The University of New South Wales

go to UNSW home page

Undergraduate Handbook

PRINT THIS PAGE
Media Uses: Practices of Cultural Consumption - MEFT2101
Media, Film and Theatre

 
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
 
 
School:  School of English, Media and Performing Arts
 
 
Course Outline: http://media.arts.unsw.edu.au//
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: 36 units of credit
 
 
Fee Band: 1 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

Examines what people do with media. Shifts attention from questions of media effects and intrinsic meaning to the question of media uses and pleasures. Explores the ways in which people construct cultural and social identities through their consumption of media texts. Working through various approaches to the study of popular culture, it focuses on how audiences, publics, users and/or consumers use media texts in complex and diverse ways. Looks at forms of appropriation found in different audiences from fan cultures to diasporic communities to more familiar groups like children.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, you should have a critical comprehension of:
  • Key concepts and theoretical approaches in the social study of media audiences
  • Some of the major debates within this field
  • How dependent these approaches and debates are on their application and have a preliminary understanding of applying these knowledges across other relevant empirical areas of concern
  • The difference between 'administrative' and 'critical' approaches in this context in principle the difference between audiences, users and publics

Assessment

  • Participation (including presentation) - 15% Annotated bibliography/Review + Essay Synopsis - 35%
  • Essay - 50%

URL for this page:

© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.