Skip to main content
Unit of study_

NYUS3102: Expressive Culture: Film

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

This unit of study is only available to students approved to be participating in the NYU Sydney Program.

Unit details and rules

Unit code NYUS3102
Academic unit Arts and Social Sciences
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Yuri Ogura, yuri.ogura@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Anne Barnes, a.barnes@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Final Paper
Apply analysis to readings chosen and demonstrate critical thinking skills
40% Formal exam period
Due date: 06 Jun 2023 at 23:59
3000-3500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Assignment Weekly Reading Quiz
Demonstrate preparation for and engagement in course with weekly quiz
10% Multiple weeks 500-600 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Sequence Analysis
Identify sequence from film and critically analyse it in a short paper
20% Week 06
Due date: 28 Mar 2023 at 23:59
1500-1800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Critical Paper
Write short critical essay from 2 readings from a selected list
20% Week 10
Due date: 02 May 2023 at 23:59
1500-1800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Proposal for Final Paper
Submit a proposal to outline how they intend to approach chosen question
10% Week 12
Due date: 16 May 2023 at 23:59
1500-1800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

Weekly Quizzes: Each quiz comprises questions on the essential pre-reading to be completed before attending class
Sequence Analysis: Identify a sequence from a film and critically analyse how the sequence reflects key themes, concepts and/or aesthetic strategies introduced in week 1-5.
Critical Paper: Select two readings from a selection and write a short critical essay in which they identify and analyse the key arguments, ideas, concepts and issues raised by the authors
Proposal for Final Paper: Submit a proposal using the template provided to outline how they intend to approach their chosen question
Final Paper:  Apply analysis to specific, carefully selected case studies and film examples for their final paper to demonstrate their critical thinking, analysis and evaluation skills.

Assessment criteria

For this course your total numerical score, calculated from the components listed above, correspond to the following letter grades:

A 94 to 100
A- 90 to < 94
B+ 87 to < 90
B 84 to < 87
B- 80 to < 84
C+ 77 to < 80
C 74 to <77
C- 70 to < 74
D+ 67 to < 70
D 65 to < 67
F 0 to < 65

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 Crocodile Dundee – The Australian Blockbuster & its Cross-Cultural Reception Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 02 Walkabout – The Australian Film Revival & the Outback Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 03 Balibo – Researched Detail, the Thriller & the Historical Film Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 04 Shine – Film Sound & The Biopic Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 05 Floating Life – Transnationalism & Melodrama Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 06 The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – Minority Appropriation and the Australian Road Movie Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 07 Mad Max: Fury Road – Serializing the Australian Road Movie Blockbuster Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 08 The Tracker – Australian Cinema after Mabo & the No Road Film Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 09 Rabbit Proof Fence – The Stolen Generations & Adaptation Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 10 Australia – The Stolen Generations & the Historical Epic as Blockbuster Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 11 Mystery Road – Outback Noir & Historical Memory Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 12 Ten Canoes – Collaborative Histories & the Archive Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 13 Terror Nullius – Remixing Australian Cinema Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Studying at NYU Sydney is an academically intensive and immersive experience, in which students from a wide range of backgrounds exchange ideas in discussion-based seminars. Learning in such an environment depends on the active participation of all students. And since classes typically meet once or twice a week, even a single absence can cause a student to miss a significant portion of a course. To ensure the integrity of this academic experience, class attendance at NYU Sydney is expected promptly when class begins. Attendance will be checked at each class meeting.

Unexcused absences may be penalized with a two percent deduction from the student’s final course grade for every week's worth of classes missed, and may negatively affect your class participation grade. Four unexcused absences in one course may lead to a Fail in that course. Being more than 15 minutes late counts as an unexcused absence.

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 readings for this unit can be accessed through NYU Brightspace

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. Apply the basic vocabulary of film form
  • LO2. Grasp the mechanics of structuring a written argument about a film’s meaning
  • LO3. Engage with different approaches to thinking and writing about cinema and film
  • LO4. Act upon their viewing position and their application of interpretive strategies to films from diverse historical and cultural contexts
  • LO5. Utilise a critical vocabulary for analysing representations of the relationship between the past and the present on film
  • LO6. Critically analyse the ways that representations of the past shape and are shaped by their historical, political and cultural contexts
  • LO7. Research and investigate aspects of the Australian cinema and communicate their findings in a coherent, well-structured written form
  • LO8. Situate contemporary Australian cinema in its national, regional and international contexts

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

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.