Leader: Philip Dearman

Offered

Gippsland Second semester 2008 (Day)
Gippsland Second semester 2008 (Off-campus)
Sunway Second semester 2008 (Day)
Singapore Second semester 2008 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

The unit reviews different accounts of the relations between media, power and popular opinion. It does this by summarizing dominant theoretical frameworks of power (conservative, liberal democratic, Marxist and post-structuralist) and the related conceptions of society and culture within which accounts of media and opinion formation have been framed. It identifies how these have worked with different conceptions of 'the individual', 'the people' and 'the public'. Media and popular opinion are discussed in terms of the development of strategies for the regulation of social relations, and the formation and guidance of individual capacities.

Objectives

On successful completion of this Unit students are expected to be able to:

1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the significance of the relations between media, power and popular opinion.
2. Recognise, identify and describe the assumptions and arguments making up theoretical approaches canvassed in the Unit.
3. Demonstrate a capacity to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of theoretical approaches canvassed in the Unit.
4. Demonstrate a capacity to analyse media and cultural texts by applying different theoretical approaches.
5. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the role of media in the formation of popular opinion, and its status as an artefact (rather than simply an expression) of the social relations of power.

Assessment

Essay Plan (750 words) : 20%
Major Essay (2250 words) : 50%
Exam (1500 words) : 30%

Contact hours

One x 2 hr seminar/week

Prerequisites

COM1010 and COM1020

Prohibitions

COM2411, GSC2411