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Writing Videogames and Live Performance (CWRI30015)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject engages with the theoretical, practical and technical aspects of creative writing for videogames and live performance. Through a rigorous examination of the work of key artists and writing from the 1980s onwards, students will devise concepts for games, performance and enhance their scriptwriting practice. Student will produce a critical essay and two scripts: a solo piece or character monologue; and a script for a game or live performance; as well as workshopping their ideas in class.
Intended learning outcomes
- a sophisticated understanding of, and the ability to articulate, the conceptual relationship between historical developments and current approaches to scriptwriting for videogames and live performance;
- engaged with key debates within the areas of game studies, performance studies and live art to enhance an awareness of the social, cultural and political contexts that underpin their own work;
- the ability to independently devise, draft and develop multiple scriptwriting projects with a rigorous approach to creative writing methods, intellectual honesty and ethical values;
- demonstrated high-level analysis and close reading of a variety of critical and creative material with an emphasis on contemporary performance; and
- developed an understanding of the importance of workshopping as a creative and vocational tool wherein participants from diverse cultural backgrounds and disciplines communicate and collaborate.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, student should gain the following generic skills:
- the ability to prepare and present their ideas in both verbal and written mode at an intermediate level and in conformity to conventions of academic presentation;
- the ability to demonstrate teamwork through joint performance preparation and participation in discussion and workshopping;
- the ability to enhance their vocational writing skills and knowledge of communication techniques through the design and development of an original work for performance;
- the ability to give and respond to constructive feedback through workshopping and class discussion;
- research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources, defining areas of enquiry and effective methods of research; and
- the ability to demonstrate time management, independent organisation and planning.
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
One of the following subjects:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
CWRI20010 | Scripts for Contemporary Theatre | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
CWRI20009 | Writing for Screen | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
CRWI20006 Script for Performance; 106-091 Writing for Performance; 106-236 Script for Performance
Recommended background knowledge
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ENGL20030 | Modern and Contemporary Theatre | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Attendance and participation: It is compulsory that each student circulates via email a work-in-progress script. Attendance and participation is also expected in the workshopping of classmates' scripts
| From Week 7 to Week 11 | 10% |
An essay exploring a key artist and their technical and conceptual innovations in writing for games and live performance
| Week 6 | 30% |
A 5 minute script for a solo performance or in-game monologue, to be read/performed in class
| From Week 9 to Week 11 | 20% |
An original script for videogames or performance
| During the examination period | 40% |
All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject. Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Eddie Paterson Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 30 hours: a 1-hour lecture and a 1.5 hour tutorial for weeks 1-6 and a 2.5 hour workshop for weeks 7-12. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
John Freeman, 2007 New Performance/New Writing New York: Palgrave Macmillan
Recommended texts and other resources
Eddie Paterson, Timothy Williams and Will Cordner, 2019 Once Upon a Pixel: Storytelling and Worldbuilding for Videogames, New York, CRC Press
- Subject notes
This subject is not available to students who have completed 106-091 Writing for Performance. This subject is available to Bachelor of Arts (Continuing) and Bachelor of Creative Arts students and may be credited towards a major in Creative Writing in either course. Bachelor of Creative Arts students can credit this subject to a major in Theatre Studies.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major Creative Writing Breadth Track Creative Writing - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 27 April 2024