units

ATS3445

Faculty of Arts

18 September 2017 22 December 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2012 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Arts
OfferedCaulfield First semester 2012 (Day)
Clayton First semester 2012 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Dr Elizabeth Burns Coleman

Notes

Previously coded COM3160

Synopsis

In this unit students investigate the idea that 'information should be free' in arts, 'everyday' communications and the media. It will explore the justifications for freedom of expression and its moral limits, intellectual property, and moral rights for artists. Topics covered will include: the role of the media in a democracy; gossip and the use of celebrity images; defamation and vilification; censorship and representations of sex and violence; intellectual property, plagiarism and piracy. The topics will be chosen to have broad application by students enrolled in other areas of ECPS, as well as in Media.

Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate knowledge of key laws and codes regulating media and communication industries and how these laws and codes influence behaviour
  2. understand how debates about communications and the media influence the development of regulations and codes
  3. critically assess the arguments that justify freedom of expression, and the reasons this freedom may be limited
  4. understand basic moral frameworks and identify moral issues
  5. articulate a coherent position about a current issue relating to freedom of expression
  6. explain their ideas and justify their conclusions in oral and written contexts.

A higher level will be expected of third-year students in terms of the depth of research, integration of diverse sources, and sophistication of argument.

Assessment

Freedom of communication essay (900 words): 20%
Research essay (1350 words): 30%
Exam (2 hours; 1800 words equivalent): 40%
Tutorial preparation and participation (450 words equivalent): 10%

Chief examiner(s)

Elizabeth Burns Coleman

Contact hours

One 1-hour lecture and one 1-hour seminar per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Communications

Prerequisites

First-year Communications and Media Studies sequence or other sequence approved by unit coordinator

Prohibitions

ATS2445