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Unit of study_

PRFM3624: Performance Studio

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

In collaboration with an artist/artists in residence, students will experience training and/or rehearsal and/or creative development practices geared towards public performance. Guided by the artists and lecturers, students will participate physically, conceptually, and creatively through the course of intensive workshops, framed by preparatory and post-experience seminars. Students will keep a journal of the experience, and will prepare a presentation and research paper critically reflecting upon the workshops, employing methodologies and theoretical perspectives from the major.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PRFM3624
Academic unit Theatre and Performance Studies
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Theatre and Performance Studies or (PRFM2601 and PRFM2602)
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Amanda Card, amanda.card@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Research Paper/Essay
An essay devised from Ass #2 and a self devised research question.
50% Formal exam period
Due date: 22 Nov 2023 at 23:59
2,500-3,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Presentation group assignment Group Presentations Weeks 2-7
Group devised presentation on the material allocated for that week
30% Multiple weeks 45-60 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Assignment Workshop Journal Entries Weeks 9-12
Journal entries submitted on Canvas after every Workshop Wks 9-12
20% Multiple weeks equiv. 1000 words total
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO3
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

NOTE: all assessments must be attempted to pass this Unit of Study

Assessment #1 Group presentation: students will be divided into groups and each group will present on a designated week, exploring different aspects of and influences on the work of the featured artist(s) running the performance studio workshops.

Assessment #2 Workshop Journal Entries: these individually authored journal entries will respond to a series of questions, posted on Canvas by the Unit of Study Coordinator, for each workshop week. Responses will explore the student's workshop experiences.

Assessment #3 Research Paper/Essay: each student will develop their own research question for their final essay, with reference to Assessment #2 their Workshop Journal Entries, and Assessment #1 the Group Presentation series (not necessarily their own). Each student's self devised question will be developed in consulation (across Week 13) with the Unit of Study Coordinator.

Assessment criteria

Rubrics will accompany each Assessment Task, published on Canvas, and available Week 1.

As a general guide:

High Distinction (85-100) indicates work of an exceptional standard

Distinction (75-84) a very high standard

Credit (65-74) a good standard

Pass (50-64) an acceptable standard

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:

5% per day

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 Artists Seminar (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 02 Influences #1 Seminar (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 03 Influences #2 Seminar (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 04 Influences #3 Seminar (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 05 Influences #4 Seminar (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 06 Influences #5 Seminar (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 07 Influences #6 Seminar (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 08 Preparing to Perform Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Workshop #1 Workshop (3 hr) LO2
Week 10 Workshop #2 Workshop (3 hr) LO2
Week 11 Workshop #3 Workshop (3 hr) LO2
Week 12 Workshop #4 Workshop (3 hr) LO2
Individual meetings with Tutor One-to-one tuition (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

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. (Please see attendance expectations for performance workshops below.)

Seminars are not usually be recorded. Please contact your teacher via email if you are unable to attend a seminar.

Workshops will not be recorded (naturally), so students need to attend all workshops. You will be working with professional performance artists, please show them the respect they deserve and arrive before the workshop begins, ready to be on-the-floor at the designated start time.

All Assessments (and part of Assessments) must be attempted to pass this course.

Preparation: Students should commit to spending approximately three hours preparation time (reading, making notes, doing independent research, doing homework, reading essays, preparing presentations, doing journal entries) for every hour of scheduled instruction (3 hour seminars/workshops = 9 hours prep).

 

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

A comprehensive Week by Week will be found on Canvas, but these texts are references that students may find helpful.

Arlander, Annette, Bruce Barton, Melanie Dreyer-Lude, Ben Spatz. (eds) 2018. Performance as Research: Knowledge, Methods, Impact. New York: Routledge.

Auslander, Phillip. 1999. Liveness: performance in mediatised culture, London: Routledge.

Hamilton, Margaret. 2011. Transfigured Stages Major Practitioners and Theatre Aesthetics in Australia. Amsterdam: Rodopi.

Kershaw, Baz and Helen Nicolson. 2011. Research Methods in Theatre and Performance. Edinburgh University Press.

Phelan, Peggy. 1993. Unmarked: the politics of performance, London: Routledge

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. offer a sophisticated understanding of the theoretical grounds for, and methodologies involved in, performance as research
  • LO2. offer a critical analytical account of an authentic, collaborative creative process from the perspective of being inside that process
  • LO3. understand and offer an account of a professional performance-making practice
  • LO4. articulate and analyse the nature and experience of embodied collaborative practice as a research methodology

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

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