Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

It is important for you as a creative practitioner to be aware of your Photomedia work in terms of its potential within social, historical, and cultural contexts. Critical understanding of photomedia contexts will contribute to your ability to work creatively and knowledgeably in a variety of creative and industry settings. In order to work effectively, it is important for you to extend your ability to communicate professional photographic values and skills.

Aims

This unit aims to provide you with an understanding of conceptual, technical and aesthetic perspectives as encountered in a number of contemporary photographic genres. In researching exemples, the unit aims to develop your appreciation of Photomedia genres as an evolving, self-referencing and cross-referencing set of conventions. You will develop and apply processes and concepts in photomedia to the creation of your own personal work. The unit also aims to give you the graduate capabilities required to understand your own and others' cultural identities.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Utilise creative applications of studio skills, including lighting, post production in photoshop and high resolution digital SLR camera capture in the production of a folio of work;
2. Employ strategies for exploring the social and cultural values represented in photomedia genres and projects;
3. Articulate a personal position in terms of your individual practice.

Content

This unit addresses content such as:
- Interpreting Photomedia images;
- The social, cultural, and political underpinnings of a variety of Photomedia genres:
· Photomedia and commodity culture;
· Photomedia ethics;
· Photomedia as art;

- An overview of contemporary photomedia;
- Photo Studio skills and set-ups;
- High Resolution digital capture with an SLR camera;
- Developing, creating and presenting a personal portfolio.

Graduate capabilities developed in this unit:
- Coherent theoretical and practical knowledge in Photomedia;
- Technological skills appropriate to Photomedia genres;
- Critical, creative and analytical thinking, and effective problem-solving;
- Effective communication with photography specialists, non-specialists and in cross-cultural contexts;
- The capacity for life-long learning;
- The ability to work independently and collaboratively;
- Social and Ethical responsibility and an understanding of indigenous and international perspectives;
- The ability to take initiative, to embrace innovation and manage change productively.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Lectures, tutorials, workshops, demonstrations, lighting studio work, individual practice, exhibitions and industry research, Blackboard resources.

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 please refer to the Blackboard site for this unit. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will investigate personal directions and conceptual frameworks in Photomedia as framed by a self-selected genre in Photomedia practice (ie. Documentary, journalism, artistic practice, fashion, lifestyle, or others). In consultation with staff, you will prepare a proposal outlining your folio project at the beginning of the semester. Proposals must be finalised by the end of the fifth week of semester.

Review of work will be on-going throughout the semester. Reviews are to discuss your progress with respect to the objectives of the unit and to assist you in developing your work.
Weight 0%

Students will be awarded a final grade on a 1 to 7 scale.

Assessment name: Presentation
Description: (Formative and Summative) Research an exemplar of a contemporary photomedia project and present an overview and analysis of the context of the project in class time.
Relates to objectives: 2
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Portfolio
Description: (Summative) Conceptually develop and produce a self-directed body of photomedia work.
Relates to objectives: 1,3.
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Assessment name: Report
Description: (Summative) A written statement and annotated bibliography linking the personal inquiry and processes in your folio work to current and/or historical photomedia contexts.
Relates to objectives: 2,3
Weight: 20%
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

Required Texts

There is no set text for this unit.

Recommended References

Coleman, A. D. (1998) The Digital Evolution. Tucson, AZ: Nazraeli Press

Janus, E. and Lambert, M. (1998) Veronica's Revenge: Contemporary perspectives on photography. Zurich: LAC Switzerland

Swartz, H. (1996) The culture of the copy: striking likenesses, unreasonable facsimiles. New York: Zone Books

Wells, Liz (2009) Photography: a critical introduction. London: Routledge

Wheeler, T. (2002) Phototruth or photofiction?: ethics and media imagery in the digital age. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates

Willats, J. (1997) Art and representation: new principles in the analysis of pictures. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press

Risk assessment statement

You will be instructed on safe procedures and the required safety gear for all studio and workshop processes that are demonstrated. Health and Safety files are readily available for all materials and machinery in all studios areas. A minimum of three students is required for after hours access to studios. Risk assessment forms must be completed and submitted before project work starts. As well, you have an obligation to make yourselves familiar with and adhere to Visual Arts Studio workplace health & safety policy.

Refer to the QUT Health & Safety web site:

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: 18-Jul-2012