GEN1012 Culture, Media and Society – Common Core Curriculum Office (CCCO)

Department

Social Science

Semester

AY2010/11 Sem 1, AY2010/11 Sem 2, AY2011/12 Sem 1, AY2011/12 Sem 2, AY2012/13 Sem 1, AY2012/13 Sem 2, AY2013/14 Sem 1, AY2013/14 Sem 2, AY2014/15 Sem 1, AY2014/15 Sem 2, AY2015/16 Sem 1, AY2015/16 Sem 2, AY2016/17 Sem 1, AY2017/18 Sem 1, AY2018/19 Sem 1

Method

Lecture 3 hours

Cluster

2 (Social Sciences)

Prerequisite

GEN1000 Perspectives on General Education

Exclusion

Nil

Module Description

The module provides a broad overview of the key theories and debates concerning the relationship between media, culture and society. It examines relations between culture, media and society through consideration of sites of cultural production. The module also addresses the significance of contemporary media in cultural development, cultural practice and social experience. Through the exploration of a number of current media products and processes, it enhances students’ awareness of the media and their influence on daily life.

Module Intended Learning Outcomes (MILO)

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:
a. develop an understanding of key theories and debates concerning the relationship between media, culture and society;
b. identify the strength and weakness of the technological, institutional, textual and user-based approaches to the understanding of media and culture;
c. understand the cultural, social, political, historical and economic aspects of new media technologies;
d. be critically aware of the significant issues concerning new media technologies in their own culture and society; and
e. achieve a better understanding of how local identities are constructed in a globalizing world.

Module Content

1. Introduction

1.1 Definitions
1.2 The relationship of culture, media and society
1.3 Media and cultural research methodologies

2. The role of media in cultural and social change

2.1 The media as manipulator
2.2 Construction of news
2.3 The rise of public sphere
2.4 The active audience

3. Media and identity

3.1 Media representations and cultural identity
3.2Cultural production and identityformation
3.3 Media and postmodern culture

4. The impact of new technology on culture and society

4.1 The development of the internet
4.2 The impact and media effects
4.3 The implications

Assessment Methods

1. Participation (10%)
2. Quiz (20%)
3. Group Presentation (20%)
4. Individual Essay (50%)

Texts & References

1. Burton, G. (2005). Media and Society – Critical Perspectives. London : Open University Press.
2. Campbell R., Martin C. R. & Fabos B. (2013). Media & Culture: Mass Communication in a Digital Age (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
3. Croteau, D. & Hoynes, W. (2003). Media/Society: Industries, images, and audiences (3 rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA : Pine Forge Press.
4. Grossberg L., Wartella E. (2006). Media Making: Mass Media in a popular life (2nd ed ). USA : Sage Publication.
5. Gurevitch, M., Bennet, T., Curran, J. & Woolacott, J. (eds.) (1992). Culture, society and the media. London and New York : Routledge.
6. Hodkinson, P. (2011). Media, Culture and Society: An Introduction. London : Sage.
7. Louw, P. E. (2001). The Media and Cultural Production. London: Sage.
8. McLuhan, M. (1994). Understanding media: The extensions of man. Cambridge, Massachusetts : the MIT Press.
9. McQuail, D. (2005). McQuail’s Mass Communication Theory (5th ed.). London: Sage.
10. Stevenson, N. (2002). Understanding media cultures: Social theory and mass communication (2nd ed.). London : Sage.
11. Scannell, P., Schlesinger, P., and Sparks, C., (1992), Culture and power : a media, culture & society reader. London : Sage Publication.
12. White, J. D. (2005). Global media: The television revolution in Asia. London and New York : Routledge.
13. 呂大樂、吳俊雄、馬傑偉合編〈2011〉。《香港‧生活‧文化》。香港：牛津大學出版社。
14. 梁麗娟〈2010〉。《媒介之都 ─ 縱論大眾傳播與社會》。香港：香港教育圖書。
15. 黃天賜〈2010〉。《新聞與香港社會真相》。香港：中華書局。