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Unit outline_

CAEL2039: Screen Arts: an Introduction

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study introduces you to the conceptual frameworks and technologies that shape the making of screen-based media and contemporary art practices. Through a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and screenings you will explore the evolution of experimental film, video art and independent filmmaking from the 1960s to the present. You will engage in the production of a self-directed digital film that may be realized in any style or genre. The unit is supported by a technical program that provides you with the applied skills and competencies needed for the use of studio facilities and equipment.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Sydney College of the Arts
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 1000 level in Visual Arts or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Film Studies or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Studio Foundation
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator John Tonkin, john.tonkin@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Tamara Voninski, tamara.voninski@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Final project
Video project submitted via Canvas
50% Formal exam period
Due date: 14 Jun 2023 at 23:59
1-3 minutes (2300 words equivalent)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO2 LO3
Assignment Found footage: short video project
Online video submission. Details on Canvas.
30% Week 07
Due date: 06 Apr 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 20 Apr 2023
1 minute video (1300 words equivalent)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO2
Presentation Final project: proposal presentation
Pre-recorded video presentation shown in timetabled class.
20% Week 10
Due date: 07 May 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 21 May 2023
5-7 minutes (900 words equivalent)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

 

Please Note:

All assessment tasks must be submitted in order to pass this task!

Weighting for all tasks are slightly different than in the handbook.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

 

This unit uses standards-based assessment for award of assessment marks. Your assessments will be evaluated solely on the basis of your individual performance You need to satisfy requirements as determined by academic staff, including attendance, communicated to you through the Sydney College of the Arts Handbook, unit of study outlines, other written notifications and/or verbally through tutorials or seminars. All requirements must be met in order to be eligible for an assessment.

Your work will be assessed according to the following criteria, based on: attendance; participation and responsiveness to the unit of study and academic direction; written work; studio work and other unit of study work; tutorial and seminar team discussion. These criteria apply to studio-based learning and to theory units of study.

1. Competence
Demonstration of the development and application of practical and intellectual competency and skills appropriate to the unit of study.

2. Development
Demonstration of the ability to initiate and realise your own objectives for studio practice and theory work within the requirements of the unit of study and of your developing knowledge of the historical and theoretical context of your practice. You are expected to improve your abilities, competency and understanding over the course of a semester, and over successive semesters.

3. Critical Awareness
Demonstration of developing a critical awareness and knowledge of the unit of study and the ability to objectively evaluate your own work, select appropriate methods and materials and to formulate and evaluate ideas/methods.

4. Commitment
Demonstration of commitment and self-motivation in respect of the unit of study. The level of commitment to study in the academic program is reflected in; the development of self-motivation applied to individual, group or assignment-based work; the degree of participation in all units of study including group work, project submissions, essays and discussions; the development of a consistent work pattern; and the regularity and punctuality of attendance and submissions.

5. Innovation
Demonstration of innovative and imaginative thinking, appropriate to the unit of study, evidencing the quality of ideas underlying your work and development in your studies.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to unit and Found Footage Film - look at the use of found footage in experimental film and moving image art Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 02 Montage Theory - historic and contemporary uses of montage Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 03 Post-Production Video - Adobe Premiere and overview of video editing Workshop (3 hr)  
Week 04 Mise-en-scene and introduction to film production Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 05 Location Video & Sound Workshop (3 hr)  
Week 06 Moving Image & Experimental Film and Video Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 07 Independent study week Independent study (3 hr)  
Week 08 Location Lighting Workshop (3 hr)  
Week 09 Sound design and the moving image Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 10 Post-Production Sound and Video Workshop (3 hr)  
Week 11 Conceptual and process-driven moving image art. Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 12 Project Development and group feedback Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 13 Work-in-progress screening and class discussion Seminar (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Additional requirements by the Sydney College of the Arts

  • Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for this unit of study, unless granted exemption by the unit coordinator or relevant delegate.
  • All assignments are compulsory and must be attempted. You must attend scheduled assessments to be eligible to pass.
  • Non-attendance at assessment on any grounds insufficient to claim special consideration will result in forfeiture or marks associated with the assessment.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Relevant readings, viewing links and handouts will be provided in class and on Canvas throughout the course.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. produce two short audio-visual works that demonstrates the application of technical skills appropriate to each project
  • LO2. communicate ideas creatively and effectively and demonstrate rigorous and independent thinking
  • LO3. effectively evaluate the ethical implications of contemporary art and/or moving image production in relation to professional practice
  • LO4. demonstrate the ability to plan audio-visual projects and follow a production schedule from pre-production through to post-production
  • LO5. extend the creative potential of the studio major practice through the experience of working with technical resources in the Screen Arts studio environment, and through viewing a range of innovative video works
  • LO6. understand and apply safe working practices - OH&S in the studio and on location.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

assessment dates updated for 2022

Work, health and safety

Over the course of the semester, you will be given guidance in the safe use of SCA's production equipment and facilities. You will learn to assess and apply safe work standards to your work in both the production studios and on location. It is essential for the safety of yourself and others and for the safety of the equipment that you follow these guidelines.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.