VSA3040

Australian Film and Television ( 6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Deane Williams

Offered:
Clayton Second semester 2005 (Day)

Synopsis: This unit will enable students to critically evaluate the notion of nationalism as it emerges in Australian Film and Television. Initially the unit will explore traditional theoretical constructions of nationalism before considering the contemporary reconfiguring of nationalism. This reconfiguring will be performed in relation to discourses such as policy arrangements in relation to political machinations, auteur constructions, the tradition of landscape cinema, race relations, multiculturalism and beach culture. The unit will employ feature, documentary and short film as well as contemporary and archival televisual texts.

Objectives: This course aims to introduce students to the study of film and television through a focus on a specific national culture and industry. The course aims to enable students to form a critical relationship with Australian film and television and to engage with debates relating to national and international film and televisual culture. Students will be encouraged: 1. To critically examine a range of film and televisual texts as representations of Australian national experience. 2. To develop an understanding of the Australian film and television industries in relation to theories of globalisation. 3. To analyse the impact of government policy and further economic and political constraints on the national film and television industries. 4. To develop skills in the textual analysis of texts in relation to contemporary reformulations of nationalism. 5. To display an ability to critically engage with written and filmic texts in a clear and confident manner in both written and oral presentation.

Assessment: Visual test (1.5 hours): 40% + Essay (3000 words): 60% + Third-year students will be expected to read more widely and work at a higher level than second-year students.

Contact Hours: 4 hours (1 x 1 hour lecture, 1 x 1 hour tutorial and 1 x 2 hour screening) per week

Prerequisites: One unit at second-year level in visual culture or comparative literature and cultural studies

Prohibitions: VSA2040