This unit introduces students to the complex and rewarding world of media communication studies. How can you differentiate between advertising and propaganda? Is the media sexist? Does playing computer games make children behave more violently? Are audiences smart or stupid? From moral panic theories to understanding the bizarre worlds of celebrity and fandom, this unit investigates such issues through history, media and communication studies theories. Students will understand contemporary media cultures through introductory semiotics to develop competencies in analysing and interpreting visual and written texts, vital for understanding contemporary media cultures.
PRESCRIBED TEXT -THE MEDIA STUDIES READER
