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  2. Documentary, Film and Television [CMM2107]

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: Communications and Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Documentary, Film and Television

  • Unit Code

    CMM2107

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    2

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

'What is documentary?'...this unit traces the evolution of the documentary from its inception, covering key documentary theorists, movements and practitioners. It examines the role of the documentary as cultural intervention. Students are encouraged to develop their own documentary script proposal.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from FAV1111

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded CMM3107, CMM4107

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply theoretical perspectives to their own documentary practice.
  2. Describe key historical movements in documentary and evaluate their contribution to the development of the form.
  3. Describe the major characteristics of the documentary form in both film and television.
  4. Recognise and critique the different forms the documentary has taken.

Unit Content

  1. Community engagement and ethical practice in documentary production.
  2. Contemporary hybrid fact-fiction forms.
  3. Historical evolution of documentary styles.
  4. Subjectivity, objectivity and the representation of reality in documentary.
  5. The role of documentary.
  6. Writing documentary proposals.

Additional Learning Experience Information

The unit consists of a weekly 4 hour teaching block. This will include lectures, screenings, seminar discussions and workshops.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
JournalTutorial Report *40%
AssignmentProject60%

* Assessment item identified for English language proficiency

Text References

  • ^ Course reader.
  • Nichols, B. (2001). Introduction to documentary. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
  • Ward, P. (2006). Documentary: The margins of reality. London: BFI.
  • Rosenthal, A., & Corner, J. (Eds.). (2005). New challenges for documentary. (2nd ed.). Manchester: Manchester University Press.
  • Roscoe, J., & Hight, C. (2001). Faking it: Mock-documentary and the subversion of factuality. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
  • Rhodes, G., & Springer, J. (Eds.). (2006). Docufictions: Essays on the intersection of documentary and fictional filmmaking. Jefferson: McFarland.
  • Beattie, K. (2004). Documentary screens: Nonfiction film and television. London: Palgrave.
  • Bernard, S. (2003). Documentary storytelling for video and filmmakers. Boston: Butterworth Heinemann.
  • Bruzzi, S. (2000). New documentary. London: Routledge.
  • Ellis, J., & McLane, B. (2005). A new history of documentary film. New York: Continuum.
  • Grant, B., & Sloniowski, J. (1998). Documenting the documentary: Close readings of documentary film and video. Detroit: Wayne State University Press.

Journal References

  • Studies in Documentary Film
  • Sight and Sound
  • Wide Angle
  • Metro

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CMM2107|2|1

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: Communications and Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Documentary, Film and Television

  • Unit Code

    CMM2107

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    2

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

'What is documentary?'...this unit traces the evolution of the documentary from its inception, covering key documentary theorists, movements and practitioners. It examines the role of the documentary as cultural intervention. Students are encouraged to develop their own documentary script proposal.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from FAV1111

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded CMM3107, CMM4107

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply theoretical perspectives to their own documentary practice.
  2. Describe key historical movements in documentary and evaluate their contribution to the development of the form.
  3. Describe the major characteristics of the documentary form in both film and television.
  4. Recognise and critique the different forms the documentary has taken.

Unit Content

  1. Community engagement and ethical practice in documentary production.
  2. Contemporary hybrid fact-fiction forms.
  3. Historical evolution of documentary styles.
  4. Subjectivity, objectivity and the representation of reality in documentary.
  5. The role of documentary.
  6. Writing documentary proposals.

Additional Learning Experience Information

The unit consists of a weekly 4 hour teaching block. This will include lectures, screenings, seminar discussions and workshops.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
JournalTutorial Report *40%
AssignmentProject60%

* Assessment item identified for English language proficiency

Text References

  • ^ Course reader.
  • Nichols, B. (2001). Introduction to documentary. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
  • Ward, P. (2006). Documentary: The margins of reality. London: BFI.
  • Rosenthal, A., & Corner, J. (Eds.). (2005). New challenges for documentary. (2nd ed.). Manchester: Manchester University Press.
  • Roscoe, J., & Hight, C. (2001). Faking it: Mock-documentary and the subversion of factuality. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
  • Rhodes, G., & Springer, J. (Eds.). (2006). Docufictions: Essays on the intersection of documentary and fictional filmmaking. Jefferson: McFarland.
  • Beattie, K. (2004). Documentary screens: Nonfiction film and television. London: Palgrave.
  • Bernard, S. (2003). Documentary storytelling for video and filmmakers. Boston: Butterworth Heinemann.
  • Bruzzi, S. (2000). New documentary. London: Routledge.
  • Ellis, J., & McLane, B. (2005). A new history of documentary film. New York: Continuum.
  • Grant, B., & Sloniowski, J. (1998). Documenting the documentary: Close readings of documentary film and video. Detroit: Wayne State University Press.

Journal References

  • Studies in Documentary Film
  • Sight and Sound
  • Wide Angle
  • Metro

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CMM2107|2|2