Course syllabus

You will:

• Develop an understanding of Critical Race Theory, Indigenous identities and Whiteness Studies
• Critically analyse various forms of media and media content
• Engage with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Mana Motuhake
• Demonstrate an understanding of of relevant theories
• Demonstrate a critical and informed understanding of the role of media

COURSE READINGS:

Please note that there is no textbook or hard copy course reader. All readings (required and recommended) will be available as PDFs through the Reading Lists tab on Canvas.

Generally, this course will refer to a range of different media texts in lectures, rather than concentrating on the analysis of one film, television programme, print item or website per week.  A list of relevant media sources can be found in the under Files, but these are not required viewing. Titles printed in bold refer to media texts which will be considered in more detail in a particular lecture. It is expected, however, that you will also try to relate ideas and concepts from the course to other media texts you are familiar with.           

In order to do well in this course, students must read all the required readings and most of the recommended readings. Some may be challenging at first. Academic writing often requires multiple readings and invites discussion and debate. Please do not be demoralised if you have to read some of these pieces several times, or if you need to ask questions in order to comprehend them. Making notes of the main points is a good way to break down a difficult reading (and the notes are helpful for assignment prep).

If you find set readings difficult, please bring questions to your tutorial, to your tutor’s office hours, or post to the Class Blog.

NB: You will be expected to refer to your readings in tutorials and in your assignments. In your final test you will be expected to demonstrate that you have mastered the concepts presented in lectures and in the readings.

USEFUL RESOURCES: Taylor & Francis - Scholarship supporting the fight against racism and inequality

Sage Publishing - Structural Racism and Police Violence

 LECTURE OUTLINE:

1. Stereotypes and Discourses of Race
2. Hollywood and its Others
3. Eurocentrism
4. 'Race' and Racisms
5. Comedy and Racial Politics
6. Social Media and Social Activism
7. Whiteness and White Privilege
8. Pākehā Identities in Aotearoa
9. Postcolonialism
10. The Challenge of Indigeneity
11. Indigenous Media, Indigeneity and Globalisation

COURSEWORK

Assignment Breakdown

There is no plussage on this paper: all assessment components count towards your final grade for the course. 50% (C-) is the minimum pass mark for the course. There is no exam on this course. Details of assignments and deadlines will be posted under 'Assignments'.  

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 three hours of classes each week (2hr lecture plus 1hr tutorial). This leaves seven hours per week outside the classroom to prepare for class and work on assignments.

SUBMISSION OF COURSEWORK
Unless otherwise stated, all coursework will be submitted online via Canvas. You may also be required to submit your work to Turnitin. See individual assignments for submission requirements and deadlines.

DEADLINES AND EXTENSIONS

Written coursework assignments for this course (not including the online weekly quizzes) have submission windows rather than a single hard deadline. This policy acknowledges that ‘deadline clumping’ is an ongoing issue for many students, and that some flexibility around deadlines would be helpful, as well as encouraging independent time-management. We hope that this will help to reduce stress and enable you to submit your best possible work.

Please try your hardest to meet coursework deadlines. Extensions are possible if, for example, you or a family member falls ill, or some other circumstance beyond your control prevents you from completing your work. Everyone confronts difficulties at some point. So please talk to or email me if you are experiencing troubles finishing or submitting coursework. I will work with you wherever possible and, of course, it is better to get an assignment in than not at all (even if it is incomplete).

Any submissions after the close of the submission window will incur late penalties unless you have an approved extension. Extensions beyond the submission window will only be granted where there are extenuating circumstances. In such cases, extensions must be personally negotiated with your lecturer. Extensions must be approved in writing (e.g. via email). You may be required to provide a doctor’s note or other information to support an extension request. If you do not have an approved extension and submit your assignment after the submission window has closed, your work will be penalised one mark per day late. Any coursework submitted more than 14 days after the submission window closes may not be eligible for grading and/or feedback.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
This University (and the staff teaching this course) take any form of academic dishonesty (e.g. plagiarism) extremely seriously. If you are in any doubt about what constitutes plagiarism or the University's policies on academic dishonesty, please click here for detailsLinks to an external site.. Ignorance of the rules and policies will not be treated as a defence in cases of academic dishonesty. Such cases will incur penalties and may be reported to the University's disciplinary committee.

LECTURE RECORDINGS
Lecture recordings will be posted on Canvas.

WHERE TO GO FOR HELP

Your wellbeing comes first and, if you need advice or support, you are welcome to talk to me. Moreover, the University has a range of support services for students that can be accessed here:

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/on-campus/student-support/personal-support/student-health-counselling.html

The university provides ongoing support for students with visible and invisible impairments. Information about that support is available here:

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/on-campus/student-support/personal-support/students-with-disabilities.html

If you need to apply for an aegrotat or compassionate consideration for a test, the relevant information can be found here:

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration/compassionate-consideration-for-written-tests.html

If you need to apply for an aegrotat or compassionate consideration for an exam, the relevant information can be found here:

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html