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Reading Performance - MEFT1300
Media, Film and Theatre

 
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
 
 
School:  School of English, Media and Performing Arts
 
 
Course Outline: http://media.arts.unsw.edu.au//
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Equivalent: THFI1002
 
 
Fee Band: 1 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

Introduces different ways of analysing performance and performance bodies. Focuses on cultural performance, hybridity, authenticity, carnival, liminality, ritual, possession-trance, fieldwork and ethnography, cultural display, tourist performance, everyday life, performance art and avant-garde genres.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:
  • demonstrate an understanding of the way Performance Studies relates to other disciplines - especially Theatre Studies, Anthropology, and Cultural Studies, and distinguish the idea of 'performance' from the idea of 'theatre'
  • analyse a range of everyday life behaviours and events as 'performance'
  • apply some of the key terminology of Performance Studies - such as 'liminality', 'hybridity', 'quotidian' and 'symbolic and restored behaviour' - to a wide range of everyday and contemporary performance practices, and be able to evaluate the evolving connections between those practices;
  • appreciate the role and function of, and demonstrate some skills in self-directed ethnographic analysis of performance;
  • identify how cultural performance and contemporary arts practice is informed by and responds to national and international political and aesthetic concerns;
  • demonstrate familiarity with scholarly research practice within the discipline of Performance Studies:
    a) read academic and performance texts with critical understanding, and use creative research exercises to explore critical ideas;
    b) access information and resources relevant to Performance Studies and contemporary performance;
    c) follow the conventions of academic writing i.e. referencing and quotation systems;
    d) work in an effective, self-motivated way in a university context.



Assessment

  • Tutorial Participation - 10%
  • Short-Answer Test - 10%
  • Fieldwork Exercise (1,200 words) - 30%
  • Take-Home Essay Exam (1500-2000 words) - 50%

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.