The course aims to provide students with a set of literacies specific to the cultural field of the global mass media. Most of the information and knowledge, and also the ideas, opinions and attitudes, which students have about the world are derived from (increasingly digitally linked) media outlets and sources. However, while students utilize the media intensively, they do so with a relatively undeveloped (often merely tacit) understanding of the field's logics, values, discourses, genres and forms of address. Consequently students lack the ability to distinguish between different sources and levels of information, and have little idea how to critically evaluate the representations and presentations provided through the media. In this course students will learn about the mass media as a cultural field, and how to approach and utilize it as informed and literate users. This level of literacy will be demonstrated in a project that they will be required to complete at the end of the semester, and also in oral presentations that groups will give on selected case studies. The course will also have a strong visual literacy component, whereby students will learn how audio-visual texts utilize combinations of visual, spoken and written language and signs to produce meanings and narratives for, and to hold the attention and influence the ideas and practices of, media audiences. Part of the feedback from the oral presentations will be directed to the kinds of literacies and techniques that help produce effective audio-visual texts: in this way the course will help students to learn both analytical & practical oral, visual and written communication literacies.
GE Area - Global Awareness
Courses offered in this area enhance students’ understanding of human societies from a global perspective and prepare them to be knowledgeable and productive global citizens who are open to the increasingly changing and interconnected world. Courses are designed to equip students with the knowledge necessary to engage with global issues from diverse and multidisciplinary perspectives including history, politics, economy, health, justice, media, migration and education. Students will be able to identify the complexity of global affairs and critically evaluate the major issues and topics surrounding globalization.
- Teacher: Raymond, Raymond Lai