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Unit outline_

GCST1603: Screen Cultures and Gender: Film to Apps

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit traces the history of screen cultures from film to apps, focusing on how popular media is used to produce and represent masculinity and femininity. Students will consider cinema, television, videogames, the internet and mobile devices, asking how changing media forms and practices impact on our gendered identities and everyday lives.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Gender and Cultural Studies
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Vivien Nara, vivien.nara@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Vivien Nara, vivien.nara@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Junyi Cai, junyi.cai@sydney.edu.au
Georgia Munro-Cook, georgia.munro-cook@sydney.edu.au
Hussein Kobeissi, hussein.kobeissi@sydney.edu.au
Josto Luzzu, josto.luzzu@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Final Take-Home Assignment
See canvas for details
40% Formal exam period
Due date: 25 Nov 2022 at 23:59
2,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Media Analysis Journal 1
See Canvas for details
10% Week 05
Due date: 02 Sep 2022 at 23:59
750 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Media Analysis Journal 2
See Canvas for details
15% Week 09
Due date: 07 Oct 2022 at 23:59
750 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Media Analysis Journal 3
See Canvas for details
25% Week 13
Due date: 04 Nov 2022 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Participation Participation
See canvas for details
10% Weekly Assessed in class time
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

  • 1x2500wd media analysis journal (online) (50%)
  • 1x2000wd take-home exercise (40%)
  • Tutorial participation (10%)

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.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

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 Screen Cultures and Gender Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 Mapping Screen/Gender Cultures Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Mapping Screen/Gender Cultures Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 03 The Impact of Popular Cinema Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
The Impact of Popular Cinema Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 04 Television, Gender and Genre Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Television, Gender and Genre Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 05 Age, Gender, Government, and Videogames Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Age, Gender, Government, and Videogames Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 06 Online Culture from the Internet to Social Media Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Online Culture from the Internet to Social Media Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 07 Changing Film; Changing Genders Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Changing Film; Changing Genders Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 08 New TV Suppliers and Representational Diversity Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
New TV Suppliers and Representational Diversity Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 09 Media Fandom Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Media Fandom Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 10 Online Activism and Cancel Culture Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Online Activism and Cancel Culture Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 11 Lifestyle and dating apps Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Lifestyle and dating apps Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 12 "We're All in this Together" - representing Covid-19 and "social distancing" Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
"We're All in this Together" - representing Covid-19 and "social distancing" Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Conclusions - screen cultures and affective networks Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Conclusions - screen cultures and affective networks Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

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.
  • Lecture recording: All lectures will be recorded and made available to students on the LMS. Lectures will include opportunities for questions and interactions that will not be available to students watching a downloaded version after the lecture time.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

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

All required and also all recommended readings are listed on the unit’s Canvas page and available electronically through that site.

See the online syllabus here for more information: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/34749/assignments/syllabus.

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. critically appraise the relations between cultural change and changing media technologies
  • LO2. appreciate the relationships between popular media forms and gendered identities
  • LO3. apply techniques of discourse analysis, cultural historical analysis, and related theoretical concepts to screen-based popular culture
  • LO4. research evidence and articulate arguments about culture, technology and gender
  • LO5. communicate ideas effectively in academic discourse.

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
LO1         
LO2         
LO3         
LO4         
LO5         

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

In response to 2020 feedback some of the content in the final weeks of the unit has been changed.

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.