Television and Popular Culture

Subject 106-246 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 2 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Semester 2, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

On campus.

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: A 1.5-hour lecture, a 2-hour screening and a 1-hour tutorial per week
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: Usually fifty points of first year arts. Completion of either 106-101 or 107-132 is strongly recommended.
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Coordinator

Dr Felicity Justine Colman

Contact

Chis Healy

clhealy@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview: An introduction to the study of popular culture with focus on examples of (post) industrialised modernity—film, popular music, television, comics, advertising, computer games, theme parks and the internet—and the critical and theoretical models that were developed to interpret these media. Particular attention will be placed on television and the crucial role it has played over the last five decades as a medium that not only mediates private and public spheres but also as a form that remediates other popular media.
Objectives: Students who successfully complete this subject should...
  • understand the historical, social, formal, industrial, and ideological dynamics of modern popular culture;
  • comprehend the ways that popular culture has been constructed and reconstructed within various discursive, social and theoretical frameworks;
  • appreciate the complex relationships between popular culture and its audiences;
  • be familiar with some of the major critical approaches to the study of popular culture and be able to use these approaches in their own work.
Assessment: Attendance and participation (10%), a written essay (1500 words - 40%), and a final written essay or blog multimedia alternative (2500 words - 60%). Students must attend a minimum of 10 tutorials in order to submit their work for assessment. Students are advised to consult the following web address for details of assessment penalities which apply to this subject http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/policy/assessment/policy/penalities.html.
Prescribed Texts: The readings will be available online via the LMS.
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Students who successfully complete this subject should
  • acquire fundamental research and analytic skills ;
  • acquire critical and ethical self-awareness;
  • acquire the ability to develop and communicate effective arguments in both oral and written form;
  • acquire fundamental skills in media and information literacy and management.
Notes:

This subject is available to pre-2008 Bachelor of Arts students for credit to 2nd or 3rd year of the major in Cinema or Cultural Studies.
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Arts(Media and Communications)
Bachelor of Creative Arts
Diploma in Creative Arts
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Cinema & Cultural Studies
Cinema Studies Major
Cinema and Cultural Studies
Cinema and Cultural Studies
Cultural Studies Major
English

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