Course Title: Research and apply concepts and theories of creativity
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2017
Course Code: EMPL5964C
Course Title: Research and apply concepts and theories of creativity
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6125 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting
Course Contact: Program Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815
Course Contact Email: mcvet@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: George Viscas
Email: george.viscas@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 65
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
This unit provides a comprehensive overview of the ways in which concepts and theories around creativity in screenwriting have contributed to the development of contemporary screen language and genre. You will research and explore ways in which these theories can be applied to your own creative work.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
BSBCRT601A Research and apply concepts and theories of creativity |
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Element: |
1. Research concepts and theories of creativity |
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Performance Criteria: |
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Element: |
2. Apply theories of creativity to practice |
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Performance Criteria: |
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Element: |
3. Develop, articulate and debate own perspectives theories and practices of creativity |
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Performance Criteria: |
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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 above elements. You will be able to inform your own artistic practice through the application of the concepts and theories underpinning creativity in screenwriting.
Details of Learning Activities
You learn through:
1. In-class activities:
- lectures
- film screenings
- teacher directed group activities/projects
- peer teaching and class presentations
- group discussion
- class exercises to review discussions/lectures
- reading of excerpts of writings and set texts to provide examples of writing elements
- workshopping of students’ own projects
- analysis/critique of writings of students’ choice.
2. Out-of-class activities:
- independent project based work
- writing and reading assignments
- 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.
| Week | Class Content | Assessment Due |
| 1 | Explanation and discussion of course content and assessment. Discussion of the nature of creativity in screenwriting. Early Film History: Lumiere Brothers, Georges Melies and D.W. Griffith. Introduction to Screen Language: Production and Story Elements. |
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| 2 | Development of Montage from D.W.Griffith to modern day. Discussion of period of film-history and key contributions of selected filmmakers. Screening of selected excerpts of films followed by class discussion of this film - language, theories and applications Exploration of different research techniques. |
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| 3 | German Expressionism and the dark side Discuss characteristics of this; 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 #1 due: Outline of oral presentation
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| 4 | Silent film: exploring early cinema View two examples and discuss. |
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| 5 | 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 #2: Oral presentations begin (See details below) |
| 6 | Screening of 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 theories of Noir be used creatively today? |
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| 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. |
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| 8 | Screen Neo-Noir film. Class discussion of Neo-Noir elements and the differences between these and the ordinary Thriller Genre. Contrast with remake and discuss cultural context in creativity and the differences of this remake as compared to its original Film-Noir concept. |
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| 9 | Horror |
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| 10 | Horror (cont.) |
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Mid-semester break Friday 14 April to Friday 21 April inclusive |
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| 11 | Creativity and censorship |
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| 12 | Study of a culture through film |
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| 13 |
Contemporary filmmakers Screening of various scenes as well as full film in discovering new and /or forgotten filmmakers. Discuss their importance/non-importance. |
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| 14 | Study of a culture through film (cont.) Looking at a culture’s film history. Screening of film. Discussion around similarities/differences to Western film practices and creative concepts. |
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| 15 | Study of a culture through film (cont.) Contextualising creative concepts in film. Review of creative concepts explored throughout the semester and of how these are contextualised in aspects of the films studied. Exploration of how these concepts can be applied to your own work. |
Assessment #3 due: History of genre assignment |
| 16 | Semester review |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
While there are no prescribed texts it is strongly recommended you make use of the recommended references |
References
A list of recommended reading and viewing will be up on blackboard. You are also advised to look at the course myRMIT site for ongoing updated information. |
Other Resources
You need 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. You will also have access to the library resources.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment is on-going 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.
Assessment Tasks
To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete all of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive written feedback on all assessment (refer to Blackboard for assessment criteria).
Detailed assessment briefs will be available on the course Blackboard site.
Assessment 1. Outline of oral presentation. Due: 22 February
You will submit an outline of your intended presentation for Assessment 2. This outline will consist of a series of dot points covering required aspects of a film you have either loved or hated.
Assessment 2. Oral presentation. Due: scheduled from Week 5, 8 March, on a date to be arranged with your teacher
You will deliver a 15-minute oral presentation to the class on a film you have either loved or hated. As part of your research you are required to discuss a film and its filmmaker, show two scenes to the class, and critique these in relation to the filmmaker’s intentions and two film elements you wish to explore. You need to reflect on the filmmaker’s technique and consider how this may inform your own practice as a screenwriter.
Assessment 3. History of genre assignment. Due 24 May
Research and analyse the history of a film genre of your choice, and consider how it might influence your own creative work. Present your findings in a 1500-word essay or a 15-20 minute DVD presentation.
Once you have demonstrated competency, your final assessment task will be graded (refer to Blackboard for grading rubric).
Grades that apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment but which also use graded assessment are:
- CHD Competent with High Distinction
- CDI Competent with Distinction
- CC Competent with Credit
- CAG Competency achieved - graded
- 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. The assessment matrix for this course can be found on Blackboard or from your teacher.
Other Information
Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students
How to submit work
Your assessment brief will specify how you should submit your work – as hard copy, digital copy or electronically through Blackboard. When you submit your work, you must include a declaration of authorship.
For submissions on Blackboard, you need to agree to an assessment declaration when you submit.
For all other submissions, you must complete and sign a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=x3ddsmsrwa1hz
Attendance
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises. We strongly advise 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.
We request that you speak to your teacher if regular attendance becomes difficult.
Assessment feedback
You will receive spoken and written feedback on all your work. Where relevant, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qwxbqbg739rl1
Student progress
Monitoring academic progress is helps us to assist you in achieving your learning potential.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/acadprogress
Adjustments to assessment
If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment satisfactorily by the due date, you can choose to apply for an adjustment to your assessment. RMIT University offers a range of adjustments designed to support you in your studies, including an extension of time to complete the assessment.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kehn9bz22r41
Academic integrity and plagiarism
Academic integrity is about the honest presentation of work that is your own. RMIT University has a clear policy on plagiarism (see web page for more detail).
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
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.
Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) applies only if you have previously successfully demonstrated competence in a unit of competency, and now require to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.
Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer, RPL, or RCC for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/credit
Course Overview: Access Course Overview