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Unit of study_

PRFM1603: Place-Making and Performance

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Westmead, Sydney

Using a range of case studies, including examples of local theatre and performance companies working in Sydney, students will explore the relationship between place and performance. They will learn techniques and theories of site-specific performance: that is, performance which creatively responds to the contexts of built and natural environments, intercultural complexity, and the demands of a range of work, recreational, and healthcare usages. They will then apply those techniques to create their own site-specific performance works on the Westmead Campus in response to the Westmead Precinct Cultural Policy. Students will produce portfolios documenting the performance work they have created.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PRFM1603
Academic unit Theatre and Performance Studies
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Ian Maxwell, ian.maxwell@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Journal
Eight journal entries over the semester scaffolded through weekly tasks
30% Multiple weeks 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Assignment Response to readings
A response to reading material in context of student's directed research
30% Week 05
Due date: 26 Mar 2020 at 17:00
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment Performance Documentation and Exegesis
Solo task involving documentation and explanatory portfolio
40% Week 13
Due date: 28 May 2020 at 17:00
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3

Assessment summary

  • Respond to a reading in context of directed research question
  • Work collaboratively to make a site-specific performance, and document and provide an exegesis of that performance
  • Make a series (eight) of weekly journal entries in response to prompt questions and tasks

Assessment criteria

Assessments will be graded using rubrics published on the Unit Canvas site.

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 Introduction; place and memory; challenging the idea of 'empty space' Lecture (1 hr)  
Smoking ceremony. Introductions, discussion Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 02 Place, space and performance: a sport history of performance space Lecture (1 hr)  
Animating space: exercises Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 03 Guest teacher: Lawrence Ashford. Introduction to devising performance Workshop (3 hr)  
Week 04 Radical approaches to space and place 1: the general Lecture (1 hr)  
Experimenting with space an performances: exercises Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 05 Radical approaches to space and place: the specific Lecture (1 hr)  
Derive and audiowalk: exercises Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 06 Case Study 1: The Female Factory "Parramatta Girls" Lecture (1 hr)  
Animating the past: exercises Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 07 Case Study 1: The female Factor. Urban Theatre Project's "The Fence" Lecture (1 hr)  
Trauma, ethics, and performance: discussion/performance preparation Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 08 Case Study 2: "The Other Shore" Lecture (1 hr)  
Analogy and technology: discussion/performance preparation Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 09 Case Study 3: "This City is a Body" Lecture (1 hr)  
Intercultural performance: discussion/performance preparation Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 10 Case Study 4: bigHART "Sticky Bricks" Lecture (1 hr)  
Collaboration with community: discussion/performance preparation Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 11 Performance Preparation Rehearsal (3 hr)  
Week 12 Performance Preparation Rehearsal (3 hr)  
Week 13 In class performances Presentation (3 hr)  

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.

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. demonstrate familiarity with key concepts in the scholarly literature onplace-making and performance
  • LO2. in a group, apply selected practices to make decisions about, and to create, a site-specific performance work
  • LO3. be able to document, in a range of ways, that performance work, and the processes involved in creating it.

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.

This is the first time this unit has been 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.

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