Communication, Participation and Publics

Subject MECM40013 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 4 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2011.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 2
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: None

Contact

Sean Cubitt

scubitt@unimelb.edu.au

Ingrid Volkmer

ivolkmer@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview: This subject provides students with an advanced understanding of new formations of public spheres and related frameworks of public communication as well as new modes of public participation in a globalized context. The subject will encourage students to debate critically key paradigms of the public sphere as it has been developed in western democractic societies. The subject will help students to understand the formation of fragmented, mediated, supra- and subnational publics and their role for the formation of global civil society. Students will be able to assess critically current debates around questions of global political communication, identity and citizenship.
Objectives: On completion students will:
  • engage critically with concepts of public sphere, democracy and citizenship;
  • understand new formations of global political communication;
  • assess the role of global and national media in their public responsibility; and
  • understand the historic development of publics in the context of mediated forms.
Assessment: One 2500 word essay 50% (due mid-semester) and one 2500 word essay 50% (due at the end of the semester).
Prescribed Texts:

A subject reader will be available.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

  • be able to demonstrate competence in advanced library searches and information retrieval;
  • be able to demonstrate proficiency in the application of selected methods of media analysis; and
  • be able to demonstrate conformity to academic and professional protocols for presentation and research procedures.

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