COM2418 - Digital Culture and New Reading Practices

Leader: Patricia K.L. Goon

Offered

Malaysia Second semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit looks at changing reading practices and literacies in a technologised world. It is set up in three blocks: Historical Context, Textuality and Reading, and New Media Reading Occasions. The first block looks at communication and information technologies as cultural technologies which provide cultural users specific frameworks for symbolic production. The second block takes the student through the description and construction of the reading act as a specific occasion of meaning-making, gendered power-play, and specification of space. The last block applies the concepts introduced in the second block to specific everyday examples of new media use and occasions of reading.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate:

1. an awareness of the historical, cultural and material contexts leading up to the development of 21st century media technologies
2. an understanding of key debates, issues and theories surrounding reading practices and new media
3. a range of literacies and analytical techniques needed to describe and analyse new media reading practices
4. experience in using and reading forms of new media

Assessment

Conceptual Essay (1500 words): 33%,
Tutorial CMC Presentation: (10 minutes) 6%,
Online Forum Exercises (1500 words): 33%,
One hour Exam (equivalent to 1000 words) 22%,
Tutorial Participation and Attendance throughout semester: 6%

Contact hours

1 two-hour lecture and 1 two-hour tutorial per week for 13 weeks

Prerequisites

COM1010 and COM1020