COMMS 100
Communication, Technology and Culture
Please note: this is archived course information from 2019 for COMMS 100.
Description
Media and communication are big business, and digital media are especially consuming presences in our daily lives. But do they really shape our beliefs and behaviours, or are we mostly just entertained and distracted? Do we live in a more informed and transparent society thanks to the proliferation of digital media, or do we live in a "dumbed-down" and trivialised culture as a result? When our everyday lives are digitally recorded and saved, do we enjoy new forms of free expression, are we subjected to new forms of governance and control, or is it some combination of the two?
We will explore the past, present and future of media and communication. In particular, this course highlights the radical changes brought about by the development and diffusion of new media technologies. It explores the impact these changes have had upon media and communication industries, the content they produce and the audiences and users they serve.
The course is designed for anyone with an interest in media and communication, regardless of whether they have previously studied these subjects. Key concepts are introduced via case studies, placing special emphasis on a range of current controversies emerging in ways that make the media landscape — and this course — dynamic and exciting.
Assessment
Coursework + Exam
Availability 2019
Semester 1
Lecturer(s)
TBA
Reading/Texts
TBA
Recommended Reading
TBA
Points
COMMS 100: 15 points
Restrictions
FTVMS 100
