VCE Arts

This unit focuses on the application of acting, direction and design in relation to theatre styles from the pre-modern era, that is, works prior to the 1920s. Students creatively and imaginatively work in production roles with scripts from the pre-modern era of theatre, focusing on at least three distinct theatre styles and their conventions. They study innovations in theatre production in the pre-modern era and apply this knowledge to their own works.

Students develop knowledge and skills about theatre production processes including dramaturgy, planning, development and performance to an audience and apply this to their work. Theatre styles from the pre-modern era of theatre include Ancient Greek, Ancient Roman, Liturgical drama such as morality/miracle/mystery plays, Commedia dell’Arte, Elizabethan, Restoration comedies and dramas, Neo-classical, Naturalism/Realism, Beijing Opera, Noh, Bunraku and Kabuki and other traditional indigenous theatre forms. Students begin to develop skills of performance analysis and apply these to the analysis of a play in performance.

Production roles

For Area of Study 2, students must work in at least two production roles. The production roles for Area of Study 2 are:

• actor
• director
• designer – any one or more of costume, make-up, props, set, lighting, sound.

VCE Theatre Studies Unit 1 is available as an acceleration option, subject to Avila College’s acceleration requirements.

Theatre Studies Study Design

Assessment

1. Exploring pre-modern theatre styles and conventions
2. Interpreting scripts
3. Analysing a play in performance
4. Written Exam

This unit focuses on the application of acting, direction and design in relation to theatre styles from the modern era, that is, the 1920s to the present. Students creatively and imaginatively work in production roles with scripts from the modern era of theatre, focusing on at least three distinct theatre styles. They study innovations in theatre production in the modern era and apply this knowledge to their own works.

Students develop knowledge and skills about theatre production processes including dramaturgy, planning, development and performance to an audience and apply this to their work. They study safe and ethical working practices in theatre production and develop skills of performance analysis, which they apply to the analysis of a play in performance. Theatre styles from the modern era of theatre include Epic theatre, Constructivist theatre, Theatre of the Absurd, Political theatre, Feminist theatre, Expressionism, Eclectic theatre, Experimental theatre, Musical theatre, Physical theatre, Verbatim theatre, Theatre-in-education, and Immersive/Interactive theatre.

Production roles For Area of Study 2, students are required to work in at least two production roles.

Production roles for Area of Study 2 are:

• actor
• director
• designer – any one or more of costume, make-up, props, set, lighting, sound.

VCE Theatre Studies Unit 2 is available as an acceleration option, subject to Avila College’s acceleration requirements.

Theatre Studies Study Design
Assessment:

1. Exploring modern theatre styles and conventions
2. Interpreting scripts
3. Analysing and evaluating a theatre production
4. Written Exam

In this unit students develop an interpretation of a script through the three stages of the theatre production process: planning, development and presentation. Students specialise in two production roles, working collaboratively, creatively and imaginatively to realise the production of a script. They use knowledge developed during this process to analyse and evaluate the ways work in production roles can be used to interpret script excerpts previously unstudied. Students develop knowledge and apply elements of theatre composition, and safe and ethical working practices in the theatre.

VCE Theatre Studies Unit 3 is available as an acceleration option, subject to Avila College’s acceleration requirements.

Theatre Studies Study Design

Assessment

1. Staging Theatre
2. Interpreting a Script
3. Analysing and Evaluating Theatre

In this unit students study a scene and an associated monologue. They initially develop an interpretation of the prescribed scene. This work includes exploring theatrical possibilities and using dramaturgy across the three stages of the production process. Students then develop a creative and imaginative interpretation of the monologue that is embedded in the specified scene. To realise their interpretation, they work in production roles as an actor and director, or as a designer.

Theatre Studies Study Design
VCE Theatre Studies Unit 4 is available as an acceleration option, subject to Avila College’s acceleration requirements.

Assessment

1. Researching and presenting theatrical possibilities
2. Interpreting a monologue
3. Analysing and evaluating a performance
4. Monologue Examination
5. Written Examination

In this unit students explore and develop their understanding of how music is organised. By performing, creating, analysing and responding to music works that exhibit different approaches, students explore and develop their understanding of the possibilities of musical organisation. They prepare and perform ensemble and/or solo musical works to develop technical control, expression and stylistic understanding on their chosen instrument/sound source. They create (arrange, compose or improvise) short music exercises that reflect their understanding of the organisation of music and the processes they have studied. They develop knowledge of music language concepts as they analyse and respond to a range of music, becoming familiar with the ways music creators treat elements of music and concepts and use compositional devices to create works that communicate their ideas.

Unit Prerequisites

N/A

Areas of Study

• Performance
• Creating
• Analysing and Responding

Outcome 1: Performance

• Group Performance (5 mins at Creative Arts)
• Solo Performance (10 mins)

Outcome 2: Creating

• Demonstration (6 mins)
• Discussion Oral / Multimedia (4 mins)

Outcome 3: Analysing and Responding

• Aural, written and practical test (80 minutes)

View Music Careers Pathway

In this unit, students focus on the way music can be used to create an intended effect. By performing, analysing and responding to music works/examples that create different effects, students explore and develop their understanding of the possibilities of how effect can be created. Through creating their own music, they reflect this exploration and understanding.

Students prepare and perform ensemble and/or solo musical works to develop technical control, expression and stylistic understanding using their chosen instrument/sound source. They should perform at least one work to convey a specified effect and demonstrate this in performance.

Unit Prerequisites

N/A

Areas of Study

• Performing
• Creating
• Analysing and Responding

Download > VCE Music Study Design

Unit Assessment

Outcome 1: Performance
> Group Performance (5 mins at Music Festival)
> Solo Performance (15 mins)

Outcome 2: Preparing for Performance
> Demonstration (6 mins)
> Discussion Oral / Multimedia (4 mins)

Outcome 3: Music Language
> Aural, written and practical test (80 minutes)

Students continue to work towards building a performance program they will present at their end-of-year examination in line with their Statement of Intent. The program will contain at least one performance that is a reimagined version of an existing work and an original work created by an Australian artist since 1990.

Students continue to study the work of other performers and their approaches to interpretation and personal voice in performing music works. They refine selected strategies to optimise their own approach to performance.

Students further develop strategies to address the technical, expressive and stylistic challenges relevant to works they are preparing for performance.

Students listen and respond to a further range of recorded music by a variety of performers in contemporary styles. They continue to study music language concepts that relate to contemporary music.

Unit Prerequisites

Unit 3 Music Contemporary Performance

Areas of Study

• Performing
• Analysing for Performance
• Responding

Unit Assessment

Unit 4 contributes to 10% of the study score
Outcome 2: Demonstration and Discussion 
Demonstrate and discuss performance development techniques and approaches

External Assessment

Outcome 1: Unit 3 and 4
End-of-year performance examination
The student will give a live performance drawing on knowledge and skills from Outcome 1 in Units 3 and 4.
A student may present as a soloist, or as a member of a group, according to conditions described in the examination specifications.

Outcome 3: 
End-of-year aural and written examination. The examination will be set by a panel appointed by the VCAA. All the key knowledge and key skills that underpin Outcome 3 in Units 3 and 4 are examinable.

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Interpreting artworks and exploring the Creative Practice

In Unit 1 students use ‘Experiential Learning in Making and Responding’ to explore ideas using the ‘Creative Practice’. As the artist and audience, students consider their connection to artworks, and how their communication of ideas and presentation of artworks challenge, shape and influence viewer or audience perspectives.

Students focus on the making of art and examine how artists communicate ideas and meaning in artworks. They examine artists in different societies, cultures and historical periods and develop their own interpretations and viewpoints about the meanings and messages of artworks. Students also explore how artists create new ways of thinking and representation while developing their own art practice.

Unit Prerequisites

N/A

Areas of Study

There are three areas of study:

• Artists, artworks and audiences
• The Creative Practice
• Documenting and reflecting on the Creative Practice

Download > VCE Art Creative Practice Study Design

Unit Assessment

Students are assessed on individual exploration of materials and techniques in at least three art forms within their Creative Practice and presentation of final artworks. Students also research and analyse a number of artists and artworks from a range of different historical and cultural times.

Pathways

Art Creative Practice Unit 2, 3 &4

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Interpreting artworks and developing the Creative Practice

In Unit 2 students use ‘Inquiry Learning’ to investigate the artistic and collaborative practices of artists. They use the ‘Cultural Lens’, and the other ‘Interpretive Lenses’ as appropriate, to examine artworks from different periods of time and cultures, and to explore the different ways that artists interpret and communicate social and personal ideas in artworks

Students explore the collaborative practices of artists and use the ‘Creative Practice’ to make and present artworks. They develop visual responses based on their investigations, exploring the way historical and contemporary cultural contexts, ideas and approaches have influenced the artworks and the practices of the artists they investigate, as well as their own art practice.

Unit Prerequisites

N/A

Areas of Study

There are 3 areas of study:

• The artist, society and culture
• The collaborative Creative Practice
• Documentation of collaboration using the Creative Practice

Download > VCE Art Creative Practice Study Design

Unit Assessment

Students will research and analyse artists from different societies and cultures. They will also demonstrate the use of the Creative Practice, collaboration and the exploration of personal ideas related to social and cultural context. Students will also present at least one finished artwork that realises the intention of the student and demonstrates the refinement of materials, techniques and processes.

Pathways

Art Creative Practice Unit 3 &4

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Investigation, ideas, artworks and the Creative Practice

In this unit students use ‘Inquiry and Project-Based Learning’ as starting points to develop a ‘Body of Work’. They explore ideas and experiment with materials, techniques and processes using the ‘Creative Practice’. The research of historical and contemporary artists is integral to students’ use of the ‘Creative Practice’ and informs the basis of their investigation. Students also investigate the issues that may arise from the artworks they view and discuss, or those evolving from the practice of the artist. Unit 3 commences with students researching the practice of a selected artist as the starting point to develop a finished artwork. The finished artwork will contribute to the Body of Work developed over Units 3 and 4.

Unit Prerequisites

N/A

Areas of Study

There are 2 areas of study:

• Investigation and Presentation
• Personal investigation using the Creative Practice

Download > VCE Art Creative Practice Study Design

Unit Assessment

• 30% SAT (Folio)

Pathways

Artists, Designer, Architect, Photographer, Curator, Exhibition Designer, Gallery Manager, Visual Art Education

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Interpreting, resolving and presenting artworks and the Creative Practice

In Unit 4 students continue to develop their art practice through ‘Project-Based and Inquiry Learning’ as their research and exploration continues to support the development of their ‘Body of Work’. Throughout their research students study the practices of selected historical and contemporary artists to inform their own art practice. They use the ‘Interpretive Lenses’ to analyse, compare and interpret the meanings and messages of artworks produced by the artists they study. Students also apply the ‘Interpretive Lenses’ throughout the ‘Creative Practice’ to resolve and refine their ‘Body of Work’.

Students continue to build upon the ideas begun in Unit 3 and present a critique of their use of the ‘Creative Practice’. They reflect on the feedback from their critique to further refine and resolve a ‘Body of Work ‘that demonstrates their use of the ‘Creative Practice’ and the realisation of their personal ideas. The students present their ‘Body of Work’ to an audience accompanied by documentation of their use of the ‘Creative Practice’.

Unit Prerequisites

Art Creative Practice Unit 3

Areas of Study

There are 3 areas of study:

• Documentation and critique of the Creative Practice
• Resolution and Presentation of a Body of Work
• Comparison of Artist, their practice and their artworks

Download > VCE Art Creative Practice Study Design

Unit Assessment

• 30% SAT (Folio)
• 10% SAC (Written)
• 30% End of Year Written Exam

Pathways

Artists, Designer, Architect, Photographer, Curator, Exhibition Designer, Gallery Manager, Visual Art Education

View Arts Careers Pathway