COMMS 104

Advertising and Society


Please note: this is archived course information from 2021 for COMMS 104.

Description

Often dubbed the "art of capitalism", advertising has become one of the most profound and pervasive influences on our culture. It is a place where the art of language and commerce meet: where emotional appeals to self and spirit encounter the forces of economic rationalism. An informed perspective on advertising is therefore crucial for developing a deeper understanding of the workings of contemporary culture.

"Advertising and Society" pursues a critical examination of advertising, exploring its effects on our notions of society and self within the context of larger economic, social, political and global shifts. Beginning with an overview of the development of advertising, the course will introduce discursive and critical approaches to the study of advertising in society, exploring how advertisements create meaning and how such meanings interact with, and impact upon, culture at large.

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of advertising and its place within the development of a commodity culture
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the key critical debates regarding advertising’s significance as a commercial tool and a cultural form
  • Analyse formal devices and signifying practices used by print, television and online advertisements
  • Critically assess the ways through which advertisements participate in discourses of nation, gender, race and class

Assessment

Coursework + exam

Availability 2021

Semester 2

Lecturer(s)

Lecturer(s) Dr Bingjuan Xiong

Points

COMMS 104: 15 points

Restrictions

FTVMS 110, 110G