Well suited to first year courses, this task introduces students to the process of appropriating and applying specific disciplinary approaches to a mainstream stimulus piece, namely a feature film. In a 2000 word essay, student use a feature film nominated by the course coordinator to demonstrate an understanding of theories and concepts taught in the course. Class time is dedicated to discussing the film in concert with the course content. In their essay students further draw upon and integrate insights from their discipline to offer a creative or astute interpretation of the film using examples from the film to demonstrate an understanding of theory. This task aligns particularly well with disciplines that deal in issues of social interest, justice, or ethics, making it highly transferable between and among HaSS Schools. In the case of SOCY1050, this task involves applying Sociological thought, theoretical perspectives and concepts in such a way that allows for a creative interpretation of the film whilst reinforcing threshold concepts. That is, there are numerous ways that students may choose to interpret elements of the film and apply concepts and theory at various levels. This is an especially engaging way to introduce entry level undergraduates to higher level disciplinary analysis; encourage lateral thinking in applying otherwise challenging theory; and showcasing the relevance of disciplinary approaches to matters of contemporary interest.
Details
- CLASS SIZE
- 100-500
- CLASS LEVEL
- First year
- ASSESSMENT SECURITY
- Medium security
- TIME REQUIREMENTS
- Medium time
- TAGS
- essay, review, critical analysis, analysis
Advantages
The use of contemporary stimulus material (if a popular film is selected) can enhance the learning experience via active engagement. Students can actively develop creativity and critical thinking skills through lateral interpretations of film and application of scholarly perspectives to contexts of popular culture. Transfers well to any discipline dealing in critical thought, qualitative interpretation or (both contemporary and historical) social issues (most HaSS disciplines).
Challenges
Students new to critical analysis may describe the movie plot instead of correctly/thoroughly applying theory/concepts. Some class time should be dedicated to guiding students as to how to integrate disciplinary language in a meaningful way, or an exemplary essay panalysis may describe the movie plot instead of correctly/thoroughly applying theory/concepts. Some class time should be dedicated to guiding students as to how to integrate disciplinary language in a meaningful way, or an exemplary essay provided.
Tips for implementation
Course coordinators should select a film with enough scope for students to develop a range of possible interpretations that speak to various course themes/content. This is especially relevant to introductory courses that often provide an overview of various niches within a broader discipline.
How it supports academic integrity
Combining a contemporary film with a specific disciplinary perspective gives this task a high level of specificity that cannot be easily plagiarised.
Dr Peter Walters
p.walters@uq.edu.au
I am an urban sociologist, and I research a wide range of issues that influence the way we live in cities and the way our social lives influence how cities look, feel and work. I have investigated the ways new communities form in master planned outer suburban estates, in collaboration with one of Australia’s largest property developers. I have researched inner-city neighbourhoods in Brisbane to understand that way that top-down gentrification influences the culture and community in these places. I was involved in a large Australian Research Council project in the aftermath of the 2011 Brisbane floods designed to better understand the relative importance of local community, government institutions and strangers in the way that affected suburbs recovered from this disaster in the short and medium term. My research has also taken me to Bangladesh where I have led research in collaboration with local universities, to investigate ways the urban poor understand themselves as citizens and how they access government services directly and through systems of patronage.
In a very different form of community research, I am part of a team working in the Solomon Islands since 2011. In collaboration with my colleague Professor Kristen Lyons, we are assisting a team of forestry researchers to better understand the social and cultural enablers and obstacles to the integration of western scientific practices to environmental protection and village level livelihoods.
I am a regular commentator on local and national media on urban affairs and also contribute regularly to the Conversation (over 100,000 readers). Find out more