Indigenous Photography, New Media, Film

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2014:

2 hour seminar and 2 hour screening per week

120

Admission to fourth year honours or postgraduate diploma in art history or screen studies, Master of Art Curatorship, Master of Cinema Management, Master of Arts & Cultural Management (Moving Image), or Indigenous studies.

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject enables students to examine the emerging fields of Indigenous photography, new media, film (including television) from a number of different perspectives. Aesthetic responses to the conventions of different forms of screen culture and photography will be considered in relation to an engagement with current theoretical frameworks drawn from existing critical theory. This aspect of the course is specifically designed to generate new critical responses to the material studied. A more practical perspective will focus on the realities of photography, filmmaking and television production, which are explored through an examination of funding, access and policy issues. How are Indigenous film, television and new media fostered? What techniques and devices are employed in their promotion and distribution? How do the changing ideologies of arts industries reflect notions of indigeneity? Finally, the historical perspective will provide an understanding of the new ways in which Indigenous artists are responding to the vast amounts of photography and film existing in museums and archives.

Students who complete this subject will:

• be able to recognise the work of specific artists and explain them in relation to their social and political context;
• be able to research through the competent use of the library and other information sources, and be able to define areas of inquiry and methods of research in the preparation of essays;
• be able to conduct independent research using catalogued sources and bibliographical indexes;
• have developed their ability to think creatively and express their ideas clearly in written communication; and
• have developed their skills in verbal communication and oral presentation.

A 1000 word paper based on an in-class presentation 20% (due during the semester), and a 4000 word research essay 80% (due in the examination period). Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% (or 10 out of 12) classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Any student who fails to meet this hurdle without valid reason will not be eligible to pass the subject. All required written work must be submitted in order to pass the subject. Essays submitted after the due date without an extension will be penalised 2% per day. Essays submitted after two weeks of the assessment due date without a formally approved application for special consideration or an extension will only be marked on a pass/fail basis if accepted.

A subject reader will be available.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• be skilled in research;
• possess advanced skills of critical thinking and analysis;
• possess an ability to communicate knowledge intelligibly, economically and effectively; and
• have an understanding of social, ethical and cultural context.