Law and Cultural Industries (LAWS30031)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Not available in 2022
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
Overview
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Entertainment adds amusement, diversion and enlightenment to the everyday lives of multiple individuals, groups and societies around the world. Law underpins its existence, and seek to balance interests between creators, investors, celebrities, fans, consumers and wider publics. Yet it faces severe disruption from new media technologies, business models and social practices. Can entertainment survive in its current forms? Is law reform urgently needed?
After an introductory review, we will move on to explore these questions in more detail through a series of case studies, focusing especially (but not exclusively) on the position in the US and Australia. In turn, students will develop their own case studies in guided workshops in the teaching week and subsequent research essays submitted for assessment after teaching is over.
Topics and case studies will include:
- Entertainment today;
- performing live;
- celebrities and fans;
- the art of appropriation;
- music sharing;
- amateur production; and
- imagining the future.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should:
- Recognise how existing relations of entertainment and law are being challenged and reshaped by the digital environment;
- Appreciate the multiple ways in which entertainment may be facilitated and constrained by law, including in the digital environment;
- Understand the basic features of the legal treatment of entertainment specifically in the context of the digital environment;
- Have in depth knowledge of at least one case study as a result of the subject and their research.
Generic skills
- Capacity for self-directed learning, specifically the ability to plan work and use time effectively;
- Cognitive and analytical skills;
- Ability to speak about complex ideas in a clear and cogent manner;
- An awareness of diversity and plurality;
- Experience in writing essays which develop structured argumentation; and
- Capacity to judge the worth of their own arguments.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Because of the intensive nature of the subject and level of difficulty, it is strongly recommended that students have undertaken at least 100 points of undergraduate study. The subject level is an indicator as to the difficulty of the subject and expected workload.
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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Attendance and participation in workshops, including a presentation of essay proposal in last workshop
| Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
Research essay proposal
| Monday after the end of teaching. | 10% |
Research essay
| 3 Weeks after the end of teaching | 80% |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
Not available in 2022
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- 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 (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- 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.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
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
Last updated: 4 March 2025