General information
The School of Literary, Visual and Performance Studies offers a major and minor
sequence in five disciplines, each with their own particular emphasis:
These disciplines are taught at the following locations:
The
English section offers a variety of subjects in the literatures of Britain,
Australia, America and Asia and in a range of related areas.
In first year, students are introduced to the study of English through a choice
of subject sequences. Each sequence has a different focus -- the study of
English literature and the study of literary semiotics and comparative
literature. Each aims to introduce students to a variety of modes of reading
and to a number of ways of speaking and writing about what they read. Each
provides an introduction to the historical and contemporary study of literature
and to aspects of critical theory.
The majority of English students follow the literature sequence of ENH subjects
through both semesters. At Clayton, the text and context sequence, provided by
the Centre for Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, may also lead into
later-year English subjects. Students at Clayton should note that these CLS
subjects are recommended as usefully supplementing English literature subjects
in the first year and that one of these sequences may be taken alongside the
ENH subjects.
Second and third-year subjects in English literature build on this foundation.
There are subjects which introduce students to the literature and culture of
different historical periods. Related subjects are offered in the following
fields: Australian studies, the theory and practice of children's literature,
critical theory, feminist theory and women's writing, postcolonial theory and
literature, the languages of literature, literary and visual semiotics and
performance studies, creative writing and professional writing. Students may
select from these areas to develop their major in English. For the language of
places and performance sequence, see entry for ´Drama and theatre
studies'.
Students will find the expectations of English outlined in subject handbooks as
they proceed through the degree.
English provides consultation and advice on choice of subjects at first,
second, third and fourth-year levels to ensure that students choose suitable
and coherent subject sequences.
In first year, students may complete the minimum 12 points required to proceed to a minor or major sequence by taking ENH1010 (Reading literature I) and either ENH1220 (Reading literature II: worlds in conflict) or ENH1250 (Effective writing 2: professional writing).
Students may complete their first year in English by taking one of the following sequences of subjects:
In addition, with the permission of the English section, students who have completed CLS1010 (Text and context) may proceed in second semester to either ENH1220 (Reading literature II: worlds in conflict) or ENH1230 (Language, style and literature) or ENH1260 (Effective writing 2: Professional writing).
The
English-in-use (EIU) course is designed for students whose first language is
other than English. As the course is a study of the functional, theoretical and
cultural features of the English language and not a literature-based course, it
is a separate subject to English and may not be taken as part of a sequence in
English. This allows second language students the option of taking EIU as a
separate sequence and considering English as a possible second major or minor
subject within their degree. From 2001, students will only be able to take a
minor sequence in English-in-use.
The course provides second language students with an opportunity to further
their knowledge of the English language through the perspective of the second
language speaker. It provides a broad conceptual understanding of the English
language, the cognitive and cultural attitudes it engenders and the
communicative frameworks it supports.
This course is available to international and non-English-speaking-background
students who fulfil the Arts faculty second language entry criteria.
The
Visual Culture section teaches courses in two major streams: visual culture,
and film and television studies. Minor sequences, major sequences and honours
studies may be undertaken in either of these broad areas, or a combination of
the two. The first-year subject VSA1000 (Introduction to visual culture: back
to the future) is designed to provide a foundation for all subsequent studies
in visual culture. Students may choose to complete a first-year sequence by
taking VSA1010 (Contemporary visual culture) or VSA1050 (Contemporary popular
film), or both, in second semester.
In subsequent years, students may decide to specialise in one or more aspects
of visual culture, or to develop a broadly based study of the field. Visual
culture subjects involve historical and critical approaches to film and
television, video and new screen technologies, photography, painting, fashion,
sculpture and the built environment, with a special emphasis on Australian,
European and American art and architecture. Particular attention is paid to
recent manifestations of visual culture. Film and television studies cover
Australian, Asian and European national cinemas, contemporary popular Hollywood
and its institutions, alternative film and video, documentary and television
studies and video practice.
Qualified students may enter a fourth honours year and undertake postgraduate
studies at graduate diploma, MA and PhD level. There is also a specialist MA in
Australian art. For details of postgraduate subjects, refer to the graduate
handbook.
Throughout the course of studies, emphasis will be given to a variety of
critical and theoretical methods of analysis appropriate to the study of visual
culture, including formal, semiotic and psychoanalytic approaches,
consideration of issues to do with the intersection of ideology and culture,
the representation of gender, race and class, and questions concerning the
relations between visual culture and technology.
Students are encouraged to consider combining their visual culture studies with
other relevant and compatible disciplines and subject areas taught in the
Faculty of Arts. Examples are performing arts, comparative literature and
cultural studies, English, history, women's studies, and a range of relevant
Asian and European languages. Particular attention is drawn to the following
subjects:
See
the entry for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree for details regarding standard
entry requirements, course structure, combined honours and disciplines.
Mid-year entry is offered subject to availability of places and availability of
supervisors.
Fourth-year honours students will be required to write a minor thesis (VSA4002)
worth 12 points, and to take three seminar subjects. Full-time honours
students entering at the beginning of the year are advised to undertake two
seminar subjects in the first semester and one in the second semester.
Part-time honours students normally take two seminar subjects in the first
year, and the third subject plus the thesis in the second year.
Graduate supervision in the MA and PhD is available in most fields of visual culture and film and television studies. A postgraduate diploma and a faculty certificate in visual culture is also available. Specialist MA courses in both Australian art, and gallery and museum studies, are also available. For full details of all postgraduate courses offered by the Visual Culture section, refer to the graduate handbook.
Subjects
under this heading are taught by the Centre for Comparative Literature and
Cultural Studies or are taught by other schools or sections and made available
to students under a centre code. The centre is an interdisciplinary teaching
unit within the School of Literary, Visual and Cultural Studies with
responsibility for teaching and research in three main areas of work:
comparative literature, cultural studies and critical theory.
Comparative literature is the study of literature in ways which go
beyond particular national or linguistic boundaries. In practice, comparative
literary studies are of two main kinds: substantive studies of the literature
of two or more languages or literary cultures; and generalising studies of the
literary process itself, for example literary history, the sociology of
literature or psychological approaches to literature. Texts studied in the
centre at undergraduate level are all taught in English or in English
translation, but knowing a language other than English is helpful, and those
students with no exposure to one are strongly encouraged to pick up the study
of a language.
Cultural studies is the study of cultural texts, spaces and practices,
including texts that are not normally included in the canon of high literature
(the texts of popular fiction, television or cinema, for example). These
aspects of culture are studied in relation to the various social, historical
and other contexts within which cultures manifest themselves.
Critical theory is a term which has come to signify a number of
contemporary approaches to textual and cultural criticism, for example
hermeneutics, structuralism, semiotics, poststructuralism, theories of
ideology, psychoanalytic theory, and so on. Such theories have also been
central to, for instance, recent work in anthropology, philosophy, English,
performance studies and film studies.
Students enrolled in sequences offered by the centre may combine courses from
any of these areas.
A first-year sequence in the centre consists of CLS1010 and either CLS1020 or CLS1040
Coordinator:
Chris Worth
An honours course in the centre can have an emphasis on comparative literature,
cultural studies or critical theory. The honours sequence consists of CLS4080
and CLS4650, and further fourth-year-level subjects in the centre
(ie those with a CLS code) with a combined value of 48 points. Mid-year
entry is offered by the centre subject to places being available. Students
writing fourth-year theses in comparative literature are normally required to
consider literary texts in their original languages.
The centre offers an MA program by research and coursework in cultural studies and critical theory. It offers opportunities for doing research for a PhD (or, exceptionally, an MA by research) in many areas of comparative literature, cultural studies and critical theory. For further information, consult the graduate handbook.
Students who wish to make a specialist study of drama and theatre studies as part of their BA or BPA degree may do so within the Centre for Drama and Theatre Studies. The subjects available represent a wide range of approaches to studies in the field but most place a strong emphasis on performance. While the major in drama and theatre studies is not designed specifically as a course in systematic skills training, the element of performance in our program (whether in public production or through in-house experimental work) is regarded as fundamental to the analysis of theatre texts and processes.
The
Centre for Drama and Theatre Studies has close connections with a number of
other teaching programs in the Faculty of Arts, all of which are concerned in
one way or another with the study of texts and textuality. These are
comparative literature, critical theory, cultural studies and English
literature; subjects offered in these areas are listed under each of these
disciplines.
It is possible to take a double major in any two of comparative literature and
cultural studies, drama and theatre studies, and English. A major in any of
these may also be combined with a minor sequence in any other or with a minor
sequence in critical theory.
The
first-year prerequisite for students intending a major or minor sequence in
drama and theatre studies is DTS1060/ (The language of performance) and DTS1160
(The places of performance). A second first-year sequence is available as an
additional option (DTS1320 and DTS1420). In later years, majoring students
should take at least 48 points (12 points at second-year level and
24 points at third-year level) from DTS subjects offered by the faculty.
While some of the subjects which are not offered solely by the centre have
disciplinary prerequisites, students taking these subjects as DTS studies may,
with the permission of relevant discipline area, be excused of those
requirements. Students who are appropriately qualified may be admitted to the
fourth-year honours program.
The subjects below are offered at the Clayton campus unless otherwise
indicated. None of the subjects listed below may be counted towards more than
one minor or major sequence.
See
the entry for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree for details regarding standard
entry requirements, course structure, combined honours and disciplines.
The fourth-year course consists of DTS4600 (Thesis), 24 points, and DTS4120
(Performance theory), 12 points, plus one other subject to the value of 12
points. Students may choose from:
The
following sequences form the normal pattern for a major, a minor, or a
first-year sequence in each area. Students should consult the listings under
relevant discipline for information about individual subjects. In particular,
students should be familiar with the core requirements for each sequence listed
below and consult the individual discipline if further information is required.
For the minor in dance studies, students will need to devise an appropriate
sequence of subjects in consultation with the Centre for Drama and Theatre
Studies.
Some variations in the combinations of subjects may be allowed with the
permission of the coordinators of the degree. Students should discuss these
matters in the first instance with Associate Professor Peter Fitzpatrick
and then with the relevant discipline area.
The primary major for the BPA degree is drama and theatre studies, but, with
approval, majors may also be taken in music and in visual culture.
Choose
at least 48 points from subjects available from the Centre for Drama and
Theatre Studies.
Core requirements:
Choose
24 points chosen from subjects available from the Centre for Drama and Theatre
Studies.
Core requirements:
Twelve
points as specified by the Centre for Drama and Theatre Studies.
Core requirements:
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