Undergraduate - UnitATS3450 - Contemporary media theory

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 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.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Offered	Berwick First semester 2014 (Day) Gippsland First semester 2014 (Day) Gippsland First semester 2014 (Off-campus) Malaysia Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Fleur Gabriel (Berwick, Gippsland); Dr Yeoh Seng Guan (Malaysia)

Notes

Previously coded COM3411

Synopsis

The unit examines developments in media theory in response to new and changing media forms. Students are introduced to a range of theoretical approaches that have developed alongside the technologies they have sought to analyse and describe. These approaches form the foundation for the analysis of media and mass communication in all its components, including textual form and content, media industries, and associated issues of politics, power, discourse, culture and identity.

Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit, students should to be able to:

recognise, identify and describe the assumptions and arguments making up the theoretical approaches introduced in the unit;
demonstrate a capacity to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of approaches to media and communication theory;
demonstrate a capacity to analyse different media and media industries by applying different theoretical approaches.

Assessment

Assignment 1 (1000 words): 25%
Assignment 2 (2000 words): 40%
Exam (1500 words, 2 hours): 35%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Fleur Gabriel (Semester 1); Dr Yeoh Seng Guan (Semester 2)

Workload requirements

One 2-hour seminar per week

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

Communications

Prerequisites

ATS1277 or ATS1279 and ATS1278 or ATS1280 or equivalent

Prohibitions

ATS2450, COM2411, COM3411, GSC2411