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

Dance has demonstrably been a leader in many of the areas that inform the globalised environment of 21st century arts practices, noticeably in the areas of interactive technologies, interdisciplinarity, international collaborations which interrogate differing cultural perspectives, and the increasing fascination of mass audiences with dance reality television shows and social network sites such as YouTube. Parallel to these practices are the growth in participation of recreational dance-related physical activities, and in an industry context the DIY artists of the independent performance scene. Common to these practices is a conscious hybridisation of traditional hierarchies between 'elite' and 'popular' culture. At the same time 21st century dance practices are engaged with pressing issues of our age in relation to health, environmental concerns, and urban mediated environments. This in turn has informed changes in contemporary aesthetic sensibilities.

Aims

Contextualising aesthetics and practices of 21st century cutting edge performance and choreography through drawing on Australian and international examples, this unit will critically evaluate the key issues that are shaping these concerns of leading practitioners in the industry. This unit will also apply and extend foundational studies of dance analysis and history in order to focus on and deepen understandings of current and emerging dance-led practices and concepts. It will also provide a theoretical context for the four practical choreographic units in the dance discipline.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1.Analyse key issues in 21st century dance aesthetics and practices.
2.Contextualise the current practice of an Australian performer or choreographer, identifying what is distinctive and innovative in their approach.
3.Critically reflect on how the current practice of an Australian performer or choreographer informs your emerging professional identity as a dance practitioner.
4.Communicate the results of your research using a case study approach and structure.

Content

The unit content addresses aesthetics and practices which characterise performance and choreography of the 21st century in Australia and internationally, covering 'Western' and non-'Western' genres and styles and a broad range of professional contexts.

The key issues critically evaluated in addressing these aesthetics and practices include:
·Globalisation and internationalisation of cultural product
·Use of telematics, sensors, robotics and other interactive technologies to challenge understandings of dance and the moving body
·Working across cultures in an increasingly hybrid context
·The growth of DIY creation in a 'prosumer' / 'produser' age (Bruns 2009)
·The impact of reality TV and social network sites in creating and disseminating dance
·The imperative of interdisciplinarity and blurred boundaries in a contemporary arts environment
·Increasing sophistication of new dance processes in engaging with socio/political issues
·The convergence of a range of physical movement disciplines and dance genres to create transient emergent forms

Reference: Bruns, Axel (2009) From Prosumer to Produser: Understanding User-Led Content Creation. In Transforming Audiences 2009, 3-4 Sept 2009, London.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Lectures are based around the key issues in performance and choreography of the 21st century (as listed in the Content section of this unit outline). The group tutorials supplement your learning in the lectures, and involve discussion and activities relating to the set readings and lecture content.

PowerPoint lecture notes are available online.

Assessment

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 be supported in your learning through verbal feedback opportunities in tutorials. The unit coordinator will be available in person, by appointment, or via email to provide feedback on your preparation for all assessment.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Final grades will be awarded on a 1 to 7 scale.

Assessment name: Oral Presentation
Description: Working with a partner, in a short presentation you will critically analyse the current performance or choreographic practice of a professional Australian dance practitioner working in any genre/style or context, with comparative reference to similar practitioners in Australia or internationally.

Each presenter will address a different aspect of the chosen practitioner's body of work, submitting a transcript which identifies your individual contribution.
Relates to objectives: 2, 3, 4
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Case study essay
Description: Length: 2000 words.
You will select a recently choreographed (2000 or later) work or a recent development in a dance genre/style, and, using dance analysis methodology where needed, explain how it resonates with any of the key issues shaping the aesthetics and practices of 21st century performance and choreography as identified in the lectures.

You must select a choreographic work or aspect of a dance genre/style which has not been discussed in depth in the lectures or tutorials. You are required to submit your selection to the unit coordinator for approval.
Relates to objectives: 1, 4
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty means that you are expected to exhibit honesty and act responsibly when undertaking assessment. Any action or practice on your part which would defeat the purposes of assessment is regarded as academic dishonesty. The penalties for academic dishonesty are provided in the Student Rules. For more information you should consult the QUT Library resources for avoiding plagiarism.

Resource materials

Lecture specific readings available on the Course Materials Database at the commencement of the semester.

Brannigan, Erin (2010) Moving Across Disciplines: Dance in the 21st Century. Platform Papers no. 25. October 2010, Sydney: Currency House.

Chen, Ya-Ping (2009) 'In search of Asian modernity: Cloud Gate Dance Theatre's body aesthetics in the era of globalisation', in Butterworth, J. & Wildschut, L. (eds.) Contemporary Choreography: A Critical Reader, London: Routledge, pp. 316-330.

DeLahunta, Scott, Barnard, Phil & Wayne Mc Gregor (2009) Augmenting Choreography: insights and inspiration from science', in Butterworth, J. & Wildschut, L. (eds.) Contemporary Choreography: A Critical Reader, London: Routledge, pp. 431-448.

Houston, Sarah (2009) 'Dancing around exclusion: an examination of the issues of social inclusion within choreographic practice in the community', in Butterworth, J. & Wildschut, L. (eds.) Contemporary Choreography: A Critical Reader, London: Routledge, pp. 205-219.

McKenzie, Jon, Heike Roms, and C.J.W.-L Wee (eds.) (2010) Contesting Performance: Global Sites of Research, Basingstoke, UK; New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Munsi, Urmimala Sarkar (2008) Dance, Transcending Borders, New Delhi: Tulika Books.

Popat, Sita & Scott Palmer (2009) 'Dancing with srites and robots: new approaches to collaboration between dance and digital technologies' in Butterworth, J. & Wildschut, L. (eds.) Contemporary Choreography: A Critical Reader, London: Routledge, pp. 416-430.

Rubidge, Sarah (2009) 'Performing installations: towards an understanding of choreography and performativity in interactive installations', in Butterworth, J. & Wildschut, L. (eds.) Contemporary Choreography: A Critical Reader, London: Routledge, pp. 362-378.

Stock, C. (2009) 'Beyond the intercultural to the accented body: an Australian perspective', in Butterworth, J. & Wildschut, L. (eds.) Contemporary Choreography: A Critical Reader, London: Routledge, pp. 281-297.

Stock, C. (2011) 'Creating new narratives through shared time and space: performer/audience connections in multi-site events'. International refereed proceedings, 2010 World Dance Alliance Global Summit - In Time Together. Forthcoming on-line publication.

Audio-visual sources:

Most DVDs of dance works are within the 792.8 to 792.9 range in the Kelvin Grove QUT library.

Online videos are available from Google videos, YouTube and Vimeo.com.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with 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: 08-Nov-2011