Media, Technology and Culture

Overview

Credit value: 30 credits at Level 5
Convenor: Scott Rodgers (subject to change)
Assessment: blog-based Critical Collection of nine media technology examples, each documented with images, video and/or sound, and critically analysed in 300 words (45%), 20-30 minute group podcast on an agreed theme, plus one critical collection example and leading discussion on one segment, and online and class participation (10%)

Module description

In this module we take a thematic look at media understood as technologies. The recent prominence of contemporary media such as mobile devices, apps and social networking platforms reminds us of the limits of analysing media only in terms of its content, creators or consumers.

Contemporary academics and commentators are increasingly suggesting we also think about the media as technological forms. Thinking about media technologically invites us to question what exactly counts as ‘media’ in the first place, and from there, what it might mean to do ‘media studies’ - particularly in an age of digitalisation.

You will explore the histories of media technologies as well as more recent developments in digital media. The focus will be on exploring the various ways in which academic and popular debates have centred on the ambiguous relationships between media technologies and their social, economic, political and cultural conditions.

Indicative syllabus

Cultural technologies
Located technologies
Domesticated technologies
Live technologies
Computational technologies
Infrastructural technologies
Participatory technologies
Predictive technologies
Extractive technologies

Learning objectives

By the end of this module you will be able to:

demonstrate an understanding of, and engagement with, the relations and tensions between distinct theoretical perspectives on media
articulate theories at an abstract level, while also connecting such theories with practical, relevant and creative applications and case examples
critically observe and reflect upon the role of media in your everyday experience, as well as in relation to broader social, cultural and political issues
effectively research, evaluate and employ academic literature in coursework, class/online discussions and recorded discussion
communicate to a scholarly standard in written, visual and spoken forms, including blog-based analysis and recorded discussion
use digital tools creatively, and with due attention to the quality and originality of content
collaborate with peers to plan, record and finish a discussion podcast that develops a shared critical theme.