The University of New South Wales

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Documentary Film and History - MEFT2204
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Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
 
 
School:  School of History and Philosophy
 
 
Course Outline: See below
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 4
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: 36 units of credit
 
 
Equivalent: HIST2036
 
 
Fee Band: 1 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

Explores documentary films as historical, cultural and philosopical texts. Analyses the ways in which documentary films represent, construct and rememer the past, and the ethical and political dimensions of the genre. Covers a broad spectrum of twentieth-century documentary traditions. Issues discussed may include: photography and historical memory, ideology and practice, propaganda and the state, representations of war, ethnographic film, enrvironmental and natural history, popular memory and gender, narrative forms, cinema verite, dramatised documentaries and television and contemporary history.


Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
  • Offer a theoretically and historically informed analysis of documentary film as a form of historical narrative and as a cinematic genre
  • Describe and assess the similarities and differences between the way that written texts and films represent and construct history
  • Give a critical account of the use and abuse of memory and the political and subjective nature of history in film
  • Situate documentary films in their national, generic, cultural and historical contexts.

Assessment

  • Research Essay – 40%
  • Documentary film project proposal and pitch – 30%
  • Class test – 20%
  • Participation – 10%

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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.