Phil 028 Media Education: Media Critiques III: Basic Theories in Media Studies (2 Credits)

　

Lecturer:  YUNG Yuk Yu

　

Description:

This course aims to motivate students to adopt a multi-disciplinary as well as critical approach to media theories. Thus, the course reviews basic concepts and theories under three major headings: communicative, semiotic, and cultural. The course tends to provide a fundamental knowledge in media studies so students can tackle other media subjects with ease. Upon completion of the course, students should be able: to learn as many as 100 keywords in media studies; to grasp some fundmental theories in communications; to develop a critical view on media and entertainment; to understand the basic know-how of semiotics.

Part One: Keywords and Key-concepts (a communication approach)

  1. Media, types of media, linear and convergence modules

  2. Program and people, the press, news program

  3. TV diet, the ratings battle, zapping

  4. Multimedia and VR

  5. Enteratinment theories: low-brow and high-brow, audience and critical reaction

  6. Show business, stars, starlets, mega-stars, art and music

  7. Genres, films buffs, cult movies, info-tainment and docu-drama

Part Two: Signs Representations (a semiotic approadh)

  1. Image-reading, its functions and limits

  2. In search of meaning

  3. Signs and codes: components, aspects, elements

  4. Media texts and reading

  5. Aberrent decoding theory

  6. Preferred reading theory

  7. Application in media studies

Part Three: Issues and Problems (a cultural approach)

  1. New Technologies and Cultural Impacts

    2. 1.1 Technology: the focus for conflict

    1.2 Technology changes

    1.3 Superhighway

    1.4 Issues identified

  2. Audience

    3. 2.1 The effects model

    2.2 The uses and gratification model

    2.3 The violence debate

    2.4 The cultural approach

　

Reference Books:

  1. BRANSTON G. & STAFORD R., The Media Student's Book (London: Routledge, 1996)

  2. FISKE J., Introduction to Communication Studies (London: Routledge, 1990)

    3. 張錦華等譯，《傳播符號學理論》。台北：遠流，1990。

  3. McLUHAN M., Understanding Media: the extension of man (New York: New american Library, 1964)

    4. 葉明德譯，《傳播工具新論》。台北：巨流，1979。

  4. MORLEY D. & Others, Television, audiences and cultural Studies (London: Routlege, 1992)

    5. 馮建三譯，《電視，觀眾與文化研究》。台北：遠流，1995。

  5. O' SULLIVANT T., HARTLEY J., SAUDERS D., MONTGOMERY M., FISKE J., Key Concepts in Communication and Cultural Studies (New York: Routledge, 1994)

    6. 楊祖珺譯，《傳播及文化研究主要概念》。台北：遠流，1997。

  6. 郭恩慈，《影像啟示錄》。香港：奔向明日工作室，1996。

　

Note:

Not offered this year