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COMS101 explores the relationship between society and media - including social media, print, broadcasting, and all kinds of online spaces. It asks how our understandings of the world and people around us are mediated, how media have shaped society, and how society is reflected and produced through media. We will explore topics like media audiences, technologies, ownership and work; the frames of representation, power, and identity; and analytical tools like semiotics, discourse, and narrative. COMS101 is a stage one course that does not require any prior media study, but it builds on everything you have ever watched, listened to, interacted with, and produced.
Naku te rourou nau te rourou ka ora ai te iwi.With your contribution and my contribution, the people will thrive.If we all contribute to COMS101, the class will thrive!
By the end of the course, you should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge and skills:Knowledge: you should be able to…understand the value of media literacyunderstand the broad media environment of Aotearoa New Zealandrecognise the continuities and discontinuities between 'old' and 'new' media formsrecognise the critical possibilities of media analysisdescribe how media discursively construct versions of the realidentify the understanding of audiences underlying arguments about mediadefine power, hegemony and ideology in mediarecognise the role of media in producing and circulating ideas about identity, culture, and nationproduce arguments about media concentration and global ownershipidentify arguments for a free media and individual choiceidentify processes in the construction of media textsSkills: you should be able to…research media issues using books, journals, and online sourcesanalyse a media textwrite a well-structured academic essay confidently and with claritydiscuss the ideas and processes shaping the mediaexplain impacts of ownership on mediadiscuss the challenges of expanding media perspectivesinterpret media content in terms of production processes, audiences, and technologiesrelate critical theories of society to media contentread media critically using semiotic and discourse analysisAttributes: you should feel more confident about…Researching and writing an academic essayWriting in a range of styles and using a range of sourcesReflecting on your own experience as a media audience member and producerTalking with your peers and lecturersYour own abilities and aptitudes in university studyWhat you need more help with, and where to find it.
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award
Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
Employable, innovative and enterprising
Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.
Biculturally competent and confident
Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.
Engaged with the community
Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.
Globally aware
Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.
For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences Head of Department
The readings listed in the lecture outline are available on the Learn page for each lecture.
Domestic fee $746.00
International fee $3,038.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .