Course Title: Research history and theory to inform own arts practice

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2020

Course Code: GEDU6132C

Course Title: Research history and theory to inform own arts practice

School: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6160 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting

Course Contact: Penny Johnson

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815

Course Contact Email: svdsc.mac@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: George Viscas

george.viscas@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 70

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

Building knowledge and understanding of the history and theory of film genre is central to your development as a screenwriter. This course looks at the skills and knowledge required to use investigative and critical thinking techniques when evaluating the history and theory of film genre and distilling key themes and ideas. It grounds this study in cinema language and provides a comprehensive overview of the way in which contemporary screen language has developed. You will research concepts and theories around genre in screenwriting, and explore ways in which these theories can be applied to your own creative work.   This course addresses the following unit of competency: CUARES403 Research history and theory to inform own arts practice

 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUARES403 Research history and theory to inform own arts practice

Element:

1. Research history and theory

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Discuss research ideas with appropriate people and identify implications for own arts practice

1.2 Identify and investigate new and alternative information sources for relevance to own arts practice

1.3 Use formal and informal research techniques to access information

1.4 Organise research materials and findings for current and future use

Element:

2. Link research to own arts practice

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Evaluate information in context of own arts practice and work of others

2.2 Assess ways in which different aspects of history and theory may be used, adapted and challenged

2.3 Extract key themes, ideas and opinions to assist in clarity of thought

2.4 Develop conclusions from research findings in consultation with appropriate people

Element:

3. Update and maintain knowledge of trends in own arts practice

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Identify and use opportunities to update and expand own knowledge of history and theory

3.2 Incorporate knowledge into own arts practice

3.3 Seek feedback on quality of research methodology and outcomes, and note areas for future improvement


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course, you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate your competency in the performance criteria. You will be able to inform your own artistic practice through the application of the concepts and theories underpinning the craft of screenwriting, and have thoroughly researched screen language and genre relating to your own work.


Details of Learning Activities

You will learn through: 

1. In-class activities:

  • lectures
  • looking at examples of film genre
  • teacher directed group activities/projects
  • peer discussion and class presentations
  • guest speakers
  • group discussion

2. Out-of-class activities: 

  • independent project based work 
  • watching and critiquing films
  • building knowledge through reading 
  • online and other research 
  • independent study 


Teaching Schedule

Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources. The last 30 minutes of every class is reserved for you to discuss your current research projects with other students or with your teacher.

Week

Class Content

Assessment Due

1

Explanation and discussion of course content and assessment.

Identification of formal and informal research techniques.
 


Discussion of the nature of creativity in screenwriting. 
Early film history: Lumière Brothers, Georges Méliès and D.W. Griffith. 
Introduction to Screen Language: production and story elements.

Assessment Task 1 starts

2

How to identify and prioritise authoritative sources of information

Development of montage from D.W. Griffith to modern day. 
Discussion of periods of film history and key contributions of selected filmmakers.

Screening of selected excerpts of films followed by class discussion – language, theories and applications.

 

3

 

Using data bases for research – speaker from the RMIT library.

German Expressionism and the Dark Side
.

Discuss characteristics of Expressionism in art and screen excerpts of selected films from various filmmakers. Expressionism in film and its theories – yesterday and today. Expressionism and its use in Hollywood.
 

Assessment Task 1 notes due on CANVAS.

4

Organising and making sense of your research – how to take good notes.

Silent film.

 

5

How to create a bibliography – Harvard referencing style.

Film Noir in world film culture .
Study Hollywood’s use of Expressionism in this genre. WW2 and its effects on Noir and film culture. Screen excerpts from Noir films and rules of Noir documentary. Class discussion.
 

Assessment Task 1 presentations start and continue until Week 12, as scheduled with your teacher

6

Rarely seen Film Noir 


Class discussion about film’s elements: Does it follow all the rules of Noir? What’s there? What isn’t? Does it hold up today? 
Can any of its theories of Noir be used creatively today? 
 

 

7

Neo-Noir

Its legacy from Expressionism to Film Noir explored. Screening excerpts from selected Neo-Noir films; 
discussion of its history; contrast past to present Noir.
 

8

Neo-Noir cont'd.

Class discussion of Neo-Noir elements and the differences between these and the ordinary Thriller Genre. Contrast with remake and discuss cultural context in history and theory of genre and the differences of this remake as compared to its original Film Noir concept.

Discussion of research for Genre assignment – students to bring in their research to date.

 

Mid-semester break: Monday 6 April to Monday 13 April inclusive

 
9

Horror


Looking at the elements of horror and its legacy from Expressionism. Differences between past and present day elements. What makes Horror so easy to make and so hard to master? 
Screening of documentary.


10

 

Horror cont'd.

Are the elements of Horror the same worldwide? Do the theories of one culture overlap with another? Screening and discussion of documentaries. Exploring various types of world horror and discussion of how the theory is applied in practice. 
 

11

Genre and censorship.

Censorship, its history and role in film genre. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the censorship system.
 Screening of documentary examining censorship and its effects on various filmmakers. Is it a necessary evil? 
 

 


12

 

Study of a culture through film.

Does film reflect daily life of culture? Fantasy of its inhabitants? Do the theories of film in the West necessarily fulfil other cultures’ requirements of what makes a film? Looking at a culture’s film history. Film screening. Discussion around similarities/differences to Western film practices and genre development

Assessment Task 2 due in CANVAS.


13

 

Contemporary filmmakers.

Introduction to new filmmakers and their effects on modern day directors. How 'influence' plays an important part as 'homage' in creativity.
 Screening of various scenes as well as full film in discovering new and /or forgotten filmmakers.

 Discuss their importance/non-importance.
 

Assessment Task 3 due either in CANVAS as ESSAY or DVD transfer.

14

 

Review of history and theory behind genre development and how these are contextualised in aspects of the films studied.

Exploration of how these concepts can be applied to your own work.

 

15

Semester review

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

None


References

See Canvas for further resources.


Other Resources

You require access to a computer and to the internet for this course. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems and access to specialised facilities and relevant software. 

While there are no prescribed texts it is strongly recommended you make use of the recommended references.  A list of recommended reading and viewing will be up on Canvas. 

The University Library has extensive resources and provides subject specialist expertise, research advice, help with referencing and support through:
The learning Lab
www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/learning-lab
The Study Support Hub
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/study-support-hub
English for uni workshops
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/workshops/english-uni-workshops


Overview of Assessment

Assessment is ongoing throughout the course. Assessment will incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of knowledge and skills and will include participation in class exercises, oral presentations and practical writing tasks. Full assessment briefs will be provided.


Assessment Tasks

Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed as Competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.

You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria.

Assessment Task 1: Research a film

This assessment will allow you to demonstrate your ability to research and think critically about the elements of a film and the techniques used by the filmmaker. To complete this assessment task, you need to research a film and use this research as the basis for a 15-minute presentation. In your presentation, you will choose one film elements and analyse them in relation to one scene from your chosen film. You will discuss how this contributes to clarifying the film’s narrative and characters and establishing the film’s genre. You will also discuss the relevance of your findings to your own practice.

DUE DATE:  Notes need to be delivered on Canvas in Week 3 (Monday Feb 24). Presentations start in Week 5 and continue each week until Week 12, via arrangement with your your teacher.

Assessment Task 2: Film discussion

To complete this assessment task, you need to select a minimum of 5 films. Three of a similar genre from the list supplied by your teacher, and two of your own choosing. You are to watch them in your own time over the semester and post comments for discussion. You are also required to write comments in response to at least 3 posts from students in your class. This assessment will allow you to expand your knowledge of the history of your chosen genre and assess how different filmmakers have applied and adapted genre conventions. The assessment will also provide you with the opportunity to link your findings to your own practice.

DUE DATE: Film discussion posts should be published in Canvas at 2 or 3 week intervals throughout the semester. Your last post should be made by Week 11 (Monday May 4).

Assessment Task 3: Genre research assignment

To complete this assessment task, you need to select and research a film genre and submit either a 1500-2000 word research essay or a 15-minute DVD presentation, discussing the historical development of that genre. In your discussion/dvd, you should include an explanation of the constituents of the genre and consider films that demonstrate key aspects of the genre, referring to specific genre conventions, examples of typical story elements, production elements and features. This assessment will allow you to demonstrate the use of research and critical thinking techniques to evaluate information and extract key ideas. You will also have the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to update your knowledge of film genre, organise and discuss your research findings and consider how you can apply them to your own writing practice.

Due date: Week 13 (Monday May 11)

 

If you have not completed an assessment task to a satisfactory standard, you will be given an opportunity to resubmit that task within one week of receiving feedback from your teacher. If the resubmission is deemed unsatisfactory, the matter will be referred to the program coordinator.

Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are:

CA: Competency Achieved
NYC: Not Yet Competent
DNS: Did not Submit for Assessment


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These matrices are available through Program Administration.

Other Information

Attendance
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises

It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.

Information about your studies
You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students 

Assessment
Information on assessment including Special consideration, Adjustments to assessment, (eg. applying for an extension of time):

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-integrity

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.  

Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer or RPL for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/enrolment/apply-for-credit

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview