Media Studies

The course introduces students to the study of contemporary forms of mediated communication from the theoretical and empirical perspectives. Historical, socio-cultural and technological conditions of media industries and public communication are discussed. The main aim of the course is to develop students’ understanding of how we create, negotiate, and respond to different media, and to examine how media produce cultural meanings and power relations. Issues include the impact of media on individual attitudes, values, and behaviors, as well as the role of media professionals, and the impact of new media technologies. Students are encouraged to actively engage into the class discussions on particular topics and develop analytical and creative projects of their own.

The course aims to introduce students to the theoretical and analytical principles in contemporary media and communication studies; to develop critical thinking skills and to become responsible participants in mediated communication, able to create, analyze and critically evaluate different media projects.

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Media surrounds us and shapes almost everything we know and understand about our world. From politics to entertainment to education, the media is literally our window to the things which can affect both our mental and physical well-being. Since it has such an outsized effect, it only makes sense to try and understand its history along with current trends and future iterations. Therefore, Media Studies will examine the current state of media by tracing its evolution from the printing press up through modern 5G Wifi and extrapolating into the future. We will pay specific attention to media literacy, equipping students with the tools to critically examine the messages they are being bombarded with daily, from both a content and a provider standpoint. Introduction Approaching media texts (1) Narratives (2) Genres and other classifications (3) Representations (4) Globalisation (5) Ideologies and discourses (6) Media as business (7) “New Media” in a new world (8) Documentary and ‘reality’ debates (13) Regulation now (10) Debating advertising, branding and celebrity (11) From ‘audience’ to ‘users’ (14) The future of television (9) News and its Futures (12)

Students will be able to explain the relationship between the media, mediated communication and culture in the modern society and identify specifics of the media development in historical, technological, socio-cultural, economic and political contexts. Students will be able to critically evaluate the field of traditional and new media according to the standards of professional journalism, media quality and ethical communication. Students will be able to apply the theory of mediated communication and analytical methods for analyzing popular culture and creative industries cases.