School of

Communication

COMS 114
Introduction to Visual Literacy

ASSESSMENT

ASSIGNMENT 4
Study unit 1: SECTION 2
The history of modern
audio-visual communication
 LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student achieved the study unit outcomes when he/she can:

• Discuss the origins of visual communication in chronological order from the

artwork, the Venus of Willendorf up to the Gutenberg press.
• Explain the effect of this period on visual communication today in a critical
and reflective discussion.
• Discuss the impact historical and cultural practises, values and interest of
visual communication.
• Discuss the origins of modern offline visual communication in chronological
order from the first moving images up to the contemporary era of the film
industry.
• Discuss the origins of modern online visual communication in chronological
order from the beginning of the internet up to modern technology.
• Discuss the importance of visual communication in modern platforms.
• Explain the effect of these periods on visual communication today in a
critical and reflective group assignment.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The student achieved the study unit outcomes when he/she can:

• Discuss the origins of visual communication in chronological order from the

artwork, the Venus of Willendorf up to the Gutenberg press.
• Explain the effect of this period on visual communication today in a critical
and reflective discussion.
• Discuss the impact historical and cultural practises, values and interest of
visual communication.
• Discuss the origins of modern offline visual communication in chronological
order from the first moving images up to the contemporary era of the film
industry.
• Discuss the origins of modern online visual communication in chronological
order from the beginning of the internet up to modern technology.
• Discuss the importance of visual communication in modern platforms.
• Explain the effect of these periods on visual communication today in a
critical and reflective group assignment.
SU1.2 - The History of Modern Audio-Visual Communication COMS114
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Assignment 4 (A4)
BRIEF:
1. THIS IS A GROUP ASSIGNMENT
2. Watch the “making of” documentaries of
Superman the Movie
at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-tgqMbGulA
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jmuhcosiis

2. Keep careful notes on how this film was developed.

3. Compare the characteristics of the Added Eighth period of Monaco to what Richard Donner
did with this series.
4. Submit a group assignment where you list (just name with a few details) the characteristics
(use headings) of the eighth period and the corresponding occurrence for this series of
movies, e.g.:
1. INNOVATIVE MARKETING
i.) Posters with “you will believe a man can fly” depicted on them
ii.) Posters with famous actors on them
iii.) Camera on airplane nose filming it flying through the clouds.
5. Marks: 20
SU1.2 - The History of Modern Audio-Visual Communication COMS114
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INSTRUCTIONS:
• Upload: One member in the group to submit SINGLE Word doc/pdf under ASSIGNMENT 4 (on eFundi) -
(Not Drop Box)
• Font: Arial or Times New Roman, 12pt. 1.5 Line Spacing, 2cm margins.
• Pages
o Cover page of your assignment:
Initials, Surname, Student number OF EVERY GROUP MEMBER (DOUBLE CHECK NAMES AND SPELLING),Module
Code and Date.
o Content of assignment:
Not more than two (2) typed A4 pages, Font: Arial, Size: 12, Margins: 1.5cm.
USE YOUR COMPANY LOGO ON COVER PAGE AND LETTER HEAD WITH LOGO ON, ON ALL THE PAGES (as created in A2)

• Save your Assessment as follows:

Production Company Name - Assignment number (e.g.: GreenGoblins – A4)
• Use at least THREE (3) references in your assignment and provide their details in the sources list.
Refer to the QUOTING SOURCES document on the NWU LIBRARY site - Harvard Style.
• PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE PLAGIARISM NOTIFICATIONS IN YOUR STUDY GUIDE. NO COPY AND PASTE
ALLOWED. USE REFERENCES FOR ALL INFORMATION OBTAINED.
SU1.2 - The History of Modern Audio-Visual Communication COMS114
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TILT
Transparency in Learning and Teaching

PURPOSE: Learn through the application of theoretical principles

• Critical thinking, conceptualisation skills, analysing skills,
understanding of concepts and identification of theory in
application.
TASKS: Engage with the study content, critically view the selected productions,
evaluate the relevance and correlation of the reality to the theoretical
principles, compare the theoretical principles to the application.
CRITERIA: Discuss and apply the theoretical view of James Monaco in his
Seven Periods of Development (as adjusted to with an Eighth
period) to the selected documentary productions of an award-
winning movie franchise of that time period. Identify
the concepts and constructs in Monaco’s theory and
compare the to the reality in the viewed documentary.
SU1.2 - The History of Modern Audio-Visual Communication COMS114
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RUBRIC/
MARKING SHEET: