Overview
In this unit you will connect current comedy genres to their original forms. Through an analysis of characters and scenarios in contemporary comedies from stage and screen, you will discover the origins of comedy and how they began. You will explore the key traits of comedy found in today's popular culture and link to stock characters and scenarios from ancient Roman comedies and Commedia dell'Arte. You will explore historical and contemporary forms of comedy and how it has been used in various societies around the world and through the ages as both entertainment and a vehicle for social commentary.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: Minimum of 18 credit pointsAntirequisite: Students who have completed THTR13124 Theatre Studies 3: Mask, Myth and Ritual cannot enrol in 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 2 - 2024
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).
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
Assessment Overview
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.
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.
- Identify key traits of comedy found in contemporary theatre, film and television
- Analyse characters and scenarios in current comedy genres and compare to their original theatre forms
- Investigate the use of comedy as a vehicle for social commentary
- Apply your knowledge of comedic elements to create a short original comedy in audio or video format.
N/A
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Research Assignment - 30% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||
| 3 - Presentation - 40% | ||||
| 4 - Peer assessment - 10% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 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 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microsoft Teams
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.
l.lorenza@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
The play that went wrong
Chapter
Online resources
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Features of Comedy
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Slapstick
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The three step rule
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Commedia dell'Arte
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Stock characters
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Circus and clowning
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Vaudeville
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Review of content
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
In class and online presentations
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
In class and online presentations
Presentation Due: Week 10 Monday (16 Sept 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
No classes
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No classes
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Research Assignment
Compare a contemporary work from stage or screen with the origins of comedy.
In this task you will select a contemporary comic work from stage or screen and explore the comic devices used within it.
- Select comedy that may be a film, television series or live theatre performance. You must be able to provide a link to a source for the comedy you have selected.
- Identify the devices of comedy used in the contemporary work.
- Research the origins of these comic devices suing unit materials and other library resources.
- Discuss the origin of these devices and how they have been applied and appropriated in the contemporary work you have selected.
Referencing:
- Identify all references including the comedy you have selected using APA 7th style in in-text citations and correct reference list formatting.
- Be careful to write in your own words, do not copy text from other sources. Remember to use correct punctuation, grammar and capital letters for proper nouns.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)
- Within this assessment, the use of Microsoft Copilot, Chat GPT or other Gen AI agents is as follows:
No Gen AI use at any point during this assessment.
Word limit: 2000 words
WORD COUNT FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:
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.
Week 5 Friday (9 Aug 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Word document uploaded via Moodle
Week 7 Friday (30 Aug 2024)
- Clear introduction and conclusion (10%)
- Accuracy of information and depth of treatment of the topic (25%)
- Detailed discussion on the primary source examples provided (25%)
- Ability to write clearly and logically (15%)
- Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and clear lay-out (10%)
- Correct use of APA style for the in-text referencing and reference list (15%)
- Identify key traits of comedy found in contemporary theatre, film and television
- Analyse characters and scenarios in current comedy genres and compare to their original theatre forms
2 Written Assessment
Proposal pitch for a comedy performance that represents and/or challenges a social behaviour or situation.
This is your pitch to the lecturer for your class presentation for Assessment 3.
A pitch is to persuade others to see the benefits of you, your product or idea, and to buy into it.
Your intention in this pitch is to:
- convince the lecturer that your peers need to know about the Australian creative you have selected;
- outline how your presentation will do this.
By exploring contemporary uses of comedy to draw attention to a social behaviour or situation, you will develop your own comic performance.
This proposal is your rationale for your presentation for Assessment 3. You should discuss:
- What is your original comedy? Describe the synopsis/plot.
- What features or devices of theatrical comedy have you incorporated and why? You must Identify the comic theatre sources that have influenced the development of your original comedy.
- Who is it intended for? Describe the intended audience.
Referencing:
1. Identify all references using APA 7th style in in-text citations and correct reference list formatting.
2. Be careful to write in your own words, do not copy text from other sources. Remember to use correct punctuation, grammar and capital letters for proper nouns.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)
Within this assessment, the use of Microsoft Copilot, Chat GPT or other Gen AI agents is as follows:
- No Gen AI use at any point during this assessment.
Word Count: 1000 words
WORD COUNT FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:
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.
Week 7 Friday (30 Aug 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
written proposal in word document (.doc or .docx) submit via Moodle
Week 8 Friday (6 Sept 2024)
- Clear and compelling opening to your pitch (10%)
- Clear identification of the social behaviour or situation (25%)
- Clear identification of features or devices of theatrical comedy have you incorporated and why (25%)
- Clear explanation of the audience it is intended for (20%)
- Inclusion of documentation and in-text referencing (APA 7 format) including at least 3 primary sources (10%)
- Correct spelling, grammar, and word usage (10%)
- Identify key traits of comedy found in contemporary theatre, film and television
- Investigate the use of comedy as a vehicle for social commentary
3 Presentation
This is your pre-recorded comedy to share with your peers.
Using your proposal from Assessment 3 and considering the feedback provided by your lecturer, plan, rehearse and record your original comedy, up to 3 minutes, in any format (audio or video) that represents and/or challenges the social behaviour or situation.
This must be pre-recorded and uploaded via Moodle as a Youtube clip or audio file.
A transcript of your comedy must be provided as a word document.
A reference list must be provided for all sources used to develop the 3 minute work. The reference list must must include at least 3 primary sources such as journal articles, books and items you can find through the CQUniversity library database.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)
Within this assessment, the use of Microsoft Copilot, Chat GPT or other Gen AI agents is as follows:
- Gen AI content is used to generate ideas and general structures.
WORD COUNT FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:
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.
Week 10 Monday (16 Sept 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Pre-recorded presentation
Exam Week Monday (14 Oct 2024)
This task is peer assessed
Each student will be allocated 2-3 presentations to watch and review.
As you watch each presentation you will evaluate the presentation on these five criteria:
- The presentation caught my interest.
- I learned more about the social behaviour or situation than I already knew.
- The organisation of information was logical and easy to follow.
- The selected comic devices were effective in communicating the situation or issue.
- The use of live performance and/or images, video, sound and voice overs was effective selected to communicate the information.
- Investigate the use of comedy as a vehicle for social commentary
- Apply your knowledge of comedic elements to create a short original comedy in audio or video format.
4 Peer assessment
Students will peer assess each other's presentations in Assessment 3.
Week 11 Friday (27 Sept 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Completion of peer assessing online via Moodle
Exam Week Monday (14 Oct 2024)
Students will respond to each other's presentations through a Peer assessment tool in class.
Each student will be allocated 2-3 presentations to watch and review.
As you watch each presentation you will evaluate the presentation on these five criteria:
- The presentation caught my interest.
- I learned more about the social behaviour or situation than I already knew.
- The organisation of information was logical and easy to follow.
- The selected comic devices were effective in communicating the situation or issue.
- The use of live performance and/or images, video, sound and voice overs was effective selected to communicate the information.
- Apply your knowledge of comedic elements to create a short original comedy in audio or video format.
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.
What can you do to act with integrity?
