Outline

Overview

This unit of study introduces students to the basic terminology of film form and concepts of film analysis. Film screenings cover sundry national cinemas, genres, modes, and directorial oeuvres from a wide variety of historical periods. Emphasis is placed on cinematic stylistics, but we will also consider film as an industrial system (of production, distribution, and exhibition) as well as a popular medium that both reinforces and challenges social norms and aesthetic codes.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Film Studies
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	ENGL1011
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Pao-chen Tang, paochen.tang@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Ivan Cerecina, ivan.cerecina@sydney.edu.au
	Will Jeffery, will.jeffery@sydney.edu.au
	Kaitlin Lake, kaitlin.lake@sydney.edu.au
	Mahsa Salamati, mahsa.salamati@sydney.edu.au
	Chenlei Xiao, chenlei.xiao@sydney.edu.au
	Max Bledstein, max.bledstein@sydney.edu.au
	Sebastian Byrne, sebastian.byrne@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Research Essay Formal essay in response to one of the questions prepared by the lecturer.	40%	Formal exam period Due date: 09 Jun 2024 at 23:59	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Tutorial Participation & weekly quiz Tutorial participation across semester, including weekly quiz results.	20%	Ongoing	In class + quizzes (300wd in total)
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Weekly Journal paragraph-long, short response to weekly course materials on Canvas	20%	Ongoing	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Small test	Early Feedback Task Citation exercise; #earlyfeedbacktask	0%	Week 03	Less than 100 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Sequence Analysis Paper Formal analysis of a brief film sequence.	20%	Week 08 Due date: 21 Apr 2024 at 23:59	1200 words
Outcomes assessed:

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

1 x Early Feedback Task

1 x Sequence Analysis Essay

1 x Research Essay

1 x Weekly Journal

1 x Tutorial Participation

For further details on each of these tasks, please see the “Assessments” tab in the unit of study Canvas page.

Assessment criteria

FASS grade guides to be added by faculty:
https://sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.html

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:

Work not submitted on or before the due date is subject to a penalty of 5% per calendar day late. If work is submitted more than 10 days after the due date, or is submitted after the return date, the mark will be 0. Details of the Faculty Resolutions and Provisions regarding late work: Undergraduate: http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/arts/rules/faculty_resolutions_arts.shtml

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.

Learning support

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Film Screening: Rear Window (Dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1954)	Presentation (2 hr)
Week 01	course introduction	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	course introduction + workshop on writing about film	Workshop (1 hr)
	Film screening: In the Mood for Love (Dir. Wong Kar-wai, 2000)	Presentation (2 hr)
	narrative/narration	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	narrative/narration	Tutorial (1 hr)
	film screening: Billy Elliot (Dir. Stephen Daldry, 2000)	Presentation (2 hr)
	continuity editing	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	continuity editing	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Film screening: Daisies (Dir. Věra Chytilová, 1966)	Presentation (2 hr)
	montage	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	montage	Tutorial (1 hr)
	film screening: Floating Life (Dir. Clara Law, 1996)	Presentation (2 hr)
	mise-en-scène	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	mise-en-scène	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Film screening: Weekend (Dir. Jean-Luc Godard, 1967)	Presentation (2.5 hr)
	cinematography	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	cinematography	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	in-class midterm exam	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Film screening: Walkabout (Dir. Nicolas Roeg, 1971)	Presentation (2 hr)
	Film music	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Film Music/Sound	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Film screening: Who Killed Vincent Chin? (Dir. Christine Choy, Renee Tajima-Peña, 1987)	Presentation (2 hr)
	documentary	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	documentary	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Film screening: All That Heaven Allows (Dir. Douglas Sirk, 1955)	Presentation (2 hr)
	genre	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	genre	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Film screening: Castle in the Sky (Dir. Hayao Miyazaki, 1986)	Presentation (2.5 hr)
	animation	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	animation	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Film screening: Persona (Dir. Ingmar Bergman, 1966)	Presentation (2 hr)
	film materiality	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	film materiality + workshop on final paper	Workshop (1 hr)
	Film screening: Holy Motors (Dir. Leos Carax, 2012)	Presentation (2 hr)
	Conclusion: film after film	Lecture (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

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.

If a unit of study has a participation mark, your attendance may influence this mark.

For more information on attendance, see http://sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspxrecnum=PDOC2014/345&RendNum=0.

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

For a detailed list of all reading and viewing material set on the course, please visit the Canvas site and click on the "Learning Materials" link beneath the Canvas banner. From there, you will see a link to "Tutorials".

* It is critical that you complete all required reading and viewing prior to your tutorial.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. analyze film shots and sequences by using the proper language of film analysis.
LO2. articulate basic and key concepts in film analysis and interpretation.
LO3. grasp the historical, cultural, and material contexts that underpin key concepts in film studies scholarship.
LO4. understand a diverse range of cinematic forms within a field of changing technologies and media structures.
LO5. identify and formulate strong arguments in academic discussion and writing.
LO6. conduct a feasible scholarly research of your own design and argue the stakes, methods, and outcomes of your project.

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

This unit has been developed in 2021. Based on student feedback, we have changed film titles and content in several lectures, diversified the film selection, and we have again incorporated two assessment workshops.

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

FILM1000: Introduction to Film Studies

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links