6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Organisational Unit
Communications and Media Studies
Chief examiner(s)
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Prerequisites
Twelve credit points of first-year Arts units.
Prohibitions
ATS3439, AZA2439, AZA3439
Synopsis
From blogging to radio-making, social media posting to TV watching, young people are media users who engage in a multitude of media practices as a means of communication, social interaction, activism or entertainment. While some of these practices are private and mundane, and some are public, deliberate and purposeful - they are all significant in revealing the critical role that media play in today's social life. This unit presents key concepts and research methodologies for studying youth media and their social impacts, covering topics such as celebrity cultures, media literacy, social justice. It draws on a range of international case studies to explore different experiences, meanings and uses of youth media as part of everyday contexts and a segment of media industries.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the unit, students will be able to
- explain key issues, concepts and approaches for understanding youth media today;
- engage critically with debates on social impacts of the media;
- formulate appropriate research questions on how media affect society.
Assessment
Within semester assessment: 100%
Workload requirements
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
See also Unit timetable information