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Media in Society

Module description

In this module you will explore how sociologists, anthropologists and cultural theorists understand the place, role and significance of traditional and new media in Western society. The module asks: how are media, culture and communication related? How is media changing and what are the implications of this process? How do people use and interpret media? In what ways are our identities mediated? What, for instance, do celebrity and gaming tell us about ourselves and our cultural values? With the use of specific examples, the you will examine key issues and provides a basis to situate and critically appraise individual and collective experiences and socio-cultural change.

No prior knowledge of sociological perspectives is necessary. This module is suitable for both specialist and non-specialist students and its interdisciplinary outlook will appeal to students in social sciences and humanities. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the ways in which sociologists, anthropologists and cultural theorists have conceptualised media in Western society. With the use of specific examples, you will examine key issues in traditional and new media, and provide you with a basis to contextualise and critically appraise social change and collective and individual experiences. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate critical knowledge and analytical understanding of different approaches to the study of traditional and new media
• 2. Analyse critically and evaluate key issues in the field in relation to specific themes, studies and findings

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Demonstrate the capacity to select relevant material and structure it in order to present coherent arguments
• 4. Acquire detailed, systematic and comprehensive knowledge of debates in the field
• 5. Appraise a range of various perspectives

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Undertake independent study and group work
• 7. Make good use of feedback
• 8. Act autonomously within agreed guidelines and manage time effectively to meet deadlines

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following themes over one or more week:

• Traditional and new media: theoretical foundations, issues and questions
• Audiences, users and consumers
• The fourth estate: news and broadcasting
• The entertainment industry and celebrity culture
• Social networks and digital identities
• Gaming 

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Herman, E. S. (2002) Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass media. New York: Pantheon Books.
Jenkins, Henry. 2008. Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York: New York University Press.
McLuhan, M. (1964) Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Rojek, C. (2001) Celebrity. London: Reaktion.
Wellman, Barry and Haythornthwaite, Caroline. 2002. The Internet in Everyday Life. Oxford: Blackwell.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Course materials (including lecture slides and tutorial topics/questions) will be provided on ELE prior to each lecture/tutorial.

Key words search

Sociology, Media, Society, Culture