Media and Communication

The module will introduce students to various histories of cinema and the ways that cinema history can be constructed. Through an exploration of a range of national and international cinema movements and styles, students will examine the significance of cultural and historical contexts and their relationship to film texts. Key factors, including economic, social, cultural, political and geographical influences, will be analysed to explore significant moments of film history such as pre-cinema, German Expressionism, the Hollywood studio system, Post-Classical Hollywood, ‘Third Cinema’, the French New Wave and Dogme 95

This module introduces the main concepts, themes and theories that are deployed to study media and communication in contemporary society. The module will provide students with opportunities to learn and apply a set of key concepts that are central to the analysis of media including journalism, advertising, audio media and social media. While it does not assume that you have studied media before, it will involve the application of these concepts to contemporary issues and developments in ways that will be new and stimulating for students who may have undertaken the study of the media in courses before coming to university. Key concepts include production, consumption, representation, identity, power and control, ‘new’ and ‘old’ media, signs, genre, audience and regulation. The focus will be upon the application of these key concepts in the analysis of contemporary media.

This module will focus on the collaborative production of rich online, media projects based on particular themes. Students will work in teams to research, produce and publish online media projects. The contents of the projects may consist of social networking sites, blogs, wiki documents, video, photographic and audio (podcasts), textual documents, and supporting academic materials, such as annotated bibliographies. Students will perform a variety of tasks on the module and gain a range of skills in the gathering, evaluation and production of information as well as research, project management and leadership skills.

This module introduces and develops various skills required for the production of digital video, such as how to handle a camera, how to assess and capture sound and light, and how to edit footage. Students will work in small groups to mutually support each other through the process of decision-making, producing, and reflecting upon their work. These skills and experiences are crucial building blocks for creating professional digital content in the age of social media.

In this module students will be introduced to the essentials of digital publishing. Gaining a solid understanding of the basics of using programs from the Adobe Creative Cloud suite (Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator) students will develop skills in graphic design, publishing software, and knowledge of the industry.

Design thinking is an approach to developing innovative solutions to problems. It is widely used in a range of commercial, public sector and charitable sectors. This module will introduce students to the principles of design thinking and explore how they can be used to address issues in media and communication issues and problems students will encounter on their degree.

Using a range of activities students will develop the key skills in design thinking. Students will engage in a number of sustained projects in which they will develop the core skills of: framing problems, understanding stakeholders, envisaging users and determining key emotional drives for users, different forms of reasoning and understanding alternate strategies, co-evolution and problem solving, prototyping and testing, using feedback and dissemination strategies.

• The Meaning of Life on Film - 15 Credits

The module will introduce students to various histories of cinema and the ways that cinema history can be constructed. Through an exploration of a range of national and international cinema movements and styles, students will examine the significance of cultural and historical contexts and their relationship to film texts. Key factors, including economic, social, cultural, political and geographical influences, will be analysed to explore significant moments of film history such as pre-cinema, German Expressionism, the Hollywood studio system, Post-Classical Hollywood, ‘Third Cinema’, the French New Wave and Dogme 95

This module introduces the main concepts, themes and theories that are deployed to study media and communication in contemporary society. The module will provide students with opportunities to learn and apply a set of key concepts that are central to the analysis of media including journalism, advertising, audio media and social media. While it does not assume that you have studied media before, it will involve the application of these concepts to contemporary issues and developments in ways that will be new and stimulating for students who may have undertaken the study of the media in courses before coming to university. Key concepts include production, consumption, representation, identity, power and control, ‘new’ and ‘old’ media, signs, genre, audience and regulation. The focus will be upon the application of these key concepts in the analysis of contemporary media.

This module will focus on the collaborative production of rich online, media projects based on particular themes. Students will work in teams to research, produce and publish online media projects. The contents of the projects may consist of social networking sites, blogs, wiki documents, video, photographic and audio (podcasts), textual documents, and supporting academic materials, such as annotated bibliographies. Students will perform a variety of tasks on the module and gain a range of skills in the gathering, evaluation and production of information as well as research, project management and leadership skills.

This module introduces and develops various skills required for the production of digital video, such as how to handle a camera, how to assess and capture sound and light, and how to edit footage. Students will work in small groups to mutually support each other through the process of decision-making, producing, and reflecting upon their work. These skills and experiences are crucial building blocks for creating professional digital content in the age of social media.

In this module students will be introduced to the essentials of digital publishing. Gaining a solid understanding of the basics of using programs from the Adobe Creative Cloud suite (Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator) students will develop skills in graphic design, publishing software, and knowledge of the industry.

Design thinking is an approach to developing innovative solutions to problems. It is widely used in a range of commercial, public sector and charitable sectors. This module will introduce students to the principles of design thinking and explore how they can be used to address issues in media and communication issues and problems students will encounter on their degree.

Using a range of activities students will develop the key skills in design thinking. Students will engage in a number of sustained projects in which they will develop the core skills of: framing problems, understanding stakeholders, envisaging users and determining key emotional drives for users, different forms of reasoning and understanding alternate strategies, co-evolution and problem solving, prototyping and testing, using feedback and dissemination strategies.

• The Meaning of Life on Film - 15 Credits

This module aims to provide students with a thorough understanding with a number of the main theoretical approaches used in media and communications analysis. Accordingly it will focuses upon a number of key perspectives used in the academic study of the media. It examines a number of central topics students will learn how various theories can be applied to interpret these topics.

The module begins by problematizing the popular understanding of media and introducing a range of key theoretical traditions such as mass society theory, contemporary Marxist and feminist theory (and their variants), and post-structuralism. Students are encouraged to recognise underlying conceptions within these theories about the idea of the citizen, the nature of society, power, class and gender.

This module introduces the main research techniques that are employed in researching media texts, institutions and audiences, both in their contemporary and historical contexts. Students are introduced to research practices found in Cultural Studies, qualitative and quantitative research. On completing this module students will be able to choose which research methods are most appropriate in developing their own research questions and be fully prepared to begin work on research that may form the basis of their final year projects.

This module explores the range of research techniques that can be used to research media and communication on the internet and in social media. Digital research techniques offer a range of means by which the vast amounts of data on the internet can be meaningfully engaged with. The module develops the research practices covered on preceding modules but takes it in new directions and makes use of new techniques. Students will learn about the various techniques used to gather data, manipulate and interpret it and present the information in a variety of ways. Topics covered include: - accessing and gathering new types of data, software tools used for the study of digital information, text mining, social network analysis, visualising spatial and social media, ethical and legal issues in performing digital media research.

This module examines the various ways in which social media is used in advertising and branding. Social media has been understood as a key channel in integrated marketing communications over the past few years and a presence on social media constitutes a significant aspect of most marketing campaigns and branding strategies. The module will consider the various strategies and techniques used in advertising and branding on social media; explore basic methods of analysis in monitoring social media, consider a number of case studies in which social media has been used and examine the effectiveness and limitations (including legal and ethical issues) of social media and engagement. Students will produce a detailed plan for the use of social media in a branding or advertising campaign including the production of exemplar material for use in a campaign.

Social media and web 2.0 software applications such as social networking tools, wikis, blogs, video sharing sites and other collaborative software available over the internet have had a considerable impact upon how people and organisations interact. Social media is often understood as a media form that enables the user production and dissemination of content. This module introduces students to the academic study of social media from within a humanities and social scientific framework. Furthermore, it will expand student’s capabilities in using social media and encourage them to recognise how social media can be used in a variety of contexts.

Students will be introduced to key debates surrounding social media including the ‘long tail’, privacy, copyright, collective intelligence and the wisdom of crowds and the various business models that underpin social media.

• Work Placement - 15 Credits
• Games Cultures - 15 Credits
• Media Campaign Management - 15 Credits
• Analysing Journalism - 15 Credits
• Feature Writing - 15 Credits
• Gamification - 15 Credits
• Popular Music Culture - 15 Credits
• Exploring Teaching as a Career - 15 Credits
• Political Leadership and Communication - 15 Credits

This module aims to provide students with a thorough understanding with a number of the main theoretical approaches used in media and communications analysis. Accordingly it will focuses upon a number of key perspectives used in the academic study of the media. It examines a number of central topics students will learn how various theories can be applied to interpret these topics.

The module begins by problematizing the popular understanding of media and introducing a range of key theoretical traditions such as mass society theory, contemporary Marxist and feminist theory (and their variants), and post-structuralism. Students are encouraged to recognise underlying conceptions within these theories about the idea of the citizen, the nature of society, power, class and gender.

This module introduces the main research techniques that are employed in researching media texts, institutions and audiences, both in their contemporary and historical contexts. Students are introduced to research practices found in Cultural Studies, qualitative and quantitative research. On completing this module students will be able to choose which research methods are most appropriate in developing their own research questions and be fully prepared to begin work on research that may form the basis of their final year projects.

This module explores the range of research techniques that can be used to research media and communication on the internet and in social media. Digital research techniques offer a range of means by which the vast amounts of data on the internet can be meaningfully engaged with. The module develops the research practices covered on preceding modules but takes it in new directions and makes use of new techniques. Students will learn about the various techniques used to gather data, manipulate and interpret it and present the information in a variety of ways. Topics covered include: - accessing and gathering new types of data, software tools used for the study of digital information, text mining, social network analysis, visualising spatial and social media, ethical and legal issues in performing digital media research.

This module examines the various ways in which social media is used in advertising and branding. Social media has been understood as a key channel in integrated marketing communications over the past few years and a presence on social media constitutes a significant aspect of most marketing campaigns and branding strategies. The module will consider the various strategies and techniques used in advertising and branding on social media; explore basic methods of analysis in monitoring social media, consider a number of case studies in which social media has been used and examine the effectiveness and limitations (including legal and ethical issues) of social media and engagement. Students will produce a detailed plan for the use of social media in a branding or advertising campaign including the production of exemplar material for use in a campaign.

Social media and web 2.0 software applications such as social networking tools, wikis, blogs, video sharing sites and other collaborative software available over the internet have had a considerable impact upon how people and organisations interact. Social media is often understood as a media form that enables the user production and dissemination of content. This module introduces students to the academic study of social media from within a humanities and social scientific framework. Furthermore, it will expand student’s capabilities in using social media and encourage them to recognise how social media can be used in a variety of contexts.

Students will be introduced to key debates surrounding social media including the ‘long tail’, privacy, copyright, collective intelligence and the wisdom of crowds and the various business models that underpin social media.

• Work Placement - 15 Credits
• Games Cultures - 15 Credits
• Media Campaign Management - 15 Credits
• Analysing Journalism - 15 Credits
• Feature Writing - 15 Credits
• Gamification - 15 Credits
• Popular Music Culture - 15 Credits
• Exploring Teaching as a Career - 15 Credits
• Political Leadership and Communication - 15 Credits

The Extended Independent Study in Media and Communication will give students opportunities to employ the academic, critical and practical skills that they have acquired through the Media and Communication programme in order to pursue their own interests in developing either:

• a traditional academic research project (10,000-word dissertation)
• a practical media project (e.g. a portfolio of journalism, videos, advertising campaign, public awareness campaign, producing a video game) alongside a shorter critical reflection (c. 4000 words)

Climate breakdown is the defining issue of our era, threatening the future of humanity. This module critically examines the media’s role in framing the parameters of climate change debates, representing visions of the natural world, and contributing to climate crisis itself. Topics covered include mapping the history of environmental awareness, the impact of media technologies on the natural world, fictional and non-fictional stories about environmentalism, celebrity activism, and exploring a range of critical approaches to thinking about the climate crisis. Students will be assessed through engaging with media technologies and creating a plan to mitigate such use through strategies of carbon offset.

This module is based on the principle that media is central in society, even at grassroots level. Despite the fact that it is demonstrable that our social realities are saturated by mediated experiences as never before in human history, communities remain the focal point for much of public life. This includes, for example: political representation; delivery of social services – such as health, education, recreation, and security; and deliberation of common issues affecting the well-being of residents (such as the economy or the environment). 

As such, this module will introduce students to a range of media and techniques of engagement within communities. Students will experience first-hand the state of local communities and their existing engagement with different types of media. Through this module, students will work alongside community-based volunteers and activists to deepen their appreciation of community integration issues.  They will be required to draw on their grasp of media practice, and management of media organisations. They will also be encouraged to engage with queries about the existence, classification and relevance of alternative media technologies and their usage.

This module will critically examine the media’s role in one of the defining political developments of the contemporary era: the global rise of populism. Underpinning the module will be the changing nature of political and media institutions as they continue to grapple with rapid technological change. Attention will be paid to topics such as: definitions of populism; the role of public service broadcasting; the rise of the authoritarian personality and post-truth politics; techniques of propaganda and spin; impartiality and the rise of ideological start-ups; the continuing power of legacy media; surveillance and whistle-blowing; the potentialities and limitations of citizen journalism; and the efficacy of political satire in the new media environment. Students will have the chance to engage with specific case studies from the recent past, such as the Obama campaign, the Brexit referendum campaigns, and the Trump campaign, as well as being encouraged to engage with issues pertaining to the main aims of the module that arise in the media as the module progresses.

• Media Spectacles - 15 Credits
• Big Data and Algorithmic Cultures - 15 Credits
• Video Game Worlds - 15 Credits
• Working in Digital Journalism - 15 Credits
• Documentary and Photojournalism - 15 Credits
• Dark Side of the Net - 15 Credits
• Celebrity Culture - 15 Credits
• The Values of Nature - 15 Credits

The Extended Independent Study in Media and Communication will give students opportunities to employ the academic, critical and practical skills that they have acquired through the Media and Communication programme in order to pursue their own interests in developing either:

• a traditional academic research project (10,000-word dissertation)
• a practical media project (e.g. a portfolio of journalism, videos, advertising campaign, public awareness campaign, producing a video game) alongside a shorter critical reflection (c. 4000 words)

Climate breakdown is the defining issue of our era, threatening the future of humanity. This module critically examines the media’s role in framing the parameters of climate change debates, representing visions of the natural world, and contributing to climate crisis itself. Topics covered include mapping the history of environmental awareness, the impact of media technologies on the natural world, fictional and non-fictional stories about environmentalism, celebrity activism, and exploring a range of critical approaches to thinking about the climate crisis. Students will be assessed through engaging with media technologies and creating a plan to mitigate such use through strategies of carbon offset.

This module is based on the principle that media is central in society, even at grassroots level. Despite the fact that it is demonstrable that our social realities are saturated by mediated experiences as never before in human history, communities remain the focal point for much of public life. This includes, for example: political representation; delivery of social services – such as health, education, recreation, and security; and deliberation of common issues affecting the well-being of residents (such as the economy or the environment). 

As such, this module will introduce students to a range of media and techniques of engagement within communities. Students will experience first-hand the state of local communities and their existing engagement with different types of media. Through this module, students will work alongside community-based volunteers and activists to deepen their appreciation of community integration issues.  They will be required to draw on their grasp of media practice, and management of media organisations. They will also be encouraged to engage with queries about the existence, classification and relevance of alternative media technologies and their usage.

This module will critically examine the media’s role in one of the defining political developments of the contemporary era: the global rise of populism. Underpinning the module will be the changing nature of political and media institutions as they continue to grapple with rapid technological change. Attention will be paid to topics such as: definitions of populism; the role of public service broadcasting; the rise of the authoritarian personality and post-truth politics; techniques of propaganda and spin; impartiality and the rise of ideological start-ups; the continuing power of legacy media; surveillance and whistle-blowing; the potentialities and limitations of citizen journalism; and the efficacy of political satire in the new media environment. Students will have the chance to engage with specific case studies from the recent past, such as the Obama campaign, the Brexit referendum campaigns, and the Trump campaign, as well as being encouraged to engage with issues pertaining to the main aims of the module that arise in the media as the module progresses.

• Media Spectacles - 15 Credits
• Big Data and Algorithmic Cultures - 15 Credits
• Video Game Worlds - 15 Credits
• Working in Digital Journalism - 15 Credits
• Documentary and Photojournalism - 15 Credits
• Dark Side of the Net - 15 Credits
• Celebrity Culture - 15 Credits
• The Values of Nature - 15 Credits