Australian Film and Television

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Total expected time commitment is 170 hours across the semester, including class time.

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CULS20010 Television and Popular Culture; 106-246 Television and Popular Culture

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 is an introduction to the study of Australian film and television. Beginning with post-war Australian film and television, we will trace the emergence of the modern entertainment industry in Australia locating it within national and international frameworks and examining the growing debates around what constitutes a national cinema and television industry. The focus will be upon examining specific films and a range of media in television locating products within local and global contexts, analyzing cosmopolitan and nationalist impulses that drive the industry forward. We will study a range of indigenous and non-indigenous products and genres including feature films, video, documentaries, television series, sitcoms and news programs. Road movies, comedy, history films, animation, romance and melodrama are among the genres studied.

On completion of the subject students should:

• consistently demonstrate high level analysis, conceptual sophistication and critical thinking in the area of film and screen theory as it relates to Australian film and television;
• Be able to apply the skills of close analysis to the films studied in the subject;
• demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of broader debates in film and television, including a broad understanding of the Australian film and television industry and the wider historical and cultural context that produced them;
• be able to incorporate debates within Australian history and culture to film and television;
• have a firm grasp of national and international debates on specific contemporary issues and complex problems connected with film theory including issues around gender, race and ethnicity.

A 1500 word essay 30% (due during the semester), a 2500 word essay or blog multimedia alternative 60% (due in the examination period). This subject has a minimum hurdle requirement of 80% attendance and regular participation in tutorials. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.Attendance and participation 10%,

A Subject Reader will be available online via the LMS.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

• acquire fundamental research and analytic skills;

• acquire critical and ethical self-awareness;

• acquire the ability to develop and communicate effective arguments in both oral and written form;

• acquire fundamental skills in media and information literacy and management.