Undergraduate - UnitATS2529 - Australian National Film and Television

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Notes

Synopsis

This unit enables students to critically evaluate notions of nationalism in Australian Film and Television. Initially, the course 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, traditions of landscape cinema, race relations, multiculturalism, beach culture, the social, globalism, marketing, distribution, gender and criticism. The unit will employ feature, documentary and short film and television examples as well as contemporary and archival audio-visual texts.

Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will have:

1. Critically examined a range of film and television texts as representations of Australian national experience;
2. Developed an understanding of the Australian film and television industries in relation to theories of globalization;
3. Analysed the impact of government policy and further economic and political constraints on the national film and television industries;
4. Skills in the textual analysis of texts in relation to contemporary reformulations of nationalism;
5. An ability to critically engage with written and visual texts in a clear and confident manner in both written and oral presentation.

Assessment

Essay (3000 words): 60%
Class Participation: 10%
Examination (1-hour): 30%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Therese Davis

Contact hours

One 2 hour seminar and one 2 hour screening per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Film and television studies
Comparative literature and cultural studies

Prerequisites

Two units at first-year level in Film and Television or approved discipline

Prohibitions

FTV2040, FTV3040