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COMM381 Documentary: Australian and International

Credit Points 6
Offering Not offered in 2010
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
N/A N/A Non-Mandatory
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites any 12cp
Co-requisites None
Restrictions COMM581
Notes

offered in odd numbered years
Combined Units COMM581 - Documentary: Australian and International
Coordinator(s) Dugald Williamson (dwillia7@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

This unit explores documentary genres in film, television and the digital environment. It looks at varied social, historical, political, personal and experimental works. The main focus is on Australian documentaries made since the 1980s, many of which are produced by independent filmmakers and reach wide audiences through television. The recent Australian experience is seen in the context of international documentary traditions and developments. The unit does not include technical film or television production but considers methods of research and writing for developing documentary ideas, as part of its approach to studying documentary forms and practices. Students therefore have the option of writing all assessments in essay form, or combining essay work with a creative project in which they undertake research to develop an idea in the accepted form of a written documentary 'treatment'.

Materials Text information will be published prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Disclaimer Offer of some subjects is subject to viability. Information in these unit descriptions is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1: Essay 40% On/Off Campus 1500
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2, and 3 GA: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6
Assignment 2 60% Off Campus 2500
Assessment Notes
Essay or Review Essay or Documentary Treatment
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 GA: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7
Assignment 2 50% On Campus 2000
Assessment Notes
Essay or Review Essay or Documentary Treatment
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 GA: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7
Tutorial 10% On Campus
Assessment Notes
Structured tutorial participation
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2 and 3 GA: 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. understand and apply methods of studying documentary as an audiovisual form comprising a range of genres and techniques;
  2. understand recent Australian documentary forms, in the context of changing technologies and international production and distribution;
  3. understand concepts and issues in documentary scholarship;
  4. identify the general functions of research and writing in documentary production;
  5. articulate responses to questions of documentary ethics.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
The unit enhances and assesses knowledge of communication and media studies, particularly in the study of film and television, by encouraging students to apply, and situate, disciplinary approaches that help to understand documentary genres and practices in their cultural and historical context. 		True True True
2 Communication Skills
Written communication skills are taught, practised and assessed through the construction of essays, with the option to extend knowledge of writing genres by using formats such as the documentary 'treatment' that is used to organise and present ideas for potential future production. For on-campus students, oral communication skills are taught, practised and assessed through structured tutorial activities and participation. 		True True True
3 Global Perspectives
The unit teaches, practises and assesses global perspectives through historical and comparative work on documentary and the internationalising of Australian documentary production and distribution. 		True True True
4 Information Literacy
Information literacy is taught, practised and assessed through the provision of guidance in research methods for analysing and writing about documentary examples and issues. 		True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
The focus on understanding issues and developing the conceptual approaches of independent analysis means that lifelong learning is taught and practised in the unit. 		True False True
6 Problem Solving
Problem solving is taught, practised and assessed through the requirement to undertake research and analysis that helps to understand issues in documentary history, theory and practice. 		True True True
7 Social Responsibility
Social responsibility is taught and encouraged by considering documentary ethics, responsibilities in uses of knowledge and social relations of production. This attribute is specifically assessed in the second assignment, and for on-campus students, in the tutorials. 		True True True
8 Team Work
Documentary provides a range of models for team work, which are taught as part of unit content. Team work is practised and assessed for on-campus students through tutorial organisation and activities. It will be practised, but is not assessed, through online participation by off-campus students. 		True True True
   

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