COMS407-17S2 (C) Semester Two 2017

Independent Media

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 July 2017
End Date: Sunday, 19 November 2017
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 28 July 2017
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 13 October 2017

Description

This course examines how marginalized groups are represented in mainstream media and how these groups often utilise alternative media as sources of identity and social capital. The course will draw upon relevant media theory to critically explore the social, cultural and ideological ramifications of marginalized groups' representation in mainstream media. The course will then examine case studies of alternative media with an emphasis on visual communication, "underground" print media, community radio, small-scale independent documentary, film and video, alternative music and a variety of uses of the Internet for maintaining and mobilizing social movements and political change.

This course begins by critically analyzing how marginalized groups are represented in mainstream media.  We will explore the political, economic, legal, historical and social implications of the relationship between the mass media and marginalized groups. Given that modern media assist in the construction of social reality, this course explores how media representation is related to social issues of gender, race and class.  The course then moves to explore how disempowered, marginalized groups use alternative media to improve their social capital. Alternative media are defined most broadly as those media practices falling outside the mainstreams of corporate, commercialized communication. The course will examine the culture and politics of alternative/independent and community media and situate them within a theoretical framework. Case studies will examine visual communication, “underground” print media, community radio, small-scale independent documentary film and video, alternative music, and a variety of uses of the Internet for maintaining and mobilizing social movements. The course will address topics such as the construction of reality, ideology, race, gender, sexuality, class structure, hegemony, and the struggle for marginalized groups through present media systems.

Aims of the course
The course aims to equip students with an understanding of alternative media within a democracy. It provides students with the critical skills to analyse the economics of mainstream media and the impact of alternative media on government policy, mainstream media, and social change.

Learning Outcomes

  • By the end of this course, students should be able to:
  • critically explore how marginalized groups are represented in mainstream media
  • understand the purpose of alternative media in a democracy
  • demonstrate a critical understanding of hegemony and how the concept manifests in society
  • have a working understanding of the role of media in the social construction of reality
  • understand shared characteristics among alternative media
  • critically examine how alternative media challenge and/or support mainstream media
  • demonstrate a firm grasp of concepts such as power, hegemony and resistance

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Programme Coordinator.

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Erin Harrington

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Independent Media Idea Presentations 15% Two 3-minute Independent Media Idea Pitches (7.5% each). Due: Weeks four and six in class.
Secondary Research Essay 20 Aug 2017 25%
Media Discovery Exercise 08 Sep 2017 10% 1,000 words.
Discussion Leadership/Alternative Media Analysis 10% Due: Class periods to be assigned in term 4; materials to be emailed to lecturer after class.
Idea, Outline & Methodological Approach for Final Essay/Project Due: 5pm, Friday 22 September via Learn (no marks assigned, but one whole letter grade will be deducted from your final assignment if this is not submitted).
Final Extended Primary Research Essay OR Successful Pitch Project and Reflection Paper 40% 4000 words. Due: Friday, 27 October by 5 pm via Learn.


You can earn up to 1.5% extra credit added to your final grade (1.5 of your total points) for up to 3 pieces of media criticism or media contribution to the public sphere (.5% added for each contribution). “Media criticism” in this context means that that you have meaningfully contributed to a public discussion about the societal implications of media invoking some of the themes and theories you have learned from this class. Some examples of ways of contributing to the public sphere include: a letter about media policy sent to the Broadcasting Standards Authority or your Council member, a letter to the editor of a newspaper or magazine, a comment submitted to a blog or online periodical. “Media contribution” can be an in-depth blog post on a particular topic, a radio show (online or off), or a magazine article on a current event.

Textbooks / Resources

All required readings are available via Learn. We will also refer extensively to Alternative and Mainstream Media: The Converging Spectrum (Linda Jean Kenix, London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2011), which is available in full as an ebook via the library’s website.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,775.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All COMS407 Occurrences

  • COMS407-17S2 (C) Semester Two 2017
Next year