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Session3
Session3

Unit description

Introduces students to "law and the visual", "law and popular culture" and to the fundamental concepts of visual literacy. Students are invited to consider the intersection of legal and visual discourses and the idea that cinema (fiction, documentary, and other genres and comics) are practices from which it is possible to learn about law and which can problematise legal discourse.  

Unit content

Topic 1: Theoretical introduction to “law and the visual”

Topic 2: Theoretical introduction to “law and popular culture”

Topic 3: Fundamental concepts of visual literacy

Topic 4: Similarities between the different aspects of the cinematic world (the script, the staging, the location, the aesthetics, the performance) and the legal world

Topic 5: Law in cinema and law as cinema

Topic 6: Censorship and cinema

Topic 7: Inner semiotic structure and aesthetic properties of comics and graphic novels

Topic 8: Interpenetration of media, law and (pop) culture in graphic novels/comics

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:GA1GA2GA3GA4GA5GA6GA7
1demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical principles of “law and the visual” and “law and popular culture” Intellectual rigour
2explain the set of visual competencies or cognitive skills and strategies one needs to make sense of visual imagesIntellectual rigourCultural competence
3demonstrate knowledge of the idea of “law as cinema” and “law in cinema”Communication and social skillsCultural competence
4analyse the intersection of legal and visual discourses and cinemaCommunication and social skillsCultural competence
5analyse the intersection of legal and visual discourses and comicsCommunication and social skillsCultural competence
6analyse films and comics as a place of emergence of legal meanings that actually shape lawCommunication and social skillsCultural competence
7demonstrate their skills in critical analysis and the written presentation of research and argument.Intellectual rigourCommunication and social skills

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical principles of “law and the visual” and “law and popular culture”
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
  2. explain the set of visual competencies or cognitive skills and strategies one needs to make sense of visual images
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA7: Cultural competence
  3. demonstrate knowledge of the idea of “law as cinema” and “law in cinema”
    • GA6: Communication and social skills
    • GA7: Cultural competence
  4. analyse the intersection of legal and visual discourses and cinema
    • GA6: Communication and social skills
    • GA7: Cultural competence
  5. analyse the intersection of legal and visual discourses and comics
    • GA6: Communication and social skills
    • GA7: Cultural competence
  6. analyse films and comics as a place of emergence of legal meanings that actually shape law
    • GA6: Communication and social skills
    • GA7: Cultural competence
  7. demonstrate their skills in critical analysis and the written presentation of research and argument.
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA6: Communication and social skills

Prescribed texts

  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed texts may change in future study periods.

Teaching and assessment

Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every session. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the study session.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

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