Pedagogical Uses of Australian Screen Content in Tertiary Education
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Pedagogical Uses of Australian Screen Content in Tertiary Education 2016 SSAAANZ conference, 25 November, University of Victoria, Wellington Mark David Ryan and Kayleigh Murphy Queensland University of Technology [email protected] Broader Research Context This paper emerges from and builds on two projects: Australia cinema studies: how the subject is taught in Australian universities • 1 year study into curriculum/syllabus models • Finding published in The Journal of Australian Studies (Ryan 2017 forthcoming) Screen Content in Australian Education: Digital Promise and Pitfalls • Funded by ‘Australian screen content in education’ Linkage Grant (Cunningham and Dezaunni) • I led a component on screen content in tertiary education Background: Mapping of Australian Cinema Studies 31 of 39 University offered an ‘Australian cinema’ subject of some kind: 22 universities offered Australian cinema units (sole object of study) 5 offered Australian cinema as a dual area of study with literature or stage 4 units where Australian cinema constituted a minor component of syllabus (‘Australian Popular Culture’ and ‘World Cinemas’) Units without a central Australian film focus were not analysed Source: Australia cinema studies: how the subject is taught in Australian universities 3 University Unit 1. Australian National Australian Cinema: The Kelly Gang to Baz Luhrmann’s University Australia (FILM2066) 2. Bond University Film Analysis 2: Australian Cinema (FITV12-230) 3. Deakin University Contemporary Australian Cinema (AAM319) 4. Edith Cowan University Australian Screen Studies (SCR2116) 5. Federation University Australian Cinema (FLMOL 1001) 6. Flinders University Australian Cinema (SCME2101) [Renamed: Australian/Indigenous Media (SCME2101)] 7. Griffith University Australia Screen (3012HUM) 8. MacQuarie University Australian Film and Television (CUL221) 9. Monash University Australian film and television: Nation, culture and identity (ATS2529) 10. Queensland University of Australian Film and Television (KPB212) Technology Australian cinema 11. Royal Melbourne Australian Cinema (COMM1033) Institute of Technology (RMIT University) subjects by 12. Swinburne Australian Film and Television History (FTV20005) 13. University of Canberra Australian National Cinema (9016.2) university 14. University of Melbourne Australian Film and Television (SCRN20013) 15. University of New Australian Cinema (COMM385/585) England 16. University of Notre Australian Cinema (CO363) Dame 17. University of NSW Australian Cinema and Television (ARTS2062) 18. University of Queensland Australian Cinema (MSTU2006) 19. University of Southern Australian Television (CMS2017) Queensland 20. University of Sunshine Upfront: History of Film in Australia (HIS290) Coast 21. University of Technology Australian Film (58321) Sydney 22. University of Western Postcolonial Australian Cinema (101987.1) Sydney 4 Subjects by university cont … “Australian cinema” units with a dual focus University Unit 23. Charles Sturt University Australian Screen and Stage (COM122) 24. James Cook University Regional Features: Place, Location, Australia and Asia in Cinema (CN2205) 25. University of Adelaide Australian Classics: Literature and Film (ENGL 2055) 26. University of South Australia Imagined: Identity and Diversity in Australia Australian Film and Literature (COMM 3048) 27. University of Sydney Australian Stage and Screen (ASLT2616) Broader units with content that also includes “Australian cinema” University Unit 28. Australian Catholic Australian Popular Culture (HIST228) University (no course outline available) 29. Curtin University World Cinemas (SCST2000) 30. University of Western National and Transnational Cinemas Australia (ENGL3401) 31. Victoria University World Cinema (ACC3061) 5 Background: National Cinema Curriculum and Australian Cinema Studies Australian cinema studies is firmly embedded within national cinema curriculum Focussed on Australian cinema’s distinctiveness as a national cinema and attendant discourses Principal focus is analysing, critiquing, discussing and in some cases problematising national issues, history and discourses Most units have modules dedicated to contemporary issues, only a handful focussed on contemporary cinema 6 Background: common approaches to syllabus Four key approaches to curriculum are: 1.Historical and chronological accounts of Australian cinema (historical/industry/policy/text during a specific period of time) 2.Study of a key film and corresponding theme (textual/thematic,history) 3.Key discourses of Australian cinema and critical issues (cultural, critical theory) 4.A modular approach (a combination of the above) 7 Background: Historical chronologies Table 1: ‘Upfront: History of Film in Australia’, University of the sunshine Coast Lecture Lecture topic/key concepts week 1. Introduction: The invention and early historical transitions of film: what was Key issues that shape cinema? production, policy 2. The Silent Era 1: the first Australian (and international) documentaries settings and ultimately (‘actualities’) and the early feature film history of Australia the textuality of films in 3. The Silent Era 2: the development of documentary and feature film, and the a specific era cinema industry, in Australia to the end of the 1920s: structures, techniques, narratives, themes 4. The coming of sound in late 1920s and 1930s – new techniques, old themes? Provides a holistic 5. War, propaganda and colour film: WW2 and the effects on Australian film account of OZ cinema – from silent cinema to 6. 1940s-50s Britain/Australia/Hollywood: the links 7. now … Documentary film: supporting the film industry during the decline in feature productions 8. The start of the revival of Australian film Emphasis tends to be a 9. The film revival in full swing combination of text, 10. Suburban/urban film 1980s-1990s history, industry, policy 11. Diversity, glam musicals and the marginalised 12. A second revival? New directions 8 Background: key discourses/critical issues Critical issues: ‘Australian Film and Television’, Macquarie University Lecture Lecture schedule and content breakdown week 1. Screening Australianness – Newsfront (1977) Aligned with critical 2. Screening National Identity – Kenny (2006) theories/approaches 3. Screening Indigeneity – Mabo (2012) common in film theory/ 4. Screening Multiculturalism – Temple of Dreams (2007) Screen studies 5. Screening Australia –Australia (2008) 6. Screening Space – Bra Boys (Sunny Aberton, Macario De Souza, 2007) Critical positions not 7. Screening Gender – Suburban Mayhem (Paul Goldman, 2006) necessarily unique to 8. Screening Sexualities – Strange Bedfellows (2004, Dean Murphy) Australian cinema 9. Screening Religion – The Devil’s Playground(Fred Schepsisi, 1976) studies but applied to 10. Screening Diaspora and Detention – Go Back to Where You Came From, Season the Australian context 1, Episodes 1 and 2 (2011, SBS Television) 11. Screening Badlands – Underbelly: The Golden Mile, Season 3, Episode 1 – ‘Into the Mystic’ (2010, Nine Network) 12. Screening Futures 9 Background: Australian cinema discourses and genre KPB212: Australian Film and Television Lecture Lecture Screenings Week 1. Introduction: Australia film and television – Crocodile Crocodile Dundee (1986) Dundee 2. Constructing a nation in 1970s and 1980s – Gallipoli Gallipoli (1981) 3. Aesthetics of commercialism: Ozploitation and Not Quite Hollywood blockbusters – Not Quite Hollywood (2008) 4. Diversity and Australian Screen in the 1990s: Men, The Adventures of Priscilla, women and suburbia Queen of the Desert (1994) 5. Post-national cinema: contemporary Australian cinema Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010) 6. The Australian television industry Episode of Neighbours and TV soapies Or Home and Away (2006 and 1993 series available) 7. Indigenous filmmaking The Sapphires (2012) 8. Suburban mayhem: crime films Gettin Square (2003) 9. Revenge of nature: Australian horror films Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) or The Tunnel (2011) 10. Ocker comedy The Castle (1997) 10 This Study Examines the use of ‘Australian screen’