TAD2207

Popular culture and contemporary communication 2 ( 6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Dr Daniel Palmer

Offered:
Caulfield First semester 2005 (Day)

Synopsis: All forms of media, as powerful and persuasive communicators of ideas, beliefs and stereotypes in our contemporary world, will be analysed. Answers will be sought to many questions including: Who speaks? Who listens? Who is silenced? Who profits? What are the social, environmental and ethical responsibilities of visual commjnicators? Is it permissible to appropriate other visual practitioners' images and ideas? What are the points of connection and divergence between popular culture and contemporary art? Semiotics, structuralist and post-structuralist theories will be used in an attempt to decode and interpret images.

Objectives: On successful completion of this unit, students will 1. be familiar with the salient ideas and methodologies of semiotics, and how these may contribute to an understanding of art and design; 2. be familiar with the salient ideas and differences between structuralist and post-structuralist thought, and be able to make connections between these ideas and art and design practice; 3. be able to use semiotics to critically decode and analyse the images and texts of popular culture; 4. have an awareness and understanding of the cultural roles and responsibilities of professional communicators in today's society; 5. comprehend all OHS&E requirements in this unit area.

Assessment: One research essay (2000 words): 40%; one short essay (1000 words): 20%; and one seminar paper (1500 words): 40%

Contact Hours: One hour lecture and two hour seminar, plus 7 hours of independent study per week

Prerequisites: 12 credit points of Theory units

Corequisites: none

Prohibitions: TAD3207, TAD3217