Course syllabus

 

SEMESTER 1, 2019

15 points

 

Well-being always comes first We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

 

Go beyond your majors with skills-based learning Have you considered studying a three-course Module to complement your majors? Find out here how Modules can boost your degree. Find out here about the Faculty of Arts’ new career-focused skills course, ARTSGEN 102, Solving your Future, coming in Semester 2, 2019.

 

 

 

COURSE CONVENOR
Dr. Jenny Stümer
Email: jenny.stuemer@auckland.ac.nz
Semester 1 office hours: Wednesdays 12-1 and Tuesdays 2-3  
Office: Room 526, Human Sciences Building (201E)

GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTS (TUTORS)

Emma Blackett (tutor coordinator) ebla035@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Office hour: Thursdays 1-3pm, Room 528, Human Sciences Building (201E)

Amy Taylor atay811@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Office hour: Wednesdays 12-2pm, Room 528, Human Sciences Building (201E)

Louise Ryan lrya281@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Office hour: Tuesdays 1-2.30pm, Room 525, Human Sciences Building (201E)

Alex Dickie adic128@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Office hour: Wednesdays 11am-1pm, Room 525, Human Sciences Building (201E)

Kaitiaki Rodger krdo200@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Office hour: Tuesdays 12-1.30pm, Room 528, Human Sciences Building (201E)

Matthew Allan mall745@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Office hour: Wednesdays 1-3pm, Room 525, Human Sciences Building (201E)

 

TUAKANA MENTOR

Kerira Tapene (ktap716@aucklanduni.ac.nz)
For information about Tuākana click here.

Class reps:

Ashlee Sannazzaro-Cameron: Asan447@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Emma Williams: Ewil402@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Charlotte Leigh: Clei799@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Sher Khan Mazari: Smaz781@aucklanduni.ac.nz

 

COURSE DELIVERY FORMAT AND TIMETABLE
2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of tutorial
Lectures: Wednesdays 4-6 pm, Room 098 in the Owen G. Glenn Building
Tutorials: check Student Services Online for details (tutorials begin in Week 2) 

(Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online)

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION          

We know that media and communications are big business and we know that in the 21st century they have become a massive presence in our daily lives. But arguments rage about what role and impact they actually have. Do they substantially influence our beliefs and behaviours or are we mostly just entertained or distracted by the media? Do we now live in a more informed and transparent society thanks to the proliferation of communication tools in recent times? Or do we live in a more 'dumbed-down' and trivialised culture as a result?

This course explores the past, present and future of communications media. In particular, it highlights the radical changes brought about by the recent development and diffusion of digital technologies. It explores the impact these changes have had upon communications and media industries, the content they produce and the audiences and users they serve.

Key concepts and theories of communication, technology and culture are introduced via a range of current controversies that serve as case studies in media culture. 

The course is designed for anyone with an interest in media and communication, regardless of whether you have studied these subjects previously.

 

Lecture Schedule

Week 1 Introduction

 

Part 1: Perspectives

Week 2 Meaning and Messages

Case Study: The Myth of Donald Trump

 

Week 3 Industries Producers and markets

Case Study: Sport as Spectacle

 

Week 4 Audiences and User

Case Study: Video games

 

Part 2: Technology + Culture

Week 5 Technologies

Case Study: A.I. and Fembots

 

Week 6 Shifting Media Environments

Case Study: Netflix

 

Week 7 Algorithmic Culture

Case Study: Echo chambers and filter bubbles

 

Part 3: Information + Communication

Week 8 Internet

Case Study: Social Media

 

Week 9 News

Case Study: Maori Representation (Guest lecturer: Stephen Turner)

 

Part 4: Popular Media

Week 10 Celebrity (Guest lecturer: Misha Kavka)

Case Study: YouTube stars

 

Week 11 Music (Guest lecturer: Nabeel Zuberi)

Case Study: Music and Community

 

Week 12 Conclusion and Exam prep

 

ASSESSMENT SUMMARY
Tutorial Participation: 10%
Media Analysis: 20%
Research Exercise: 10%
Essay: 20%
Exam: 40%

Your overall course mark is the sum of your assignments, tutorial participation and exam marks. There is no plussage on this paper. A total of 50% (C-) is the minimum pass mark for the course and you MUST sit the exam to pass this course. Details of assignments and deadlines will be posted under Assignments.

READINGS

Most of the compulsory readings in this course will come from:
Jonathan Laurie and Oullette Gray (eds), Keywords for Media Studies, New York: 2017.

Because this book is available to access as an e-book via the University library (follow the above link), it is not essential to purchase your own copy. However, if you prefer to have the convenience of access to your own copy, the title is available as a Kindle e-book from Amazon, making it significantly cheaper than most hard copy textbooks.

Other readings (compulsory or recommended) beyond this text will be listed on a week-to-week basis.

You will also be required to undertake independent academic research and reading for coursework (beyond the references provided by teaching staff), and we will be offering guidance on this during the course.

WORKLOAD
The University of Auckland's expectation on 15-point courses, is that students spend 10 hours per week on the course. Students manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Students attend two hours of lectures each week and participate in a one-hour tutorial from week 2 of semester. This leaves seven hours per week outside the classroom to prepare for tutorials, assignments and the exam.

SUBMISSION OF COURSEWORK
All coursework will be submitted online via Canvas (uploading to Canvas will also submit the work to Turnitin.com). See individual assignments for submission requirements and deadlines. We cannot accept and will not mark work submitted in hard copy.

DEADLINES AND EXTENSIONS
Deadlines for coursework are non-negotiable. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you will require a doctor’s certificate. In such cases, extensions must be personally negotiated with your Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) before the assignment is due. Extensions must be approved in writing (e.g. via email) by your GTA. You should write "Extension approved by [GTA's name]" at the top of your assignment. All late assignments without a pre-approved extension will be penalised one mark per day late. An assignment submitted after the marked assignments have been returned to students, but before the end of the teaching semester will not be marked. However, it may be used for consideration of final marks. It is better to hand in a late assignment by the end of the teaching semester (Friday 5 June) than no assignment at all.

FINAL EXAM
You must sit the final exam in order to pass this course. You will be given guidance on the exam and how to prepare in the final lecture of the course. It's essential you attend this exam preparation lecture (it may not be recorded). Exam timetables are published nearer the time. You will need to visit Student Services Online to get this information. Information about exam regulations, what to do if you are late for or miss and exam, how to apply for aegrotat or compassionate consideration etc. can all be found at the Examinations website.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
This University (and the staff teaching this course) take any form of academic dishonesty (e.g. plagiarism) extremely seriously and it is compulsory for all incoming students to complete a short academic integrity module — see here for details [NB It is essential that you read this: ignorance of the requirements will not be considered a defence in cases of academic misconduct].

LECTURE RECORDINGS
While we will post lecture recordings on Canvas, this is never a substitute for lecture attendance. We cannot guarantee that the recording technology will work smoothly each week or that recordings will be made available before the relevant tutorial (at which you will be required to discuss issues raised in the lecture). We may also edit material out for copyright reasons. International research has shown that students learn more effectively by using recordings to supplement in-class learning e.g. for clarifying or revising specific material, rather than relying on them as an alternative to attendance.