Units
Documentary Theory and Practice
Unit code: KPB205
Contact hours: 4 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
The documentary filmmaking tradition has involved many crucial aesthetic, technical and ethical concerns throughout history. This unit introduces this significant tradition of documentary production. For KP25/KK34 (Film & Television) students, the unit is a preparation for the documentary practical production unit, through learning to assimilate the principles outlined in the unit into their own documentary screenplays. For non-KP25/KK34 (Film & Television) students, the unit provides an opportunity to address the theoretical underpinnings of the documentary form, and the processes of documentary production.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Understanding the role documentary performs in our media age provides a crucial literacy to this most venerated of film forms. Students will be exposed to the history and theory behind documentary enabling them to conceptualise and plan their own documentary productions and critique the place of documentary in the contemporary media landscape.
Aims
This unit aims to:
1. Familiarise you with the traditions of documentary film and television production.
2. Acquaint you with varied stylistic practices in documentary.
3. Prepare you for the development of documentary screenplays.
4. Offer you different methodological choices for producing ethnographic or cross cultural documentaries.
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Understand contemporary documentary practice.
2. Be aware of ethical and cross-cultural considerations central to documentary practice.
3. Know different production methodologies and stylistic choices in documentary.
4. Write a critical analysis of documentary films.
Content
This unit addresses content such as:
The diverse range of topics include theoretical and practical considerations on for instance, the nature of documentary; modes and style of representation within documentary; the documentary tradition in Australia; documentary ethnography; the documentary as 'truth' construct.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
This unit will be taught through lectures/screenings. All screened films and reference texts will be on reserve in the library to facilitate easy access. As appropriate, in tutorials you will concentrate on expanding your understandings of the theoretical and historical issues underpinning documentary arising from the lectures and screenings.
Assessment
LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.
Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information see the Blackboard site for this unit.FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will receive formative feedback on your progress in this unit during tutorials and discussions throughout the semester. Weight 0%
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will be awarded a final grade on a 1 to 7 scale.
Assessment name:
Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description:
(Formative and summative) Students complete this task individually. Presentations share many of the same characteristics as a viva voce or oral examination; however, students usually prepare visual materials to accompany and assist their explanation or discussion. Students may involve and question members of the audience. Students submit presentation write-up.
Weight: 20% 10min Presentation, 20% accompanied by 1000 word written submission
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Mid semester
Assessment name:
Essay
Description:
(Summative) 2000 word Essay
Critical essay addressing a combination of historical, theoretical and formal elements contextualising documentary.
Relates to objectives:
Essay: 1, 2, 3
Documentary Script: 1, 2, 3, 4
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End semester
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
There is no required text for this unit.
Recommended references
Barnouw, E. (1983) Documentary: A History of the Non-Fiction Film, OUP, Oxford.
Corner, J. (2005) New Challenges for Documentary, Manchester University Press, Manchester.
Moran, A. (1991) Projecting Australia: Government Film since 1945, Currency Press, Sydney.
Nicholls, B. (2001) Introduction to Documentary, Indiana Uni Press.
Ragiger, M. (1998) Directing the Documentary, Focal Press, London.
Renov, M. (1993) Theorizing Documentary, Routledge, London.
Renov. M. (2004) The Subject of Documentary, Univ of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis
Winston, B. (1995) Claiming the Real, BFI, London.
Ellis, J. (2011) Documentary Witness and Self-revelation, Routledge, London/New York
Risk assessment statement
There are no out-of-ordinary risks for this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 25-Mar-2013
