COM3411

Media, Culture, Power - Theories of Mass Communications ( 6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Philip Dearman

Offered:
Gippsland Second semester 2006 (Day)
Gippsland Second semester 2006 (OCL)
Malaysia Second semester 2006 (Day)
Singapore Second semester 2006 (OCL)

Synopsis: The unit reviews nineteenth and twentieth-century accounts of the relation between media, culture and power. It does this by summarising historically dominant political doctrines (liberal-democratic, conservative, Marxist) and conceptions of society within which accounts of media have been framed. It identifies how these have worked with different conceptions of the 'individual', 'the people' and 'the public'. It discusses the role of media in terms of the governance of populations, conceived as the formative guidance of people's attributes, conduct and social relations.

Objectives: On successful completion of this Unit students are expected to be able to: 1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the significance of theories of mass communications and culture. 2. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the basic assumptions and arguments of the major theories of mass communications and culture. 3. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches. 4. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the relations between mass communications and social relations of power. 5. Apply the various approaches in describing and analysing cultural and media texts and activities. 6. Recognise, identify and describe major forms of writing and talking about mass communications media.

Assessment: Essay one (1500 words): 30% + Essay two (1750 words): 40% + Examination (1250 words): 30% + Third-year students will be required to demonstrate a greater depth of reading, and a more extended understanding of theoretical material

Contact Hours: 2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

Prerequisites: COM1010 and COM1020 or equivalents

Prohibitions: GSC2411, COM2411