Propaganda and Satire - POLS3048

 
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
 
 
School:  School of Social Sciences and International Studies
 
 
Course Outline: http://www.arts.unsw.edu.au/politics/
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: 12 units of credit at the POLS2000 level
 
 
Equivalent: POLS3948
 
 
Fee Band: 1 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description


Propaganda and public relations are essential to the modern state, even to military strategy such as the war on terror. Yet they are seen as threats to democracy because of their potential for misinformation, spin and manipulation. These issues will be examined along with language, truth, the war in Iraq, the internet and new media, and satire and taboos, such as the controversy over cartoons of Islam. There is a history of satire overlapping propaganda. In the process, the nature of the social sciences be explored because of their dependence on interpretation and language.

Learning Outcomes


Upon completion of the course, students should:
  • Have an appreciation of the nature of the discipline they are studying and of the nature of the social sciences generally
  • Learn that this discipline is an art not a science involving certain methodology
  • Be able to apply this methodology to their own areas of political interest and thus enhance their research and writing skills.

Assessment


  • Seminar assignments - 20%
  • Essay 1 (2500 words) - 40%
  • Essay 2 (2500 words) - 40%