Reference no: EM133543470

Purpose: This assignment provides an opportunity for you to synthesise the unit's understanding of the concepts of genre by preparing a website explaining horror film and analysing examples in order to do so.

Instructions for Group Website Project

Choose one of these group project topics (you will be opting into a group depending on what topic you're interested in)

- Explaining film and television genre through a focus on the gothic horror tradition
- Explaining film and television genre through a focus on the slasher tradition
- Explaining film and television genre through a focus on gender

More advance topics:
- Explaining film and television genre with a focus on monsters
- Explaining film and television genre through horror/sci-fi examples
- Explaining film and television genre with a focus on.... (choose your own topic in consultation with your tutor)

Instructions for Group Website Project

The Brief: Imagine that your team has been contracted by a public film organisation (like the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) or the British Film Institute (BFI). They would like to improve their public engagement and want you to create a dedicated area on their website that explains the idea of genre by way of a focus on horror . They want the site to speak to a film educated public (so perhaps a 3rd year screen studies student) who wants to gain a nuanced and critical understanding of genre, informed by scholarly approaches and rich with interesting examples.

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to synthesise the unit's understanding of the concepts of genre and apply them to your chosen examples. It offers the opportunity to apply knowledge acquired through the semester and analyse ideas in relation to the genre you have chosen. The construction of the website as a group (including problem-solving, negotiating and building) makes this a creative task. NOTE: the purpose of the website is to explain genre concepts and the operation of genre across audiences, institutions and texts etc rather than to explain gothic horror or the slasher etc., although these may overlap. The first concern should be to explain how genre works.

Instructions: Groups will be formed in week 6 of semester. Groups will be made up of 4 or 5 students. In some cases groups of 3 may be possible but you should consult with your tutor.

Further information:

Groups must use Google Sites to create their website (using your Monash google account). We expect to see a coherent design and layout. The grade will be largely based on the quality and detail of the analysis, coherent structure of the site and appropriate written style.
The EXACT LAYOUT of the site will be determined by each group but each website MUST demonstrate an understanding of the CONCEPT OF GENRE as outlined across the semester in this unit. That is, the website will draw on key terms and concepts covered in classes and readings to analyse a range of film and TV examples.
The site should include at least 4 pages (for a 4 person group) or 5 pages (for a 5 person group) (not including the "about" page, which you might choose to write together). In terms of word count, the minimum would be about 3200 words for a 4 person group and 4000 words for a 5 person group.
Individual assessment in group tasks: Each member of the group will receive the group mark for this assignment. Groups are recommended to use team contracts to help ensure all members of the group contribute equally. In the case of difficulties or conflict within the group, group members must contact their tutor prior to group work submission. Each persons mark will be adjusted according to anonymous peer assessment within the group (this will count for 13% of the grade or 5/38).
Week 9 classes will consist of a workshop devoted to planning for the website. Everyone in the team is strongly encouraged to attend and everyone will be asked to collaborate on a plan for their group.

Website Content:

Consider the brief for the website. Then decide as a group what to include in the site. Consider how to best structure the site to convey the complexities of genre. You may want to use visual material (audio, images or embedded media) to help clarify and explain the example or overview.

There are many ways for your website to come together via coherent themes and topics. You may wish to have an historical approach, addressing examples across key periods in history. You may wish to focus on a particular cycle of horror, explaining the unit ideas through this (such as the slasher or the vampire film), or you may want to emphasise an ideological issue, such as gender. Remember that your website should be well researched, no mater what you choose. You will be offered some topic ideas to help guide your work around unit content.

To ensure coverage of key concepts in the unit, you are asked to

Devote significant space to at least 2 of the topics discussed in module one: The Fundamentals of Genre. This might mean 2 pages of the website or one page with an equal discussion of 2 topics (for example, texts, industries and/or audiences. Note: you are encouraged to think about how these interact!).
Devote significant space to at least 1 topic broadly discussed in module two: Revaluing Horror
Devote significant space to at least 1 topic broadly discussed in module three: Cross Cultural Horror.

The reason for this is to ensure you make good use of the range of topics discussed in the unit. If you are unsure or are in a small group, discuss with your tutor.

There is some flexibility about this coverage of unit modules - if you would like to depart from this, speak with your tutor. The reason for recommending this coverage is to ensure you explain genre via a "multiplicity of locations".

Explain the logic of your website and how it all works together as one coherent explanation (remember the task is to explain genre) onthe"About" page
You can use examples outside those discussed in the unit and if you are unsure how they connect to the modules please discuss with your tutor.

Remember, this is a research and analysis task. The unit reading list should be your first stop and then you may need to undertake research beyond this depending on the topic and films you are discussing.