80031 Independent Project: Locating the Image
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 12 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 80057 Independent Project: Emerging Image Practices
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
In this subject, students undertake independent research exploring contemporary and historical contexts of the image in visual culture. Students choose from a series of briefs designed to challenge their expectations of working for and with an existing and established practice. By utilising research, technical, theoretical, and conceptual skills, students develop and produce a major project that demonstrates social engagement, critical thinking, and aesthetic resolution. Students are challenged to work ethically in the service of ideas and projects that offer solutions to problems. Further, this subject focuses on a range of real-world creative experiences by challenging students to develop contemporary images with a location in mind. Students consider how the meaning of images can be manipulated depending on where they are located and how they are disseminated. Students can choose from both material and immaterial outcomes such as print, screen, web, and projection as well as consider alternate modes of presentation which include spatial and performative contexts. Students assess what kinds of viewing experiences they are creating and who their target audience is while learning to identify the effects of their creative outcomes in terms of the objectives of a brief.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
| 1. | Analyse, synthesise and formulate complex ideas, arguments and rationales and use initiative to explore alternatives. |
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| 2. | Produce inspirational responses that exemplify integration of learning experiences. |
| 3. | Take autonomous responsibility for actions and decisions and to initiate and execute meaningful self-directed iterative processes |
| 4. | Communicate ideas effectively in a variety of ways, including oral, written and visual. |
| 5. | Develop innovative approaches. |
| 6. | Recognise and engage in a diverse range of technical and practical contexts |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Ability to take autonomous responsibility for actions and decisions (A.1)
- Ability to establish and develop an informed and ethical position toward social and cultural issues (A.2)
- Ability to work cooperatively and professionally as part of a team, initiate partnerships with others, take a leadership role when required, and constructively contribute to peer learning (C.1)
- Ability to communicate ideas effectively in a variety of ways, including oral, written and visual (C.2)
- Ability to develop innovative approaches (I.1)
- Ability to initiate and execute meaningful self-directed iterative processes (I.3)
- Ability to produce inspirational responses that exemplify integration of learning experiences (I.4)
- Ability to recognise and engage in a diverse range of technical and practical contexts (P.1)
- Ability to develop technical skills in photography and situated media (P.3)
- Ability to reflect and engage in self-critique and critical thinking (R.5)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
The subject allows students to develop socially engaged responses to real-world briefs. Students continue to develop research, conceptual, technical, and aesthetic skills to produce a substantial project and resolved technical outcomes to position their practice within contemporary visual culture. Studio tutors guide students as they research, plan, develop, and resolve projects in response to real-world briefs within a given timeframe.
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject includes active and collaborative learning experiences where ongoing feedback is provided weekly in studio seminars. It is therefore imperative that students prepare for and attend at least 80% of all studio seminars outlined in the program.
Instruction is provided by tutors to support students in the development of their projects. Your tutor will offer weekly feedback in your studio seminar. Students receive on the spot feedback and support to assist in directing their projects and to assist in problem-solving. This feedback may be in response to the conceptual, theoretical, and or technical aspects of the student's projects.
This subject uses problem based learning strategies that involve students in researching and developing their own solutions to complex briefs. Each week students will be asked to research, develop and present their responses to briefs in student led seminars. These are included in the program descriptions. The subject includes peer-to-peer led learning activities, where students must be prepared to ask questions, raise ideas and apply their understanding of the topic in a collaborative learning environment. Participation in class is crucial.
Studio seminars will give students the opportunity to work independently, to mirror real-world studio practice while benefiting from discussions focused on weekly topics presented by their peers and tutors. Studio seminars will provide students with the opportunity to take ownership of their creative development in preparatory reading and research. Tutors will help facilitate discussion and offer expert insight and direction where needed, although students are primarily responsible for the collaborative and participatory nature of the seminar. It is the student's responsibility to record any feedback given during studio sessions and meetings.
Outside class time students are expected to research, develop and produce their work independently and to bring this to class every week. Students are supported in these projects by access to level 2 photo media facilities. Feedback is provided iteratively in class, and grades and marks through Review.
Content (topics)
- Examine the role, meaning and location of the image in visual culture.
- Develop a socially engaged image-based practice.
- Undertake and apply in-depth reading and research.
- Develop and sustain an independent practice in the context of peer and tutor support.
- Consolidate practical and technical skills relevant to the student's independent project.
- Effectively demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively and professionally in a timely and ethical manner.
- Demonstrate a high level of competency in communicating both visually and verbally.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Locating the Image Work in Progress
| Intent: | Assessment Task 1: LOCATING THE IMAGE WORK IN PROGRESS (30%) due week 6 In week 1, students choose from one of three briefs. Each brief presents an existing and established practice that students would like to work with. The brief will guide students to undertake the following activities in order to arrive at a major project. Work in Progress is due in week 6 and must include the following:
See the assessment task sheet for details. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 3, 4 and 5 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): A.2, C.1, C.2, I.1 and I.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Project | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 30% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | Professionalism: Ability to undertake and apply rigorous and independent thinking to image-based outcomes. Development: Ability to consistently develop a significant body of work in response to a brief. Technical: Ability to use appropriate technologies to effectively develop a strong image-based project. Critical thinking: Ability to engage critically with social, cultural and ethical issues to extend creative practice. Commitment: Demonstration of commitment, self-motivation and reflection applied to independent project development and in class participation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Locating the Image Final Project
| Intent: | Assessment Task 2: LOCATING THE IMAGE FINAL PROJECT (40%) due Week 12 This task builds on the work undertaken and presented in Task 1 and consolidates the technical skills acquired throughout the semester. Students will produce and present their final project, demonstrating its technical, conceptual and visual resolution. All components of the project must be designed to consider the real or imagined location and audience of the image. The final project must reflect the feedback provided to students throughout the semester. This includes resolving the work overtime to finely tune its aims, objectives and effects See the assessment task sheet for details. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): A.1, C.1, I.4, P.1 and R.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Project | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 40% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | Inspirational outcomes: Ability to produce experimental and inspirational image-based outcomes in response to a brief. Commitment: Ability to consistently demonstrate commitment to independently and iteratively developing a significant project. Technical: Ability to choose and apply appropriate technologies to effectively communicate the visual, conceptual and theoretical objectives of the project. Critical thinking: Ability to make socially engaged creative outcomes which respond to current global issues. Communication & collaboration: The extent to which professionalism is demonstrated in verbal communication activities such as research presentations and participation in peer to peer critiques and group work activities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Technical Proficiency Projects
| Intent: | Assessment Task 3: Technical Proficiency Project (30%) due Week 11 This task requires students to develop and present photographic outcomes that demonstrate technical proficiency at an industry standard. Building on the technical skills developed in subject 80057 Independent Project: Emerging Image Practices, students are guided intensively through technical exercises in the digital lab and photo studio. The technical project task is designed to teach important skills in lighting and digital post-production, equipping students to work across diverse photographic industry contexts. To acquire the relevant skills to meet the demand of this task, students must attend technical demonstrations each week, practice the technical exercises and present work iteratively in class. Students will also need to work collaboratively in and outside of class demonstrations to ensure their methods of working and their creative outcomes meet industry standards. See the assessment task sheet for details. | ||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 3, 5 and 6 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.1, I.1 and P.3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Project | ||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 30% | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | Technical ability: Produce image-based outcomes at a high technical standard that demonstrates industry readiness. Professionalism: Demonstration of consistent commitment to practising new skills in an independent and self-motivated fashion across individual and collaborative endeavours. Innovation: Ability to address a technical brief and solve technical problems in thoughtful and innovative ways that result in high-quality technical outcomes. | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
To pass this subject 80% attendance in all activities is expected. The listed submission dates for each assessment tasks should be submitted on the due date/time. The combined project grades should equal a pass grade or above. Note that grade penalties apply to work considered to be unsatisfactory at interim deadlines. It is expected that you will spend 10 hours per week on this subject (this includes attendance at scheduled studio seminars). Assessment is criterion referenced where a student’s level of performance is judged in terms of how well the objectives of the subject have been achieved as evidenced in submitted work. Assessment criteria relate to the learning objectives listed in this document. See briefs for specific details of assessment criteria for each project. To pass a project, work submitted should show satisfactory achievement in all learning objectives.