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Australian Theatre and Performance (ENGL40020)
HonoursPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
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About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is a study of the Australian performing arts from 1960 to the present with a special focus on the shift from national drama to diversity, and from the sole-authored play to devised and collaborative theatre. The study is framed by the changing landscape of Australian culture and the key insights of modernism, postcolonialism, feminism and gender theory. Students will read selected plays in relation to context, genre, and performance history; view DVDs of live performance; engage in online and library-based archival research; and undertake detailed textual and performance analysis; and investigate the role of performance as a medium of cultural life. The subject is arranged in sections including single-author studies of Patrick White and Andrew Bovell; the New Wave of the 1970s; Indigenous dramatists such as Jane Harrison; and performance and live art. There will be scope to develop specialist studies of dramatists, theatre companies, and the performing arts industry
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- To understand Australian theatre and performance in relation to nation in a diverse modern and contemporary nation;
- To understand how theatre and performance involves communal and material encounters among embodied performers, audiences, and time and place;
- Apply interdisciplinary methodologies to understand the aesthetic, technological, cultural, social and economic perspectives that intersect in the creation of dramatic literature and performance;
- Articulate how Australian theatre makes the case for itself as an expression of and contribution to culture and society;
- Discuss how theatre relates to storytelling, history and community.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subejct, students will gain the following generic skills:
- the ability to prepare and present their ideas in both verbal and written mode to an advanced level and in conformity to conventions of academic presentation;
- the ability to participate in discussion and group activities and be sensitive to the participation of others;
- the ability to apply creative and critical thinking in the analysis of artistic works;
- the ability to manage time effectively in the completion of assessment tasks; and
- able to access a broad range of resource material, including traditional text, art works and electronic media.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Students must be admitted to the Bachelor of Arts - Honours, Graduate Certificate in Arts, Graduate Certificate in Arts (Advanced), Graduate Diploma in Arts, or the Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced) in English and Theatre Studies in order to enrol in this subject. Students in the Master of Arts and Cultural Management may enrol in this subject with the permission of the coordinator.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
It is recommended that students have at least 25 points in Theatre Studies or related area.
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
A short essay
| Mid semester | 30% |
A final essay
| End of semester | 70% |
All required written work must be submitted in order to pass the subject. Hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of (or at least) 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures, in person or via online delivery. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass this subject. For the purposes of meeting this hurdle requirement, each submitted assessment must be complete and constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task. (Complete not less than 50% of word count) | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per working day.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Denise Varney Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours A 2-hour seminar per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 25 July 2022 to 23 October 2022 Last self-enrol date 5 August 2022 Census date 31 August 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 September 2022 Assessment period ends 18 November 2022 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Andrew Bovell, The Secret River, Currency Press, 2013
Andrew Bovell, When the Rain Stopped Falling, Currency Press, 2009, 2015
Alex Buzo, Norm and Ahmed, Currency Press, 1969, 2014
Patricia Cornelius, Shit, Currency Press, 2017
Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman, The 7 Stages of Grieving, Playlab Press, 1996, 2002
Jane Harrison, Stolen, Currency Press, 2002, 2014
Leah Purcell, The Drover’s Wife, Currency Press, 2016
William Yang, Sadness (DVD)1999, 2010
Patrick White, Night on Bald Mountain, Currency Press, 1964
David Williamson, The Removalists, Currency Press, 1972, 2019
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Directing for Performance Course Graduate Diploma in Arts and Cultural Management (Advanced) Specialisation (formal) English and Theatre Studies Specialisation (formal) English and Theatre Studies Specialisation (formal) English and Theatre Studies Specialisation (formal) English and Theatre Studies Informal specialisation PD-ARTS English and Theatre Studies - 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.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 31 January 2024