Issues in Contemporary Media and Culture

Module code: MD6001
Year: 2018/9
Level: 6
Credits: 30
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of Level 5 Media and Cultural Studies or equivalent
Co-requisites: None

Summary

This module seeks to synthesise and draw together your understanding of theoretical and contextual approaches to the interpretation of media and culture, that you have learnt about in the first two years of the degree, and enable you to apply this in an analysis of contemporary issues, practices and debates. This heightened understanding of theory will, at the same time, enhance your analysis of the contemporary issues and concerns reviewed in the module.

Aims

To allow students to identify and frame topics for study on the module, and to enhance their understanding of these debates.
To reinforce students' ability to read, analyse, and contribute to these debates in relation to appropriate theoretical and contextual positions.
To further develop students' critical and analytical skills in synthesising complex ideas.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

Identify and analyse critically using relevant theoretical and contextual perspectives current and topical debates in media and cultural studies
Synthesise ideas, make comparisons and evaluations and interpret particular issues in relation to theoretical positions in media and cultural studies
Apply the appropriate skills of research, writing, production/editing and creativity required to produce a summative piece of work

Teaching and learning strategy

The module begins with 1 hour whole-group lecture in the first week of TB1 that set out the parameters of the programme. Students will then be allocated to seminar groups according to their option choices. The options will then be taught as 2 hour blended lecture seminars.The same pattern will be repeated for the next teaching block, when students select a second option.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category	Indicative Description	Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching	Lecture	44
Guided independent study	Independent study	256
Total (number of credits x 10)		300

Assessment strategy

Students are required to produce an extended researched essay or a piece of practice informed research related to each optional strand. This will be submitted at the end of each teaching bloc. The module tutor will provide a pool of options for both the essay and practice based assessments, although there will be a scope to tweak these, if needed, after discussion between tutor and students.

Formative assessment and feed forward opportunities will be provided through, class based exercises and discussion and work-in-progress seminar presentations. These will also offer opportunities for peer review.

Breakdown of Major Categories of Assessment:

I. Assessment 1: Coursework (50%)

a) Practice portfolio:

Students will be required to produce a portfolio of two pieces of work as part of their practice informed research project.

1. Practical Project(80%)

2. Rationale (20%) (max. 1000 words)

b) 3000 word research essay.

ii. Assessment 2: Coursework (50%)

a) Practice portfolio:

Students will be required to produce a Portfolio of two pieces of work as part of their practice informed research project.

1. Practical Project (80%)

2. Rationale (20%) (max. 1000 words)

b) 3000 word research essay

Students can choose the practice portfolio or research essay for both assignments or do different ones.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome	Assessment Strategy
1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a range of current and topical debates in media and cultural studies	Summatively assessed through coursework.
2. Link the these debates to theoretical and contextual perspectives and apply this understanding in the appropriate use of techniques of media analysis	Summatively assessed through coursework.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the social and political contexts in which media and cultural productions are created and performed	Summatively assessed through coursework.
4. Synthesise ideas, make comparisons and evaluations and interpret particular issues in relation to theoretical positions in media and cultural studies	Summatively assessed through coursework.
5. Apply the appropriate skills of research, writing, production/editing and creativity required for the production of small-scale module-based research journal	Summatively assessed through coursework.