Creative Research Project Relating an Academic Theory

Due: 5pm Friday, Week 13 Weighting: 40% Students will undertake a creative research project relating an academic theory of their choice to a technology/case study of their choice. They will critically analyse the selected technology/case study using the chosen theory. This will be discussed further in tutorials. Students should pick a specific technology/case study, not a broad technological category or format (e.g. Do not analyse the printing press: look at Gutenberg’s movable type printing press. Do not choose the Internet; pick a specific Internet technology such as the BitTorrent protocol or an internet related topic like ‘The Hacker Ethic’. Projects must demonstrate an application of academic theory and an ability to undertake critical analysis. They must show an understanding of key concepts discussed in MAS110, and build upon ideas from the required readings, as well as showing explicit evidence of self-directed academic research via in-text referencing and a reference list. Students are to choose one of the following formats in which to submit, and adhere to these length requirements as a guide, +/- 20%: 1. Video (uploaded to YouTube): 3 minutes (e.g. photo essay, self-shot footage, animation) 2. Image/text: Up to 20 images and 500 words plus images (e.g. webcomic) 3. Text: 1000 words (e.g. blogpost), can have up to 3 images. 4. Hypertext/interactive: 500 words plus functionality 5. Spoken/music/podcast (uploaded to SoundCloud/YouTube): 3 minutes 6. Other platforms: seek permission from tutor and negotiate an appropriate length. The creative work will additionally be accompanied by a 500-word written rationale, detailing the process of making the creative work. This rationale should include: 1. Your name, student number, tutors name and tutorial time 2. A hyperlink (URL) to the creative work. The creative work must be accessible, or a penalty will be incurred, potentially resulting a mark of zero. 3. A brief academic justification of the chosen technology/case study topic 4. An account of the (academic) research used 5. A reflection of the creative process and use of technologies, including an exploration of the affordances of the chosen presentation technology, and challenges faced / problems solved (if applicable) 6. A transcript of your creative work. 7. In-text and end-of-text references The 500-word written rationale should relate to your chosen technology/case study topic, for example: 1. a Video submission should critically address and aspect of film theory; 2. An image/text submission should critically address an aspect of photographic theory; 3. A text submission should critically address an aspect of the written word or communications theory; 4. A Hypertext/interactive submission should critically address an aspect of digital media theory. 5. A spoken-word/music/podcast submission should critically address an aspect of recorded sound or broadcast media theory. This major assignment should demonstrate sustained effort and thought. Technical (i.e. all non-iLearn) aspects of the creative project are students’ own responsibility, and you should be confident that you are competent enough to submit. Late assignments, unless the student has been approved for special consideration, will be penalised at a rate of 10% per day.