipline, including identifying and using appropriate articles in academic journals.
The ability to critically evaluate and analyse film texts and theories of film in both written form and in verbal discussions.
Ability to present work in a manner conforming to accepted academic standards in both written and spoken form.

Assessment tasks

Participation
Essay One
Essay Two
Film log

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

The ability to critically evaluate and analyse film texts and theories of film in both written form and in verbal discussions.

Assessment tasks

Essay One
Essay Two
Film log

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

The ability to critically evaluate theoretical positions on film practices and texts.
The ability to critically analyse films according to themes, genres, form and cultural contexts.
The ability to critically evaluate and analyse film texts and theories of film in both written form and in verbal discussions.
Ability to present work in a manner conforming to accepted academic standards in both written and spoken form.

Assessment tasks

Participation
Essay One
Essay Two
Film log