Reading Movies - A Practitioner's Guide (11140.1)

Please note these are the 2027 details for this unit
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Reading Movies - A Practitioner's Guide
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Arts And Design
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
School Of Arts & Communication Level 2 - Undergraduate Intermediate Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
This unit looks at film theory from a filmmaking perspective. Students are introduced to theories of film analysis, learning how to read a film, understand its tropes and themes, genres and audience expectations, in the context of film making.
Through a series of film theory readings, discussions and screenings, students will expand their visual vocabulary as they gain insight into the filmmaker's cinematic decisions and how sound design, cinematography and editing aid the story, and why mise en scène is very important.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of film theory;
2. Analyse a film with reference to ideas of genre, theme, narrative, story and audience expectation; and
3. Contextualise film theory in terms of film practice.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology


Skills development

This unit looks at film theory from a filmmaking perspective. Students are introduced to theories of film analysis, learning how to read a film, understand its tropes and themes, genres and audience expectations, in the context of film making. Through a series of film theory readings, discussions and screenings, students will expand their visual vocabulary as they gain insight into the filmmaker's cinematic decisions and how sound design, cinematography and editing aid the story.



Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

9676 Reading Movies - A Practitioner's Guide

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2027 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Ms Naomi Telushkin
2027 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 09 August 2027 On-campus Ms Naomi Telushkin
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

We recommend that students buy :

The latest edition (edition 6) of Corrigan, Timothy, and Patricia White. The film experience: An introduction. Macmillan, 2012.

This book is available as an e book. https://www.macmillanlearning.co.uk//page/detail/the-film-experience-timothy-corrigan/?sf1=barcode&st1=9781319208189

 

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

In this unit late submissions will be marked pass fail thereby avoiding the possibilty that a student, despite meeting the learning outcomes of the unit, fails the unit due to a late submission penalty. 

Artificial intelligence

Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit, except for Studiosity Writing Feedback Plus.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.
Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The GenAI for Students Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

Participation requirements

Attendance and participation is expected. Failure to attend may have a negative impact on your grade due to the missed learning opportunity.

Required IT skills

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

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