History of Network Media

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 hours

None

None

Students who have undertaken MECM90015 History and Philosophy of Media are not able to also undertake the revised version MECM90015 History of Network Media.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

When, how and why do media change? This subject investigates the intertwined histories of media and ideas about media to understand the emergent paradigm of network media. Drawing on current research projects, the subject will address such topics as the genealogies of contemporary media technologies, mediated democracy, media temporalities and political communication. It will place such projects in the history of philosophical engagement with media, in the process proposing new ways to pose old questions such as “what is the impact of media on society?”. Relevant contemporary theories, which might include biopolitical, autonomist, actor-network and complexity approaches, will be studied and applied to the historical processes of media change.

To enrol in this subject, students must be admitted to the Graduate Certificate/Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced) or fourth year Honours in Media and Communication, Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced) in Cultural Studies, Master of Global Media Communication, or Master of Arts by Advanced Seminars and Shorter Thesis in Media and Communication.

On completion of this subject:

• students will be equipped to undertake research into historical aspects of contemporary media and media philosophy as well as historical topics in media studies; and
• be able to understand processes of innovation, dissemination and adoption in future media.

• Class presentation equivalent to 1500 words, due during the teaching period (25%)
• Essay plan of 500 words, due early in the teaching period (15%)
• Final reflective essay of 3000 words due late in the teaching period (60%).

Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 100% of classes in order to pass this subject.

A subject reader will be available.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of key problems in media historiography;
• recognise and explain differing methodologies for undertaking media historical research;
• identify and critically engage with the history of media theory; and
• demonstrate a capacity for critical thinking in relation to the the history and philosophy of media understand processes of change in the media.