FILM 2001 - Persuasion and Propaganda: Documentary Cinema
Career: | Undergraduate |
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Units: | 3 |
Term: | 4010 |
Campus: | North Terrace |
Contact: | Up to 4 hours per week |
Restriction: | Students must be 18 years of age at the commencement of course due to the discussion of R-rated themes and materials. |
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange: | No |
Available for Non-Award Study: | No |
Pre-Requisite: | At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study |
Assessment: | Research portfolio 25%, Mini research essay 25%, Major research essay 50% |
Syllabus: |
What different types of documentary are there? What are the differences between persuasion and propaganda? How does the form of non-fiction film affect the way viewers access reality? What ethical problems does the representation of real events trigger? What are the boundaries between fact and fiction? Is film advertising a form of persuasion or propaganda? These, and many more, are the questions that this course will explore through a combination of lectures, screenings, interactive seminars and readings. In the first half of the course we will examine five types of documentary as defined by Bill Nichols: expository, observational, participatory, reflexive and performative. Analysis of different types of documentary film will show how the seemingly distinct qualities of persuasion and propaganda are often significantly blurred. In the second half of the course we will focus on more specific documentary genres. Firstly, we will address questions raised by the cinematic representation of historical events, especially events that are considered 'unrepresentable' . Using the Holocaust as a case study, we will consider different effects use to inform and shock audiences . Secondly , we will examine the wildlife film, and consider the techniques that it uses in order to render its subject matter interesting and pleasurable for audiences. Thirdly, we will focus on the work of Werner Herzog, who has made a series of documentaries that deal with subjects that might be thought impossible to represent, such as the joy of a ski-jumper, the experience of religious ecstasy, and the inner lives of those who are born deaf and blind. Finally, we turn our attention to advertising in cinema, and in particular the role of the film trailer in 'persuading' audiences. |
Course Fees
Study Abroad student tuition fees are available here
Only some Postgraduate Coursework programs are available as Commonwealth Supported. Please check your program for specific fee information.
The fees displayed below for international students are for students commencing a program in 2024 only. International students who commenced a program in 2023 or prior can find their fee here.
EFTSL | |||
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0.125 |
Course Outline
A Course Outline which includes Learning Outcomes, Learning Resources, Learning & Teaching for this course may be accessed here
Critical Dates
Term | Last Day to Add Online | Census Date | Last Day to WNF | Last Day to WF |
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4010 | Mon 16/03/2020 | Thu 26/03/2020 | Fri 12/06/2020 | Not Available |
Class Details
Enrolment Class: Seminar | |||||||
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Class Nbr | Section | Size | Available | Dates | Days | Time | Location |
11724 | SE01 | 50 | 10 | 4 Mar - 8 Apr | Wednesday | 1pm - 3pm | Barr Smith South, 1063, Teaching Room |
29 Apr - 3 Jun | Wednesday | 1pm - 3pm | Barr Smith South, 1063, Teaching Room | ||||
Related Class: Workshop | |||||||
Class Nbr | Section | Size | Available | Dates | Days | Time | Location |
18619 | WR01 | 50 | 10 | 3 Mar - 7 Apr | Tuesday | 12pm - 2pm | Barr Smith South, 1062, Teaching Room |
28 Apr - 2 Jun | Tuesday | 12pm - 2pm | Barr Smith South, 1062, Teaching Room |