An exploration of: a) the relationships between image and music, and between music and other elements of the soundtrack; b) various functions of film music through the analysis of selected films (e.g., how music confirms or contradicts visual narratives and how music can support the cinematic construction of gender, class, ethnicity, culture); c) different techniques and aesthetics of selected film music composers and directors (e.g. the Hitchcock/Herrmann collaboration); d) the historical evolution of film music from the silent era through to the present.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
On satisfying requirements for this course, students will have gained:
- Greater awareness of soundtracks, and their interaction with visuals in films.
- Knowledge of a range of historical approaches to film scoring.
- Skills and tools for approaching and analysing film music.
- Skills in analysing film as text via music as narrative device, and as cultural marker.
Indicative Assessment
Close reading/listening excercise (15%, week 5) (LO 1,2,3,4)
Research Essay (35%, due mid semester) (1800 words) (LO 1,2,3,4)
Research Essay (50%, due in examination period) (2200 words) (LO 1,2,3,4)
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
3.5 hours week classtime (weekly lecture, weekly tutorial, fortnightly 1 hr. seminar, fortnightly 2-hr. screening). Beyond this, students will be expected to spend 6.5 hours/week on independent study (written, web, visual and/or musical materials).
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Electronic readings also will be put on the e-reserve for this course.
Preliminary Reading
Chion, Michel, Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen, Columbia UP, 1994.
Required Reading - a reading brick to be advised.
Assumed Knowledge
Students are expected to have some technical background in one field (e.g. score-reading, or grasp of technical film terms, but not necessarily both).
Majors
Minors
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Students continuing in their current program of study will have their tuition fees indexed annually from the year in which you commenced your program. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-2003 | $1164 | |
| 2014 | $2478 | |
| 2013 | $2472 | |
| 2012 | $2472 | |
| 2011 | $2424 | |
| 2010 | $2358 | |
| 2009 | $2286 | |
| 2008 | $2286 | |
| 2007 | $2286 | |
| 2006 | $2286 | |
| 2005 | $2286 | |
| 2004 | $1926 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1994-2003 | $2574 |
| 2014 | $3246 |
| 2013 | $3240 |
| 2012 | $3240 |
| 2011 | $3240 |
| 2010 | $3240 |
| 2009 | $3240 |
| 2008 | $3240 |
| 2007 | $3132 |
| 2006 | $3132 |
| 2005 | $3132 |
| 2004 | $2916 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.