COM1510 - Media and culture

Leader(s): Gil-Soo Han

Offered

Berwick First semester 2009 (Day)
Caulfield First semester 2009 (Day)
Clayton First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The central objective of the unit is to help students understand the relationships between media, culture and society, that is, how media influences, and is influenced by, social, economic, historical, political and cultural factors in the broader society. It introduces students to how media content is produced, distributed and consumed and also examines the ways in which power and influence are exercised through media in cultural and social life.

Objectives

In this unit teaching staff aim to provide you with a range of conceptual frameworks for understanding the relationships between media, culture and society.
On successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. demonstrate an appreciation of the historical development of media industries;
2. recognise and be able to apply available frameworks for critically understanding the relationships between media, culture and society;
3. demonstrate an understanding of the social, economic, political and cultural factors that shape the production, distribution and consumption of media;
4. demonstrate an appreciation of the ways that the mass media contributes to understandings of the world.

Assessment

Essay (1000 words): 20%;
Essay (2000 words): 35%;
Tutorial presentation, attendance and participation: 10%;
Examination (2 hours): 35%

Contact hours

1 x 2 hour lecture and 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week

Prohibitions

GSC1402; COM1010