107-409 Indigenous Photography, New Media, Film

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in art history or cinema studies..

This subject examines Indigenous photography, new media, film and television from the three distinct but interrelated perspectives of aesthetics/theory, pragmatics, and history. Aesthetic responses to the conventions of different forms of screen culture and photography will be considered in relation to an engagement with current theoretical frameworks drawn from psychoanalytic, post-colonial, post-structural and queer theories. This aspect of the course is designed to generate new critical responses to the material studied. The pragmatic perspective focuses on the realities of filmmaking and television production, which are explored through an examination of funding, access and policy issues. How are Indigenous film, television and new media fostered? What techniques and devices are employed in their promotion and distribution? How do the changing ideologies of arts industries reflect notions of indigeneity? Finally, the historical perspective will provide a foundation on which to base the aforementioned analyses. Each week will cover a different aspect of the history of Indigenous involvement in photography, new media, film and television.

• be skilled in research;

• possess advanced skills of critical thinking and analysis;

• possess an ability to communicate knowledge intelligibly, economically and effectively;

• have an understanding of social, ethical and cultural context.

A 1000 word paper (based on in-class presentation) 20% (due during the semester), and a 4000 word research essay 80% (due during the examination period).

A subject reader will be available.