| Academic year: | 2010-2011 |
| Course code module | 1MCW_010 |
| Semester: | 1st semester |
| Credits: | 6 |
| Study load (hours) | 168 |
| Theory (hours): | 45,00 |
| Practice/Exercises(hours): | |
| Other (hours): | |
| Part-time program: | 1 |
| Instructor(s) | Philippe Meers
|
| Language of instruction: | Dutch |
| Semester exam information: | exam in the 1st semester |
| Contract restriction information: | |
1. Prerequisites
*Algemene competenties
No specific prerequisites required.
*Sequentiality
None
2. Objectives (expected learning outcomes)
1. You refresh your knowledge of the most important contemporary and international strands of communication research and media studies. For each school of thought you are introduced to the main theoretical assumptions and concepts, methodology and empirical analyses.
2. You acquire insight into different strands of research. You are able to compare and criticize different concepts, methods and forms of analysis. You learn to position theories in their cultural-historical context and you understand how different authors conduct their analyses starting from divergent theoretical perspectives. You are able to understand canonical texts in communication research and media studies, and you know how to situate them within the developing field as handled throughout this course module.
3. You are able to apply the different theories, concepts and methods on a self-selected problem/topic/genre/format/etc.
3. Course content
This course module handles a wide variety of theory and research within contemporary schools of communication research and media studies. We start with a broad perspective on media: the primary focus is on media texts, but we also tackle other aspects like production, context, reception and the different theories and research methods that can be used to analyze these aspects. In this way, we try to fit in with recent trends in communication research and media studies.
This course module enables students to situate contemporary theories within the broader field of communication research and media studies, and to understand how theory influences concrete analyses. We discuss theoretical assumptions, methodology and concrete case analyses. Students obtain the competences to apply these concepts and methods. The themes we handle are (among others) reception studies, television fiction and education, fandom and virtual fan communities, press and national identity, media effects, media & technology.
The course module combines formal lectures with discussion seminars. Ex cathedra instruction is alternated with active student participation. You prepare each course by reading an article or book chapter in advance. Each time you can find guiding questions on Blackboard. Each course follows a similar structure. First, we situate the school of thought and we clarify the main concepts and methods. Second, we discuss the text you all have read in advance by confronting it with the content handled in the first part of each course. Finally, we debate the central theme of the course.
At the end of this course module, you write a short paper in which you analyze a specific topic or theme from the perspective of one of the research strands dealt with.
4. Teaching method
Direct contact: LecturesTutorials
5. Assessment method
Exam: Oral, with written preparationOpen book
Written assignment: With oral presentation
6. Compulsory reading – study material
·
A selection of communication research articles drawn from recent scientific journals and readers (Universitas)
·
Powerpoint presentations (Blackboard)
7. Recommended reading - study material
Nihil.
8. Tutoring
After class, by appointment, or via email