KPB113 Screen Text Analysis


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Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Unit code:KPB113
Credit points:12
Coordinator:Peter Schembri | p.schembri@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

This unit considers Hollywood and independent film and television text forms, the industry processes that produce these texts, and the audiences that consume them. It introduces key textual analysis techniques to examine screen texts, while taking into account industry and audience contexts. Film and television text production is both an art-form and a business. Therefore, critically informed textual analysis approaches that examine the values, meanings and messages constructed by screen texts are valued by screen practitioners, critics, and educators.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of film and television text forms, the industries that produce these texts and the audiences that consume them.
  2. Apply textual analysis techniques to evaluate and theorise about the ways in which film and television texts communicate and construct meaning.
  3. Use written language to effectively communicate interpretations of film and TV texts to an audience.

Content

In this unit you will be introduced to key elements of screen form and style, and screen language. You will be encouraged to examine topics such as: narrative structure; cinematography; mise-en-scène, film style; genres and their codes and conventions; independent cinema; classical and contemporary Hollywood; intertextuality; and the auteur.

Learning Approaches

Your learning in this unit is supported through an integrated series of lectures and tutorials. Lectures highlight important textual analysis techniques and are applied to excerpts from movies and television programs. Tutorials provide opportunities to discuss, apply, and raise further questions about these approaches. You will be encouraged to develop your skills of critical inquiry and to evaluate, defend and interrogate your arguments and the arguments of others.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

In this unit you will receive feedback on your learning as general comments from teaching staff, communicated to the cohort during tutorials and via the Canvas website. Tutorials are opportunities to receive more specific feedback from teaching staff and peers. You are also encouraged to contribute to discussions and debates with peers and teaching staff, as this not only provides feedback to others, it also helps you build your ability to construct meaning and shape your own creative and critical thinking. For assessable work you will receive comments from teaching staff on criterion referenced grading sheets.

Assessment

Overview

For this unit you are required to write two critical essays which synthesise your reading and discussions regarding screen texts. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your ability to apply critical textual analysis, and theorise on topics raised during the semester.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access complete the Faculty's Assessment Information please refer to the Canvas site for this unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Comparative Essay

Through the combination of many textual elements, films and TV shows generate meanings for audiences. For this essay, you will compare key textual elements present in two screen texts. You will be given a choice of texts from which to choose from.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Weight: 40
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Mid-Semester
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Assessment: Argumentative Essay

In this argumentative essay, you will provide textual evidence to support the claim that contemporary audiences respond to a film director or a film actor based on the perception there is a recognisable style recurrent in their work. To support your argument, you will analyse a number of key scenes from the films of a particular director or actor by applying a specific analytical frame (an auteur approach for the director; a star studies approach for the actor).

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Weight: 60
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Late Semester
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

There are no required set texts for this unit; however the following texts are recommended to deepen and broaden your grasp of screen text analysis. Additional resources and readings will also be made available through your unit Canvas website.

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Bordwell, David; Thompson, Kristin; and Smith, Jeff. 2020. Film Art: An Introduction. New York: McGraw-Hill. Available as eBook via QUT Library

Butler, Jeremy G. 2011. Television: Critical Methods and Applications. New York: Routledge. Available as eBook via QUT Library

Caldwell, Thomas. 2017. Film Analysis Handbook: Essential Guide to Understanding, Analysing and Writing on Film (2nd edition). Cheltenham, Victoria: Insight Publications.

Hayward, Susan. 2017. Cinema Studies: the Key Concepts. Abingdon, Oxon; New York: Routledge. Available as eBook via QUT Library

Nelmes, Jill (eds). 2012. Introduction to Film Studies. 5th Edition. London; New York: Routledge. Available as eBook via QUT Library.

Stadler, Jane and McWilliam, Kelly. 2008. Screen Media: Analysing Film and Television. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin. Available as eBook via QUT Library.

Turner, Graeme and Tay, Jinna (eds). 2009. Television Studies after TV: Understanding Television in the Post-Broadcast Era. London; New York: Routledge.

Yale University, 2020. Yale Film Analysis Guide. New Haven, Connecticut.  Available as a website.

Risk Assessment Statement

All students and staff are required to complete the Tier 1 General Health and Safety Induction for access to campus buildings and facilities. This must be completed online.

There are no out of the ordinary risks for this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

KK34 Bachelor of Fine Arts

  1. Cite and discuss a broad and coherent knowledge of historical and contemporary cultural contexts for creative practice, including the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges.
    Relates to: ULO1
  2. Demonstrate complex problem solving through iterative experimentation and the creative and critical development of ideas and outcomes.
    Relates to: ULO2
  3. Demonstrate technical proficiency in at least one area of your field of creative practice.
    Relates to: ULO2
  4. Communicate independent learning clearly and coherently in diverse modes relevant to your field of creative practice.
    Relates to: ULO3
  5. Discern, critically analyse and synthesise knowledge in complex creative practice settings.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO3

KK43 Bachelor of Creative Industries

  1. Demonstrate broad and coherent theoretical and practical knowledge required for creative enterprise, career development and interdisciplinary collaborations, supported by depth in at least one creative disciplinary area.
    Relates to: ULO1
  2. Demonstrate well-developed cognitive and ideation skills to identify, analyse and evaluate opportunities to address authentic complex problems.
    Relates to: ULO2
  3. Demonstrate technical expertise to support skills and knowledge within the Creative Industries.
    Relates to: ULO2
  4. Communicate effectively in a range of forms across multiple media modes, for sharing and disseminating knowledge, skills and ideas, and collaborative practice and navigation of social networks.
    Relates to: ULO3
  5. Apply and adapt creative disciplinary knowledge and skills with agility in a range of industry, community and intercultural contexts.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO3