School: Western Australian Academy of Performing 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.

Your unit may be subject to government or third party COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Please consider this before enrolling in this unit, and speak with the unit coordinator if this raises any concerns.

  • Unit Title

    Comic Performance
  • Unit Code

    PMA2010
  • Year

    2022
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Tamara Lisa COOK

Description

This unit examines different types of comedy used in performance, such as: clowning; stand-up comedy; improvisation; devised work; and script work. It explores the techniques used for creating comic performance, both individually and within a group. The classes focus on developing the actor's physical and vocal expression for comic performance, and investigates the use of social commentary in comedy. This unit explores the vulnerability needed by the performer to develop both comedic situations and comedic characters. Students will be asked to connect with and develop their individual clown.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must have completed PMA2005

Co-Requisite Rule

Students must be enrolled in Course Y97

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded PAM2005

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse movement and text for comic potential.
  2. Apply techniques of observation, storytelling and timing to comic performance.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of socio-cultural factors in influencing comedy for performers.
  4. Demonstrate and understanding of the importance of vulnerability in comic performance.
  5. Devise situational comedy within a group structure.
  6. Understand the notion of clown as the foundation of all comedy.

Unit Content

  1. Breakdown of actor's inhibitions and exposition of vulnerability.
  2. Comedic vocal exploration.
  3. Development of physical expression.
  4. Exercises in observation, listening, and timing.
  5. Exercises in spontaneity.
  6. Exercises to develop and release the performer's clown.
  7. Group improvisation exercises.
  8. Script analysis particular to comic performance.
  9. Story telling.
  10. Use of social, historical and cultural influence in developing comedy.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Weekly group workshops and seminars.

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 School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseClasswork and Reflective Practice50%
Performance ^Performance Project50%

^ Mandatory to Pass


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 Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

PMA2010|2|1

School: Western Australian Academy of Performing 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.

Your unit may be subject to government or third party COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Please consider this before enrolling in this unit, and speak with the unit coordinator if this raises any concerns.

  • Unit Title

    Comic Performance
  • Unit Code

    PMA2010
  • Year

    2022
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Tamara Lisa COOK

Description

This unit examines different types of comedy used in performance, such as: clowning; stand-up comedy; improvisation; devised work; and script work. It explores the techniques used for creating comic performance, both individually and within a group. The classes focus on developing the actor's physical and vocal expression for comic performance, and investigates the use of social commentary in comedy. This unit explores the vulnerability needed by the performer to develop both comedic situations and comedic characters. Students will be asked to connect with and develop their individual clown.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must have completed PMA2005

Co-Requisite Rule

Students must be enrolled in Course Y97

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded PAM2005

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse movement and text for comic potential.
  2. Apply techniques of observation, storytelling and timing to comic performance.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of socio-cultural factors in influencing comedy for performers.
  4. Demonstrate and understanding of the importance of vulnerability in comic performance.
  5. Devise situational comedy within a group structure.
  6. Understand the notion of clown as the foundation of all comedy.

Unit Content

  1. Breakdown of actor's inhibitions and exposition of vulnerability.
  2. Comedic vocal exploration.
  3. Development of physical expression.
  4. Exercises in observation, listening, and timing.
  5. Exercises in spontaneity.
  6. Exercises to develop and release the performer's clown.
  7. Group improvisation exercises.
  8. Script analysis particular to comic performance.
  9. Story telling.
  10. Use of social, historical and cultural influence in developing comedy.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Weekly group workshops and seminars.

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 School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseClasswork and Reflective Practice50%
Performance ^Performance Project50%

^ Mandatory to Pass


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 Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

PMA2010|2|2