Film and Engineering at the Crossroads (MULT30023)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Online

You’re viewing the 2022 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks
You’re currently viewing the 2022 version of this subject
Subjects taught in 2022 will be in one of three delivery modes: Dual-Delivery, Online or On Campus.
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.

Overview

Availability
Semester 2 - Online
FeesLook up fees

This subject is based on cultural studies concepts and theories to explore the discipline of engineering linked to film art. Film screenings are the basis of class discussions on critical moments, ground-breaking discoveries, and important personalities in the field of engineering. We will focus on questions such as: Which ethical issues are aligned to scientific and technological progress and how do films from different historical eras and cultural contexts deal with them? We will deal with individual case studies to evaluate more generally how engineering projects link to ideological motivations and political powers, and contribute to dynamics of inclusion and exclusion Film and Engineering at the Crossroads gives you the chance to rethink your own responsibilities and potentials as engineer in our current social, cultural and political environments.

Weekly themes include:
• The Artist-Engineer and the Power of Integrative Thinking
• Gender and Engineering: Machinery of Dominance
• Colonial Practices: Engineering as the Measure of Men
• Fordism, Taylorism and New Fields of Engineering
• Engineering and Warfare
• The Space Race
• The Myth of Technological Progress and the Sci-Fi Genre
• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Cinema

Intended learning outcomes

Upon completion of this subject students will be able to:

  • ILO 1 - Familiarise yourself with cultural studies theories to the field of engineering;
  • ILO 2 - Critically analyse film narrative and aesthetics;
  • ILO 3 - Acquire knowledge about the social, political and cultural environment in which engineers and engineering operate;
  • ILO 4 - Discuss engineering achievements and their portrayal in documentaries and feature films;
  • ILO 5 - Reflect on the role, responsibilities and potentials of the engineer as part of the wider society.

Generic skills

  • Develop your public speaking skills
  • Possess skills of critical thinking and analysis
  • Enhance your research and writing skills
  • Discover and cultivate creative skills set

Last updated: 18 January 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

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: 18 January 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Article analysis. 750 words.

  • 20 hours (of work required)
Week 520%

Group Case Study Proposal. Groups of 2 to 3 students, 750 words each member, assessed individually.

  • 20 hours (of work required)
Week 720%

Group Case Study Preliminary Results Presentation. Groups of 2 to 3 students, 5 minutes each member, assessed individually.

  • 20 hours (of work required)
Hurdle requirement: Students must pass the Group Case Study Preliminary Results Presentation to pass the subject.		Week 1220%

Case Study Results Report. Groups of 2 to 3 students, 1500 words each member, marked individually.

  • 40 hours (of work required)
Hurdle requirement: Students must pass the case study results report to pass the subject.		Week 1540%
Hurdle requirement: Students must attend at least 80% of the seminars to pass the subject.N/A

Last updated: 18 January 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 2 - Online
    CoordinatorClaudia Sandberg
    Mode of deliveryOnline
    Contact hours42 hours in total (2 hours screenings, 1.5 hours seminar per week)
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period25 July 2022 to 23 October 2022
    Last self-enrol date 5 August 2022
    Census date31 August 2022
    Last date to withdraw without fail23 September 2022
    Assessment period ends18 November 2022

    Semester 2 contact information

    Claudia Sandberg

    claudia.sandberg@unimelb.edu.au

Last updated: 18 January 2025

Further information

Last updated: 18 January 2025