| Semester 1, 2020 On-campus Toowoomba | |
| Short Description: | Australian Theatre |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts |
| School or Department : | School of Creative Arts |
| Student contribution band : | Band 1 |
| ASCED code : | 100103 - Drama and Theatre Studies |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
Staffing
Examiner:
Other requisites
It is strongly suggested that students attempt this course after completing THE1001 and THE1002.
Rationale
Graduates should have an understanding of the historical and current influences on the industry in which they seek to pursue their careers. This course is designed to survey the multi-faceted nature and the development of Australian drama and theatre since the beginning of white settlement. By tracing the notion of identity through major movements (both mainstream and marginalised) within the Australian theatre industry, students will be equipped to engage critically with the issues facing the industry today.
Synopsis
The course commences with an historical overview of Australian theatre and concludes at the beginning of the 21st century with an exploration of contemporary theatre. Throughout the course, students will study some of the social, political, economic and artistic elements and key artists and companies that have shaped Australian theatre. The course attempts to represent a diversity of "voices" in Australian theatre, and will draw upon plays, articles and other secondary materials to explore various relevant socio-political and economic issues as they relate to identification.
Objectives
On successful completion of this course students should be able to:
- discuss the way national identity has shaped Australian playwriting and theatre-making since white settlement [TLO1];
- research and evaluate play scripts and/or other theatre-making practices in terms of their relationship to the prevailing cultural, social, and economic contexts of their creation [TLO2];
- present a cogent argument regarding contemporary industrial debates, based on an understanding and interpretation of the historical and contemporary influences shaping the situation [TLO4];
- recognise and reflect on the way that social, cultural, political, industrial and economic factors produce both hegemonic and marginal perspectives, with a particular focus on theatre’s role in these processes [TLO6].
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Analysis of selected plays and playwrights | 50.00 |
| 2. | Understanding the contemporary Australian theatre industry | 50.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=THE2005)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
Bovell, A 2009, When the rain stops falling, Currency Press, Sydney.
Brown, D 2004, Eating ice cream with your eyes closed, Playlab Press, Brisbane.
Buzo, A 1976, Norm and Ahmed, Currency Press, Sydney.
Cowell, R 2009, Ruben Guthrie, Currency Press, Sydney.
Enoch, W. & Mailman, D 2002, The seven stages of grieving, Playlab Press, Brisbane.
Gilbert, K 1988, The cherry pickers, Burrambinga Books, Canberra.
(This text is out of print and unable to be purchased through USQ Bookshop. Students will be provided access through DiReCt via ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk.)
(This text is out of print and unable to be purchased through USQ Bookshop. Students will be provided access through DiReCt via ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk.)
Hibberd, J 2000, Jack Hibberd: selected plays, Currency Press, Sydney.
Holloway, T 2010, Love me tender, Currency Press, Sydney.
Janaczewska, N 2008, Songket, this territory: two plays, Currency Press, Sydney.
Keene, D 2008, The serpent’s teeth:two plays, Currency Press, Sydney.
McCallum, j 2009, Belonging: Australian playwriting in the twentieth century, Currency, Sydney.
Mulvaney. K 2008, The seed, Currency Press, Sydney.
Murray-Smith, J 2008, The female of the species, Currency Press, Sydney.
Nowra L 1981, Inside the island/the precious woman, Currency Press, Sydney.
(This text is out of print and unable to be purchased through USQ Bookshop. Students will be provided access through DiReCt via ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk.)
(This text is out of print and unable to be purchased through USQ Bookshop. Students will be provided access through DiReCt via ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk.)
Sewell, S 2007, It just stopped/myth, propaganda and disaster in Nazi Germany and contemporary America, Currency Press, Sydney.
Williamson, D 1973, Don’s party, Currency Press, Sydney.
Platform Papers Series. Currency. Sydney.
[Students are not expected to purchase each volume of this series. This series is available online via the library web-site].
[Students are not expected to purchase each volume of this series. This series is available online via the library web-site].
Reference materials
Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Casey, M 2012, Telling stories; Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander performance studies in Indigenous history and culture series, Australian Scholarly Publishing, North Melbourne.
Kelly, V 1998, Our Australian theatre in the 1990s, Australian playwrights, monograph no. 7, Rodopi, Amsterdam.
Student workload expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Directed ¾«¶«´«Ã½app | 39.00 |
| Independent ¾«¶«´«Ã½app | 126.00 |
Assessment details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSIGNMENT 1 | 100 | 20 | 13 Mar 2020 | |
| ASSIGNMENT 2 | 100 | 40 | 16 May 2020 | |
| TAKE HOME EXAM | 100 | 40 | End S1 | (see note 1) |
Notes
- This will be a take home exam. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their examiner via ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk. The examination date will be available via UConnect when the Alternate Assessment Schedule has been released.
Important assessment information
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Attendance requirements:
Students must attend and complete the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety training program for this course where required.
External and Online:
There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students’ responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
On-campus
It is the students’ responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.
Requirements after S1 2020:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4) -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Requirements after S1 2020:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course. -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course. -
Examination information:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination
Requirements after S1 2020:
The exam for this course is a CLOSED examination, and candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the examination. -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: The details regarding deferred/supplementary examinations will be communicated at a later date
Requirements after S1 2020:
Any deferred or supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period. -
¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
Other requirements
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For this course, normal class attendance consists of one 2 hour lecture and one 1 hour tutorial per week.
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Students are strongly advised to maintain regular contact with their supervisor