Studying online

There are now 2 possible online modes for units:

Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.

Click on an offering mode for more details.

Unit Overview

Description

Cultures have not only been represented, but also produced and reproduced through the use of film and other mass media. This unit critically examines such issues as the anthropological construction of myths about other cultures, the textual nature of media, the histories of various media and their implications for contemporary representations, relationships between the representers and the represented, and the modes of ethnographically investigating media. It focuses on issues of the roles of subjectivity and power in the process of representing, seeking to sensitise students to the ways in which media construe and construct cultures, both constraining and liberating our understandings, especially in cross-cultural contexts of learning and dialogue. Students who take the unit are particularly well prepared to enter the field of media production and those organisations involved in the promulgation and analysis of media productions.

Credit
6 points
Offering
AvailabilityLocationMode
Not available in 2024UWA (Perth)Face to face
Details for undergraduate courses
  • Level 2 elective
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate an understanding of key concepts in anthropological and sociological studies of media including cultural diversity, social inequality, the nature of social relationships and institutions, systems of symbolic meaning, and processes that underpin social and cultural change; (2) demonstrate knowledge of anthropological and sociological approaches to media, debates surrounding the history and deployment of media, and the complexities of media depictions of cultural issues (as in, e.g., ethnographic film); (3) demonstrate an ability to critically review, analyse, sumarise and synthesise anthropological and sociological research and theory focused on media; (4) demonstrate an ability to formulate, investigate and discuss anthropologically and sociologically informed research questions and develop arguments based on a critical evaluation of evidence, and respond insighfully to media production with due attention to rhetorical strategies; and (5) demonstrate an ability to communicate anthropological and sociological ideas, principles and knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences using a range of formats (written, oral, visual etc.) with particular attention to interactive and social media.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) tutorial/workshop participation; (2) written work; and (3) in-class exercise. Further information is available in the unit outline.



Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit rules
Prerequisites
any Level 1 ANTH unit
Incompatibility
ANTH2204 Visual Representations of Cultures, ANTH2239 Anthropology of Media
Contact hours
up to 3 hours per teaching week
  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
  • All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
  • Unit readings, including any essential textbooks, are listed in the unit outline for each unit, one week prior the commencement of study. The unit outline will be available via the LMS and the UWA Handbook one week prior the commencement of study. Reading lists and essential textbooks are subject to change each semester. Information on essential textbooks will also be made available on the Essential Textbooks. This website is updated regularly in the lead up to semester so content may change. It is recommended that students purchase essential textbooks for convenience due to the frequency with which they will be required during the unit. A limited number of textbooks will be made available from the Library in print and will also be made available online wherever possible. Essential textbooks can be purchased from the commercial vendors to secure the best deal. The Student Guild can provide assistance on where to purchase books if required. Books can be purchased second hand at the Guild Secondhand bookshop (second floor, Guild Village), which is located on campus.
  • Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.