THE ARTS

Piara Waters Senior High School recognises the integral role of the Arts in fostering creativity, self-expression, and personal development. The Arts curriculum is designed to provide a well-rounded education, ensuring that all students engage in both a performance subject and a visual subject in Years 7 and 8. This allows them to explore and develop their talents across different artistic disciplines.

Performing Subject (Music, Dance and Drama)

In Year 7, our Performing Arts context is Drama. Drama offers students an exciting opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of theatrical expression. Through a range of engaging activities, students will have the chance to plan, develop, and present drama pieces to their peers. The drama pieces can be improvised or drawn from selected script excerpts, which may include works from Australian or world drama. Students will also have the chance to perform scripted dramas and improvisations. Throughout the course, students will engage in informal reflective processes, using drama terminology and language to analyse and discuss their own devised or scripted work.

Visual Subject (Media Production & Analysis, Visual Art)

Students explore the dynamic field of Media Arts. Through this subject, they gain valuable insight into contemporary media and its impact on society. They learn about the basic communication model and examine different viewpoints presented in various media formats. Students engage in planning and creating their own media representations, such as advertisements, mass media content, press-related projects, or broadcasting initiatives. Throughout these activities, students work collaboratively in teams, follow timelines, and employ processes and strategies that ensure the safe and responsible use of media equipment.

The Media Arts curriculum covers a range of media options, allowing students to explore diverse aspects of the field. Focus areas include advertising (such as television commercials, film trailers, magazine advertising, or film posters), mass media (including commercial television, blockbuster films, or video games), press (encompassing television news, newspapers, or current affairs), and broadcasting (such as marketing campaigns, commercial radio, or commercial podcasts). Students are encouraged to work within, or across, various media formats, such as film, television, photography, print media, radio, or online media.