CQUniversity Unit Profile

MUSC12375 - History of Film Music 1

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All details in this unit profile for MUSC12375 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.

General Information

Overview

In this unit you will study the structure of film music from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the 1950s. You will analyse various primary source materials as you study the various stylistic changes that occurred with the film music and contextualise these developments within the important technological, social and political movements of this period.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate

Unit Level: Level 2

Credit Points: 6

Student Contribution Band: 8

Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2021

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Website

This unit has a website, within the Moodle system, which is available two weeks before the start of term. It is important that you visit your Moodle site throughout the term. Please visit Moodle for more information.

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Regional Campuses

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville

Metropolitan Campuses

Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment

Weighting: 30%

2. Written Assessment

Weighting: 30%

3. Written Assessment

Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

CQUniversity Policies

All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

You may wish to view these policies:

Grades and Results Policy
Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
Review of Grade Procedure
Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure

This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Unit Evaluation

Feedback

Assessment items assisted in developing skills necessary for film music analysis.

Recommendation

Continue providing assessment tasks that develop a range of essential analysis skills through the study of various genres/periods.

Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Describe the principal stylistic characteristics of film music from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the 1950s
Analyse the aural characteristics of film music from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the 1950s
Contextualise the developments in film music within the important technological, social and political movements from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the 1950s

N/A

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes

N/A Level

Introductory Level

Intermediate Level

Graduate Level

Professional Level

Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks	Learning Outcomes
	1	2	3
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes	Learning Outcomes
	1	2	3
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - First Nations Knowledges
11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks	Graduate Attributes
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 40%

Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Reel music: Exploring 100 years of film music

Edition: 2nd edn (2017)
Authors: Roger Hickman
W.W.Norton
New York New York , USA
ISBN: 9780393937664
Binding: Paperback

View textbooks at the CQUniversity Bookshop

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:

CQUniversity Student Email
Internet
Unit Website (Moodle)

Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Chapter 8: Europe after World War I

Hickman, R. (2017). Reel music: Exploring 100 years of film music. New York, NY: USA

Events and Submissions/Topic

Odessa Steps Montage Due: Week 5 Monday (5 Apr 2021) 11:45 pm AEST

Vacation Week

Begin Date: 12 Apr 2021

Module/Topic

Hickman, R. (2017). Reel music: Exploring 100 years of film music. New York, NY: USA

Events and Submissions/Topic

Events and Submissions/Topic

Post-war trends, modern styles and the birth of the blockbuster Due: Week 12 Monday (31 May 2021) 11:45 pm AEST

Review/Exam Week

Begin Date: 07 Jun 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week

Begin Date: 14 Jun 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Odessa Steps Montage

Task Description

Length: 1500 - 2000 words*

Task: Complete a film music analysis of the Odessa Steps montage from Battleship Potemkim (1925). A link to the Youtube clip can be found on the Moodle course website.

Task description:

Begin with a brief overview of the work of film director Sergei Eisenstein and his innovations in film technique.
Describe the term 'montage', and how this is demonstrated in this film sequence - the Odessa Steps montage.
Provide a brief synopsis of the film and where this scene comes.
Create a plot and music cue list to describe the events in the film clip (the Odessa Steps montage) and the type of music used. You may use the template from page 81 of the textbook and download here.
Discuss how the musical elements are used with this film clip (the Odessa Steps montage). Using specific examples from the plot and music cue list, consider how the choice of instruments, tempo, volume, rhythm, dissonance are used to:

establish the varying moods of the montage
support the plot and the various plot changes
establish character

You may use your own words to describe the musical elements, but be as precise and musical as possible.
Include a reference list and use in-text referencing to acknowledge your information sources.

Assignment presentation:

Include your name, student number and topic title
Must use 12 point Times New Roman font
Must use 1.5 spacing for the body of the assignment
You may use sub-headings to organise your assignment clearly
You may refer to Youtube clips to demonstrate aspects of your discussion and reference appropriately
Include in-text references
Include a comprehensive reference list, adhering to the CQUniversity APA Style Guide
All excerpts from URLs for music scores or recorded audio/video examples should include an in-text reference, and full details included in the reference list.
Submit Microsoft Word (.docx) documents only.

*The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.

Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Monday (5 Apr 2021) 11:45 pm AEST

Return Date to Students

Week 7

Weighting

30%

Assessment Criteria

10% - Accuracy and depth of treatment of director profile
10% - Discussion on the structure of the montage
5% - Accuracy of film synopsis and identification of scene
25% - Accuracy of plot and music cue list, and use of appropriate descriptors
30% - Discussion on use of music to establish the mood, support the plot and establish character
10% - Implementation of appropriate presentation and technical requirements
10% - Correct use of academic referencing conventions

Referencing Style

American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

Submission

Online

Submission Instructions

Submit this assignment online through the unit Moodle site.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Describe the principal stylistic characteristics of film music from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the 1950s
Analyse the aural characteristics of film music from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the 1950s
Contextualise the developments in film music within the important technological, social and political movements from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the 1950s

Graduate Attributes

Communication
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Classical music and the 'talkies'

Task Description

Length: 2000 words*

Task: Write an essay to discuss the use of classical music in five 'talkie' films from late 1920s to the end of the 1930s. This is referring to classical music that has been included in a film score by composers such as Mozart, Beethoven etc. These pieces have not been written especially for the film, and were originally written for the concert hall.

For each of the five films, find one Youtube clip demonstrating the use of a piece of classical music, identifying it by title, composer and timing within the clip. Consider the following points:

What purpose does the music play at that point in the film?
How does the music inform the viewer about character, plot, point of view and mood?
For each film score extract discuss whether the music is diegetic or non-diegetic and how this alters its purpose in the film.

Assignment presentation:

Include your name, student number and topic title
Must use 12 point Times New Roman font
Must use 1.5 spacing for the body of the assignment
You may use sub-headings to organise your assignment clearly
You may refer to Youtube clips to demonstrate aspects of your discussion and reference appropriately
Include in-text references
Include a comprehensive reference list, adhering to the CQUniversity APA Style Guide
All excerpts from URLs for music scores or recorded audio/video examples should include an in-text reference, and full details included in the reference list.
Submit Microsoft Word (.docx) documents only.

Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Monday (3 May 2021) 11:45 pm AEST

Return Date to Students

Week 10

Weighting

30%

Assessment Criteria

25% - Accurate identification of five film clips and the classical music used
35% - Appropriate discussion of the purpose of the music
20% - Ability to synthesise information in a precise and relevant manner
10% - Implementation of appropriate presentation and technical requirements
10% - Correct use of academic referencing conventions

Referencing Style

American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

Submission

Online

Submission Instructions

Submit this assignment online through the unit Moodle site.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Describe the principal stylistic characteristics of film music from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the 1950s
Analyse the aural characteristics of film music from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the 1950s
Contextualise the developments in film music within the important technological, social and political movements from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the 1950s

Graduate Attributes

Communication
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Post-war trends, modern styles and the birth of the blockbuster

Task Description

Length: 2500 words*

Task: Considering the period from 1945 to 1959, discuss the way film music is used in each of the following film genres:

drama
film noir
thriller
epic
horror
romance
western
comedy
animated feature

For each genre:

Give specific examples of films and film music for each genre and find relevant Youtube clips that support your argument about how film music is used in that genre in various films and by various composers.
The examples can be either diegetic or non-diegetic music examples.
For each Youtube clip provide a Cue sheet guide that links the description of the action to the description of the music. You may not replicate any of the Viewer Guides that are provided in the textbook, but use these as a template for your own analysis.

For each film music example discuss:

What purpose does the music play at that point in the film?
How does the music inform the viewer about character, plot, point of view and mood?
How does this music link to the usual conventions of this film genre?

Assignment presentation:

Include your name, student number and topic title
Must use 12 point Times New Roman font
Must use 1.5 spacing for the body of the assignment
You may use sub-headings to organise your assignment clearly
You may refer to Youtube clips to demonstrate aspects of your discussion and reference appropriately
Include in-text references
Include a comprehensive reference list, adhering to the CQUniversity APA Style Guide
All excerpts from URLs for music scores or recorded audio/video examples should include an in-text reference, and full details included in the reference list.
Submit Microsoft Word (.docx) documents only.

Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Monday (31 May 2021) 11:45 pm AEST

Return Date to Students

End of term

Weighting

40%

Assessment Criteria

10% - Appropriate introduction and conclusion
30% - Appropriate discussion of the purpose of the music within each genre
20% - Appropriate choice and discussion of film music examples
20% - Ability to synthesise information in a precise and relevant manner
10% - Implementation of appropriate presentation and technical requirements
10% - Correct use of academic referencing conventions

Referencing Style

American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

Submission

Online

Submission Instructions

Submit this assignment online through the unit Moodle site.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Describe the principal stylistic characteristics of film music from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the 1950s
Analyse the aural characteristics of film music from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the 1950s
Contextualise the developments in film music within the important technological, social and political movements from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the 1950s

Graduate Attributes

Communication
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.