SC509-7-AU-CO:
Media Theory
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2023/24
Sociology and Criminology
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Inactive
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
20
16 May 2019
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
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(none)
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The module is designed to give students an advanced understanding of media theory.
It will provide a critical survey of competing approaches to popular culture, the public sphere, cultural representations and signifying practices, cultural politics and identity, cultural regulation, cultural imperialism, and multiculturalism. The module places a strong emphasis on encouraging students to consider their own positions as both consumers and analysts of media and cultural texts.
At the end of the module students will be able to:
* Demonstrate knowledge of the different theoretical traditions which have influenced the study of the media and popular culture.
* Demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which different theoretical approaches to the media and popular culture constitute different objects of study.
* Demonstrate an understanding of the factors which influence the development of cultural theory.
* Produce written work exhibiting a capacity for reflective and synthesising thought at an advanced undergraduate level.
* Demonstrate an awareness of their own positions as consumers and analysts of media and popular culture.
Course outline:
Week 1 Introduction: Digital Media and Social Theory
Week 2 Media as Practice
Week 3 Media as Ritual and Social Form
Week 4 Media and the Hidden Shaping of the Social
Week 5 Network Society, Networked Politics?
Week 6 Reading Week
Week 7 Media and the Transformation of Capital and Authority
Week 8 Media Cultures: A World Unfolding
Week 9 Media Ethics, Media Justice
Week 10 Revision Session
Teaching is mainly by 2-hour seminars, with some lecture input within the seminars. Seminars provide a forum in which the emphasis is on discussion of readings and examples, allowing students to examine points arising from the literature and any lectures in some depth. The seminars also give students opportunities to develop their skills in oral communication, argument and analysis, and as the module proceeds you will increasingly be expected to prepare introductions or discussion papers in advance.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
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Coursework weighting |
Additional coursework information
You will create your own essay title in consultation with your tutors on the module
Please note that assessment information is currently showing for 2018-19 and will be updated in August 2019
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Michael Bailey, email: mbailey@essex.ac.uk.
Michael Bailey
Michele Hall, Graduate Administrator, Telephone 01206 873051, Email: socpgadm@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
Yes
Dr Umut Erel
Open University
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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