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Unit of study_

GCST1603: Screen Cultures and Gender: Film to Apps

Semester 2, 2020 [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

Unit code GCST1603
Academic unit Gender and Cultural Studies
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Catherine Driscoll, catherine.driscoll@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Grace Sharkey, grace.sharkey@sydney.edu.au
Catherine Driscoll, catherine.driscoll@sydney.edu.au
Mia Harrison, mia.harrison@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Mia Harrison, mia.harrison@sydney.edu.au
Fiona Allon, fiona.allon@sydney.edu.au
Grace Sharkey, grace.sharkey@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Participation
n/a
10% - n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment Media analysis journal
n/a
50% - 2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Take-home exercise
n/a
40% Formal exam period
Due date: 12 Dec 2020 at 13:54
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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 sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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 The Impact of Popular Cinema Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
The impact of popular cinema Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 02 Television, Gender and Genre Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Television, Gender and Genre Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 03 Age, Gender, Government, and Videogames Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Age, Gender, Government, and Videogames Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 04 Inventing Online Life - from the internet to social media Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Inventing Online Life - from the internet to social media Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 05 Changing Film; Changing Genders Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Changing Film; Changing Genders Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 06 New TV Suppliers and Gender Diversity Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
New TV Suppliers and Gender Diversity Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 07 Convergent Media Selves - lifestyle and dating apps Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Convergent Media Selves - lifestyle and dating apps Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 08 Media Fandom Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 09 Media Fandom Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Online Activism and Cancel Culture Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Online Activism and Cancel Culture Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 10 "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 11 Iso Life - labour, leisure, and everyday screens Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Iso Life - labour, leisure, and everyday screens Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Screen Time and Screen Fatigue Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Screen Time and Screen Fatigue 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: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • 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/20877/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 feedback on the online research skills component, this assessment element within the media analysis journal has been substantially changed.

Please note that the “Media Analysis Journal” is comprised of four short elements due at different times across the unit.

  • Entry 1 is a research training element that can be submitted any time up to 26 November, although it is recommended that it be completed as soon as possible.
  • Entries 2 and 3 are short tasks practicing analysis of contemporary screen culture – there are 9 options from which students will choose 2 for these submissions (some questions require an emphasis on gender and all allow that focus if desired), due 11 September and 2 November.  
  • Entry 4 is a longer analysis of contemporary screen culture in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic and social responses to it, due 25 November (there are 2 options for this task, and gender is an optional focus for one and a required focus for the other).

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.