From the VCAA
Stories have always been a pivotal part of culture. Australian media is built on fictional and non-fictional stories that reflect our local, national and global cultural histories. Media creators and producers develop an individual style through the use and crafting of narrative and structures that engage different audiences and their interests.
Audience readings of meaning are mediated through a shared understanding of the media codes and conventions used to construct narratives in media products.
The creation of narratives in media is contextual. Institutions and individuals involved at each stage of production constrain and shape narrative development in response to the cultural, institutional, economic, social and political constraints in which they work. Factors including government regulation, finance and the economic sustainability of production play a part in the development and distribution of Australian narratives. These factors are most evident in fictional works, games, photography, print and non-fictional narratives such as news and current affairs,
podcasts and advertising.
Students study a range of narratives in two or more media forms, exploring the context and features of their construction and how they are consumed and read by audiences. Narratives selected for study must be by Australia media creators and producers with primarily Australian content.
Key Knowledge
Audience readings of meaning are mediated through a shared understanding of the media codes and conventions used to construct narratives in media products.
The creation of narratives in media is contextual. Institutions and individuals involved at each stage of production constrain and shape narrative development in response to the cultural, institutional, economic, social and political constraints in which they work. Factors including government regulation, finance and the economic sustainability of production play a part in the development and distribution of Australian narratives. These factors are most evident in fictional works, games, photography, print and non-fictional narratives such as news and current affairs,
podcasts and advertising.
Students study a range of narratives in two or more media forms, exploring the context and features of their construction and how they are consumed and read by audiences. Narratives selected for study must be by Australia media creators and producers with primarily Australian content.
Key Knowledge
- the structure of Australian fictional and non-fictional media stories arising from cultural histories and institutions
- media codes and conventions used to engage audiences and communicate meaning
- the influence of the style of media creators and producers in the construction of fictional and non-fictional narratives
- the impact of institutional, economic, social and political constraints on the production and distribution of fictional and non-fictional narratives
- how audience engagement with and reception of narratives is affected by their expectation, consumption and prior reading of a range of fictional and non-fictional narratives in a range of contexts
- media language.
- analyse structures in Australian fictional and non-fictional media stories arising from cultural histories and institutions
- analyse media codes and conventions used to engage audiences and communicate meaning
- analyse the construction of narratives through the fictional and non-fictional style of media creators and producers
- analyse the impact of institutional, economic, social and political constraints on the production and distribution of fictional and non-fictional narratives
- discuss factors which impact on audience engagement and reception, such as consumption and prior reading of narratives in a range of contexts
- use media language.
How it all Began - The History of Australia on Screen
Using this link - try figure out the answers to the following questions:
- What and when was the first movie ever screened in Australia and how did audiences watch it?
- What and when was the first PROJECTED movie shown in Australia and how long was it?
- What was the first moving footage ever shot in Australia? Can you find it on YouTube and insert a link?
- What was the first feature film made in Australia (and perhaps the world!) ? Can you find it on YouTube and insert the link?
- What is Hoyts and how did it begin?
- What did Australia pioneer in 1911? Can you explain it?
- Why and where were bushranger films banned?
- Why were colour films very rare in Australia?
- What was the silly reason that a lot of Australian film history was lost in 1926?
- What are 'talkies'? And when did Australia make its first talkie?
- What was Australia's first academy award winning film and what was it about?
- Who banned horror films in Australia and how long did it last for?
- When did the Melbourne Film Festival begin and what was the first film shown?
- Where and when was Australia's first drive in built? How many cars could it hold?
- What year was the first television transmission in Australia? What was the first channel and first words spoken? Can you insert a YouTube link?
- When did the AFI awards and Logie awards begin? What do their names mean?
- When was the ABC logo created? What is the meaning behind the logo?
- In the late 1970s, what invention drove a decline in cinema attendance?
- Also in the 1970s, what was the first Australian film to receive a wide US release and what was it about?
- When did Australia's longest running soap opera, Neighbours, begin and what was the opening scene? (hint - you may need to use YouTube!)
- What film made Australia famous all over the world in the 1980s? What was the film about?
- Which Australian director directed the 'Red Curtain Trilogy' and what 3 films make up the trilogy?
- When did DVD first arrive in Australia and what does DVD stand for?
- What was the most expensive film ever made in Australia and what was it about?
The Limitations of the Australian Film Industry
Australian films make up less that 3% of the domestic box office. That means 97% of the movies we pay to see are not from our own country. But why is this the case? Why dont Australian audiences like to consume Australian content? Here are some reasons:
- Australian films can be seen as dark and depressing. Often films that perform well deal with crime, horror, murder and violence.
- We tend to cringe at locally produced content. This is called 'cultural cringe' - a term first coined here in Melbourne by Arthur Angell Phillips. Phillips used the term ‘cultural cringe’ to define the penchant for Australians to see their artists and writers’ work as inferior to anything from overseas, Britain and the United States in particular.
- Australian films tend to play up to stereotypes and dont represent the 'real' Australia.
- We dont have the big budgets or celebrity star power to compete with Hollywood blockbusters.
- Also due to small budgets, Australian films dont get marketed as well as foreign films. this means we dont know very much about our own locally produced content.
- Our critics can be savage! Margaret Pomeranz recently decried a tendency of our press to knock Australian filmmaking in general. "The eagerness with which the local media pick up bad news and negative reviews from overseas reminds me of the old days," she wrote. "I hate to say it, but it smacks of colonial cultural cringe."
- There is a local misconception that Australians make terrible movies. This is due to many reasons listed above. Unfortunately, this means that Aussie audiences are skeptical of Australian cinema.
Limitations of Australian Cinema Task:
In groups of 2 - 3 , you are to create a short research presentation on two of the following questions:
- Look at this list of Australian Films that have been released since 2000. How many have you seen? How many Australian films have you seen in comparison to movies released in the US (use this list)? Create a visual aide that depicts this. Why do you think this is the case?
- Provide a summary of these articles by Margaret Pomeranz and Karl Quinn, in your summary, discuss why Australian film critics are so harsh on Australian films? Do you agree?
- Create a timeline outlining the history of funding for Australian Films from this article. Make note of all the important dates and discuss the cultural shifts that impacted the Australian Film Industry. How does the Australia Funding Process inform the genre and style of Australian Cinema?
- Unpack the concept of “cultural cringe”. Provide images or stills of 'cultural cringe' and annotate each image discussing how these representations differ from those of Real Australia. Do you think cultural cringe still applies to Australian film and television?
- Australian Cinema is often associated with crime, horror, murder and violence with dark and depressing landscapes. Why do you think this is our most popular genre? Find an example of an Australian horror film and an example of Australian crime film , write a paragraph for each film that discusses the similarities in landscape and character tropes.
How Indigenous Australians have been represented in film and TV in Australia
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How AUSTRALIA has been represented in film and TV
As an arid, desert wasteland:
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As a dangerous place full of dangerous people:
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And contrastingly, as a beautiful landscape with beautiful people:
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Australians as uncultured, unrefined and rough:
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As a location full of dangerous animals:
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Australians as slow, laid back or buffoonish:
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And finally, our stereotype as a land full of convicts and criminals:
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Australians as loyal mates:
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Australian as a multicultural place:
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Comparative Film Analysis:
Drawing on all of the information and conversations from recent lessons, this task asks you to analyse and compare representations of Australia in the below clips.
In your analysis, you must address the following:
In your analysis, you must address the following:
- Identifying the representation of Australia
- Analysis of mise-en-scene to create analysis
- The intended audience of each film
- Social, historical or cultural factors informing the representation
Example:
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Analysis One:
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Analysis Two:
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| aussie_analysis.docx |
Major Assessment Task
Analytical Response:
On completion of this unit, you should be able to explain the history of Australian film and analyse our representations on the screen. You will demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of Australian Cinema in a 10 minutes Group Presentation.
Assessment Task:
This is a group presentation task.
In groups of 4, you will be asked to provide a 10 minute presentation that explores the history of the moving image in Australia, the limitations of the Australian film industry, and an analysis of two representations of Australia. You will consider how these representations oppose each other either through landscape, characterisation or intended audience.
This assessment will be due in class on March 31st, 2022. You will have 3 lessons to complete and construct your analysis.
Assessment Guidelines:
Presentation Requirements:
● To be presented live to the class (no video essays) and must include a powerpoint presentation
● Powerpoints to be submitted via Zenith.
● Names of all group members must be on the first slide.
● Group member 1 will be responsible for providing a 2.5 minute (Approx.) verbal summation of the history of Australian cinema (more details below)
● Group member 2 will be responsible for providing a 2.5 minute (approx.) verbal analysis of the limitations facing Australian cinema
● Group members 3 and 4 will be responsible for providing a 5 minute (approx.) verbal comparative analysis of 2 differing representations of Australia – and how those representations are constructed via cinematic codes and conventions.
Clip Suggestions:
Tourism Australia: Zoe Foster-Blake / Hamish Blake Visit Australia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxhm3wDiVrE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX6Yt80a34c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CREovpvnDVg
Mate Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP-39Qq4OQc
Paul Hogan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaWrkBo0t1o
Baz Luhrmann – ‘Come walkabout’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQGMuxJ0vCc
Qantas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7XFafi4IGo
Qantas – Spirit of Australia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze6D-59bLX0
Qantas – Fly Away https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag7aiRooysM
Films / Television:
The Castle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZOBfNDTGWw
Looking for Alibrandi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8AKByfHKow
McLeod’s Daughters = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usaneowPHXY
The Man From Snowy River= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAEIbUmhloM
The Water Diviner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Eqe9CEyPHM
Red Dog = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEu7n4wew_A
On completion of this unit, you should be able to explain the history of Australian film and analyse our representations on the screen. You will demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of Australian Cinema in a 10 minutes Group Presentation.
Assessment Task:
This is a group presentation task.
In groups of 4, you will be asked to provide a 10 minute presentation that explores the history of the moving image in Australia, the limitations of the Australian film industry, and an analysis of two representations of Australia. You will consider how these representations oppose each other either through landscape, characterisation or intended audience.
This assessment will be due in class on March 31st, 2022. You will have 3 lessons to complete and construct your analysis.
Assessment Guidelines:
- You must select two film clips to complete a comparative analysis of representations of Australia. You can use any example of representations of Australia we have discussed in class, or you can source your own.
- You cannot use the same set of media from the comparative analysis task completed in class (eg. Looking for Alibrandi Vs. The Castle; Mad Max Vs. Hemsworth Advertisement; Breaker Morant Vs. Suicide Squad)
- Your media must be either a scene from a film or a tourism Australia advertisement.
- Your presentation must include a summary of Australian cinema. This summary is to be constructed by answering the Screen Australia questions on the website. All of these questions must be answered in your OneNote prior to presenting.
- Your presentation must discuss the limitations to Australian Cinema and how these are explored in your pieces of media.
- Your presentation must contain a side-by-side comparative analysis of your pieces of media, commenting on their similarities or differences.
- Each member of your group must discuss a component of the assignment during the presentation. Your presentation is to be no longer than 10 minutes.
Presentation Requirements:
● To be presented live to the class (no video essays) and must include a powerpoint presentation
● Powerpoints to be submitted via Zenith.
● Names of all group members must be on the first slide.
● Group member 1 will be responsible for providing a 2.5 minute (Approx.) verbal summation of the history of Australian cinema (more details below)
● Group member 2 will be responsible for providing a 2.5 minute (approx.) verbal analysis of the limitations facing Australian cinema
● Group members 3 and 4 will be responsible for providing a 5 minute (approx.) verbal comparative analysis of 2 differing representations of Australia – and how those representations are constructed via cinematic codes and conventions.
Clip Suggestions:
Tourism Australia: Zoe Foster-Blake / Hamish Blake Visit Australia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxhm3wDiVrE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX6Yt80a34c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CREovpvnDVg
Mate Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP-39Qq4OQc
Paul Hogan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaWrkBo0t1o
Baz Luhrmann – ‘Come walkabout’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQGMuxJ0vCc
Qantas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7XFafi4IGo
Qantas – Spirit of Australia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze6D-59bLX0
Qantas – Fly Away https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag7aiRooysM
Films / Television:
The Castle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZOBfNDTGWw
Looking for Alibrandi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8AKByfHKow
McLeod’s Daughters = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usaneowPHXY
The Man From Snowy River= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAEIbUmhloM
The Water Diviner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Eqe9CEyPHM
Red Dog = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEu7n4wew_A
