1997 Swinburne Higher Education Handbook

Recommended reading
Ong, W. Orality and Literacy: the Technologizing of the Word.
London, Methuen, 1982
Swinburne Radio Production Notes, 1990, Hawthorn, Vic.,
Swinburne Press, 1990
White, S.A. Reporting in Australia. South Melbourne, Macmillan,
1991
Windschuttle, K. and E. Writing, Researching, Communicating,
Communication Skills for the Information Age. 2nd edn, Sydney,
McGraw Hill, 1994
AM505 Workplace Practice
3 hours per week Hawthorn Prerequisite: nil
Assessment: presentation of workplace proposal 40%, final
report 60%
A subject in the Master of Communications
Objectives and Content
This subject aims to give students in the final stages of the
Masters the opportunity to undertake a detailed analysis of
the institutional and professional processes of a media
organisation. Students can nominate which organisation
they wish to be placed in, and they will be required to
consult with management when working out the details of
the study. It would be expected that students will produce a
detailed case study which addresses issues such as the media
model under which the organisation operates, management
structures, staffing and human resources, training,
technology, target audiences and programming.
Students can also negotiate with the media organisation to
undertake a consultancy: for example, to research the
feasibility of a particular project such as the conversion of
radio equipment from analogue to digital, the
implementation of a program to increase Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander employment, or to examine the
impact of new broadcast regulations on the organisation.
Possible participating organisations: ABV-2,3LO, 3RN,
3CR, 3RRR-FM, 3PBS-FM, 3AW, SBS-TV.
AM506 Thesis
Hawthorn Prerequisite: AM501, AM502, AM504 and
AM505 Assessment: to be advised
A subject in the Master of Communications
Objectives and Content
Students are required to write a minor thesis, of
approximately 20,000 words, as a mandatory course
requirement. The conceptual and methodological
underpinning for the thesis will centre on the two core
subjects. AM500 -Globalisation -Media and
Telecommunications and AM503 Interrogating texts:
Cultural Dreaming, though thesis topics may also emerge
from AM501, AM502, AM504 and AM505. International
students will have the opportunity to pursue topics related
to their country of origin or explore comparative research
subjects. There may be the possibility of electronic access to
national and international databases for research.
Supervision of these may be conducted with electronic
means to support the supervisory-student interaction.
AM508 From Book to Film: Textuality and
Discourse
3 hours per week Hawthorn Prerequisite: AL400 Reading
and Writing Seminar Assessment: essay, script and seminar
participation of folio of m'ting, workshop participation and
exercises
A subject in the Graduate Diploma in Writing
Obiectives and Content
This subject explores the relationships between discourse
and reception through the adaptation of texts. It will be
organised around a case study (e.g. multimedia adaptations
of Bram Stoker's Dracula), and involve the examination of
issues of reproduction and authenticity, as well as the
cultural impact of new writing technologies on popular
textual discourse. Students will be encouraged to use and
reflect upon different electronic modes of communication
and delivery, and to utilise computer applications to
produce an adaptation proposal.
Recommended reading
Bordwell, D. and Thompson, K. Film Art. An Introduction. 4th
edn, New York, McGraw Hill, 1993
Chatman, S. Story and Discourse. Narrative Structure in Fiction
and Film. Ithaca, New York, Cornell University Press, 1988
Jung, C. Man and his Symbols. London, Aldus Books, 1964
Ong, W. Orality and Literacy: the Technology of the Word.
London, Methuen, 1982
Stoker, B. Dracula. London, Penguin, 1992
Ulmer, G. Teletheory. Grammatology in the Age of Video. New
York, Routledge, 1989
AP100 Australian Politics
3 hours per week Hawthorn Prerequisite: nil
Assessment: class work and essays
A subject in the Bachelor of Arts
Objedives and Content
This subject is an introduction to Australian politics. To
begin with the subject covers the basic framework of
government. The following topics are considered the
electoral system, the constitutional basis, federalism and the
Westminster system, parliament, cabinet and the public
service, the organisation of the main political parties, and
the role and future of minor political parties. These topics
are taught at a level which presumes no previous knowledge
of Australian politics. However, as the subject progresses
students are introduced to the broader dimensions of politics
which include the role of pressure groups, their basis of
support, in the electorate and in society at large, and their
bearing on Australian democracy.
Recommended reading
Mayer, D.Y. Democracy in Australia. Melbourne, Dellaaa, 1991
or
Jaensch, D. Parliament, Parties and People. Melbourne, Longman
Cheshire, 1991
Swinburne University of Technology 1997 Handbook 247