| CODE | MCS1060 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Media, Society and Culture | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Media and Communications | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This Study-unit familiarises students with the main theories studying the vibrant relationship between media, society and culture. The influence of societal structures on media structures is balanced by the influence of the latter on the former. Theories on the social construction of technology, media determinism, and the most important sociological theories are discussed. The media landscape composed of legacy as well as new digital media is studied with references to the EU and Maltese media environment. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit aims: - At familiarising students with the main theories on media, culture and society; - At investigating whether technology is an external force to society, or whether society shapes technology; - At discussing media technologies in the light of the theories of technological determinism as well as the theories on the social construction of technology; - At analysing societal and media organisations structures giving particular attention to questions concerning ownership, different kinds of content, representation and stereotyping as well as audiences; - At clarifying the role of media in Maltese society with some reference to the EU scenario of media landscapes. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Get versed with key literature in the field and get acquainted with developing literature; - Know the importance of media technologies and media structures in society; - Become well informed about the different types of media content; - Be familiar with the way media influence audience and vice versa. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Analyse the media structures of the society they live in; - Recognize the different roles and influences of traditional as well as new media in the changing media environment; - Be empowered media users so that the media will not influence them unduly; - Navigate in a better way in the contemporary post-truth society. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: Croteau, D., and Hoynes, W. (2014) Media/Society. Industries, images, and audiences. (5th. Ed.) London: Sage Publications. Supplementary Readings: - Earlier editions of Croteau, D., and Hoynes, W. as well as McQuail’s are available in the Library. - Hodkinson, P. (2011). Media, culture and society: An introduction. London Sage. - McManus, John H. (1994) Market-Driven Journalism. Let the Citizen Beware? London: Sage Publications. - McQuail, D. (2010). McQuail's Mass Communication Theory (6th edit). London: Sage Publications. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Joseph Borg |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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