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Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Introductory

Former School/College

Former School of Arts and Social Sciences

Unit aim

Introduces students to a critical analysis of media practices and uses in everyday life. From social networking to watching telly, from political campaigning to going to the movies; particular consideration is given to how we engage with media, and what impact it has on our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us. Students are encouraged to fashion their assignments around their own media interests and uses, thus making it clear that their studies are not something remote from their daily lives.

Unit content

Section 1 Media and everyday life
Section 2 Representation and identity
Section 3 Media power, practice and control
Section 4 Mass[-ive] media and everyday culture
Section 5 Media audiences
Section 6 Globalisation and media futures

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 develop a critical perspective
2 apply a range of theoretical approaches to the study of media
3 comprehend key concepts such as representation, power and identity
4 research and study independently
5 analyse media texts and messages, and recognise their own role, as both audiences and practitioners, in negotiating meanings
6 write in an academic style
7 understand media texts and practices in their historical and socio-political contexts.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. develop a critical perspective
    • GA5:
    • GA7:
  2. apply a range of theoretical approaches to the study of media
    • GA6:
    • GA7:
  3. comprehend key concepts such as representation, power and identity
    • GA5:
    • GA7:
  4. research and study independently
    • GA5:
    • GA6:
  5. analyse media texts and messages, and recognise their own role, as both audiences and practitioners, in negotiating meanings
    • GA5:
    • GA7:
  6. write in an academic style
    • GA6:
    • GA7:
  7. understand media texts and practices in their historical and socio-political contexts.
    • GA7:

Prescribed texts

  • Michael O'Shaughnessy, Jane Stadler, Sarah Casey. , 2016, Media & Society, 6th edition, Victoria Oxford University Press, South Melbourne. ISBN: 9780195597240.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.