History 122 DE

The History of Australian Movies

Syllabus

Dr. Bruce Haulman

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Bruce Haulman - History
Office: BI-52
Phone:  253-833-9111 ext. 4379
E-mail: bhaulman@greenriver.edu

Textbooks:  Tom Regan. Australian Cinema. 
                   Handout. Australian Cinema 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s. 

Welcome:  Australian Movies are a window on Australian culture.  The most cherished ideas, myths, symbols, and attitudes of Australian culture appear in the movies we will watch.  This course surveys the emergence of Australian movies from the beginnings in the 1890’s, through the Revival of the 1970’s, to the establishment of Australian Cinema as an important part of World Cinema.

This class provides an opportunity for you to develop the following skills:

1.  Understand the historical development of the film industry in Australia.

2.  Identify and provide examples of a uniquely Australian cinema.

3.  Critically and aesthetically evaluate Australian cinema within the context of Australian film, Hollywood films, and World Cinema.

4.  Place specific Australian films within the historical context of the development of a unique Australian cinema. 

Campus-Wide Learning Outcomes:

Green River Community College is attempting to implement individual competencies into the curriculum. This course will help improve your skills in the following areas:

Responsibility
1. Student demonstrates knowledge of and a willingness to accept stated/agreed upon expectations, policies, behavior, and procedures.
2. Student demonstrates clear understanding of assigned readings.
3. Student demonstrates an ability to understand and respond respectfully to perspectives offered by other students.
4. Student shares knowledge and opinions with others in general class discussions.

These outcomes are demonstrated by - assigned papers, preparedness for discussions, handing in assignments in a timely fashion, attitude and behavior in the class.

Verbal Communications
1. Student presents ideas concisely.
2. Ideas are well organized.
3. Student speaks clearly, projects voice well, and makes eye contact with members of the class.

These outcomes are demonstrated by - discussions based on assigned readings; discussion of student papers; orally identifying the relationship among films, videos and texts.

Written communications
1. Student demonstrates involvement with the material by expressing a clear sense of purpose, unity, and focus in their writing.
2. Student demonstrates clear organization of their thoughts in written form.
3. Student demonstrates well-organized and logical writing with correct grammar and spelling.
4. Student’s writing illustrates an understanding of the relationship between ideas developed in the text and videos with the films assigned.

These outcomes are demonstrated by - papers, exams, and short assignments.

  Aesthetic Awareness
1. Student demonstrates the ability to use the physical senses to heighten experiences.
2. Student demonstrates the ability to find order, wholeness, and unity of parts.
3. Student demonstrates the ability to produce work that is neat in appearance.

These outcomes are demonstrated by - papers, exams, discussions, and comments on films.

Critical Thinking
1. Student recognizes and uses essential components of effective reasoning to evaluate information and to improve the quality of their own thinking.
2. Student provides reasons for the conclusions they reach and assess the relevance and adequacy of those reasons.
3. Student demonstrates active listening and close reading skills.
4. Student connects past learning with current topics.

These outcomes are demonstrated by - papers, exams, discussions, and comments on films.

Symbolic Reasoning
1.      Students learn to access symbolic information in film as a media.
2.    Students develop skills to evaluate symbolic information within the context of a single film and in relationship to other films.
3.      Students learn to translate symbolic information into verbal and written form.

These outcomes are demonstrated by - papers, discussions, exams, and comments on specific films.

Global Awareness
1.      Students recognized the cultural distinctions between Australian and Hollywood films.
2.      Students recognize the characteristics that link Australian film and Australian culture.
3.      Students recognize the international nature of the modern film industry and how Australian cinema fits into this phenomena.

These outcomes are demonstrated by - papers, discussions, exams, and comments on films.

Differently-abled clause

If you need course adaptations or special accommodations because of a disability, or if you have emergency medical information I should know about, or if you have special needs I should know about, please notify me during the first week of class. You can reach me by phone at 253-833-9111ext. 4379 or by e-mail at bhaulman@greenriver.edu. Or, you can schedule an office appointment to meet me at BI-52 or at an alternative mutually agreeable place.

Grading -

Grade distribution

Grading scale

Unit Papers

You are responsible for 9 papers, one for each unit of the class.  Your papers should be 2-3 pages in length or about 700-800 words.

Your paper should address clearly and directly the element of Australianess discussed each week and relate that element to at least one of the films screened that week.

Each paper should have a clear introductory paragraph that sets up your argument, a series of body paragraphs that state your argument, and a clear conclusion that states your conclusion (In conclusion, In my opinion, In my view, etc. are all good ways to start a conclusion).

Your paper will be graded for thoughtfulness, clarity, originality, structure, grammar, and spelling.

Unit Paper Grade Rubric:

            Writing                                                 25 points
                        Spelling and grammar                5 points
                        Sentences and paragraphs         5 points
                        Structure                                   5 points
                        Intro and Conclusion                 5 points
                        Clarity                                      5 points

Film Summary and Discussion             25 points
Element of Australianness                    25 points
Linking Films and Element                   25 points

Final Exam

Your final exam answers the question “What is distinctly Australian about Australian film?”  To answer this question you need to refer to the seven major elements of Australianness we have covered this term, and link them to at least fourteen of the films we have screened this term.  Your final exam paper should be 5-6 pages or about 1300-1500 words.

Final Exam Grade Rubric:

            Writing                                                             50 points
                        Spelling and grammar                            10 points
                        Sentences and paragraphs                     10 points
                        Structure                                              10 points
                        Intro and Conclusion                            10 points
                        Clarity                                                  10 points

Fourteen Film Summaries and Discussions            50 points
Seven Elements of Australian-ness                        50 points
Linking Films and Element                                    50 points

Extra Credit -

Extra Credit is not needed in this class.  With 10 weekly papers, 2 essay exams and discussions, you will find your time well spent completing these assignments.

Schedule:

Week 1 -            Screenings:  Walkabout 1971
                                               The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith 1978
                                                The Last Wave 1977

                        Australian History/Culture: Aboriginal Australia

Week 2 -              Screenings:  *The Story of the Kelly Gang 1906/Bailup 1906-28
                                                *The Woman Suffers 1918
                                               *For the Term of His Natural Life 1927

                        Australian History/Culture: Convictism

Week 3 -              Screenings:  *The Sentimental Bloke 1922
                                               *Heritage 1935
                                               *Sons of Matthew 1949

                        Australian History/Culture: The Battler                     

Week 4 -              Screenings: *On Our Selection 1920
                                               The Sundowners 1960
                                               Picnic at Hanging Rock 1975

                        Australian History/Culture: Nature/Country/City            

Week 5 -              Screenings: *Forty Thousand Horsemen 1940
                                               The Rats of Tobruk 1944
                                                Gallipoli 1981
                                               The Odd Angry Shot 1979

                        Australian History/Culture: The Australian Legend

                        Mid-Term Exam due

Week 6 -              Screenings: My Brilliant Career 1979
                                               Mad Max  1979
                                               Phar Lap 1983

                        Australian History/Culture: The Battler               

Week 7 -              Screenings:  The Adventures of Barry Mackenzie 1972
                                                Crocodile Dundee 1986
                                                The Man from Snowy River 1987?

                        Australian Culture: Mateship                 

Week 8 -              Screenings: Strictly Ballroom 1992
                                               The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert 1994
                                               Looking for Alibrandi 2000

                        Australian Culture: Multicultural Australia - Diversity

Week 9 –            Screenings:   Romper Stomper 1992
                                               The Hotel Sorrento 1995
                                               The Castle 1997

                           Australian Culture: Multicultural Australia - Euro-Australian Response

Week 10 –            Screenings:  Backroads 1977
                                               The Fringe Dwellers 1986
                                               The Life of Harry Dare

                        Australian Culture: Aboriginal Australia

If you have questions about your degree, or just about anything else about Green River, visit this web site to find links to all kinds of student services –

http://www.greenriver.edu/edplanning/Resources.htm

1. I understand the standards in this course and that I am responsible for monitoring my own learning.
2. I understand that if at any time in the quarter I feel unsure about my grade, I may request an assessment from the instructor.
3. I understand that every week I will have something due: a quiz, an e-mail answer, etc.
4. I understand that I am responsible for my own learning.
5. I understand the use of the quizzes in this class is to test my learning that week.
6. I understand that my grade is based on quizzes, e-mail assignments, novel/film paper, Community/Family Paper, mid-term exam, and the final exam.
7. I understand that the work of the course requires consistent on-line work each week and my active participation.
8. I understand that the choice is mine not the instructors.

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© Bruce E. Haulman 2001