Module Information

Module Identifier
TF21120
Module Title
RADIO STUDIES
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Semester
Intended for use in future years
Pre-Requisite
TF10420

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture Lecture Workshop 1 x 2 hour per week
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment 2500 word essay  50%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   2 hour written exam  For information on due dates for submission of assessed work, please refer to the departmental web pages at http://www.aber.ac.uk/tfts/duedates.shtml  50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of a range of theoretical tools associated with the study of radio and new associated technologies.

Demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of radio and associated new technologies.

Analyse the nature of the social, economic, political and cultural forces which shape radio.

Demonstrate and understanding of particular forms of radio content and the ways in which they are created.

Content

The course will open with an overview of the critical issues associated with the study of radio. It will then examine the history of radio in the UK, by exploring key historical moments in its development; for example, the origins of radio in the 1920s; radio during the Second World War; the origins and development of commercial radio; and contemporary developments in radio and the internet.
It will then focus on some the key theoretical tools associated with the relationship between radio and society; e.g., the public sphere, theories about news and audiences, the concept of public service broadcasting, and the commodification of the media. This will be followed by an overview of the nature and factors shaping the contemporary industry, and an in depth analysis of key radio forms, such as drama, documentary, music, news and talk radio. The module will conclude with an assessment of the future of radio in the developing multi-media environment of the twenty first century.

Aims

The purpose of this module is to introduce you to the study of radio,
primarily within an academic framework. In addition to analyzing some of
the conceptual issues you will also explore a range of radio productions,
reviewing each for its own merits and style. In particular we will be looking at adaptation, dramatisation, the radio play and the short story.
Radio is one of the most important means of mass communication, touching
on the daily lives of millions of people. This module provides a detailed
introduction to the history of radio and to the nature of the contemporary
industry. As well as surveying the forces which shape radio, the module takes a critical look at the different forms that radio content takes, as
well as developing an understanding of some of the theoretical problems associated with its study.

Reading List

Recommended Background
Barnard, S (2000) Studying Radio London: Arnold Primo search Crissell, A (2002) An Introductory History of British Broadcasting London: Routledge Primo search Crissell, A (1994) Understanding Radio London: Routledge Primo search Crook, T (1999) Radio Drama Theory and Practice London: Routledge Primo search Curran, J and Gurevitch, M (2000) Mass Media and Society London: Arnold Primo search Drakakis, J (1981) British Radio Drama Cambridge: Cambridge UP Primo search Hendy, D (2000) Radio in the Global Age Cambridge: Polity Primo search Mitchell, C (2000) Women and Radio: airing differences London: Routledge Primo search Scannell, P (1996) Radio, Television and Modern Life Oxford: Blackwells Primo search Scannell, P & Cardiff, D (1991) A Social History of British Broadcasting, Volume 1 1922-1939, Serving the Nation Oxford: Blackwells Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5