- understand the relevance of semiotic and discourse analysis to televisual contexts;
- understand and apply basic principles of semiotic analysis in televisual contexts.
- Bell, Allan & Peter Garrett (Eds.)(1998): Approaches to Media Discourse. Oxford: Blackwell
- Bignell, J (1997): Media Semiotics: An Introduction. Manchester: Manchester University Press
- Chandler, Daniel (1998): Semiotics for Beginners. [WWW document] URL http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/S4B/semiotic.html
- Fairclough, Norman (1995): Media Discourse. London: Edward Arnold
- Kress, Gunther & Theo van Leeuwen (1996): Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design. London: Routledge
- Tolson, Andrew (1997): Mediations: Text and Discourse in Media Studies. London: Arnold
MA in Television Studies
EDM0310 Media Discourse
Dr Daniel Chandler &
Professor Marilyn Martin-Jones
This first semester MA module is part of the inter-departmental
MA in TV Studies.
The aim is to provide an introduction to the analysis of forms of
televisual discourse, focusing in particular on issues of gender,
class and ethnicity. Participants will be oriented to different
approaches to the analysis of verbal and audio-visual texts, to the
discourse processes involved in the interpretation and production of
such texts and to audience discourses about television and particular
televisual texts. The module will also introduce semiotic analysis,
in particular the concept of
semiotic codes.
Students should be able to:
This core module is assessed on the basis of an assignment of
around 2,500 words: for choices, see:
assignment options.
Essays should normally be word-processed to allow easy revision where required.
Leave wide margins (at least one-and-a-half inches) for comments, and
use double-spacing. A list of references should always appear at the
end, using the format used here. In-text references should always appear thus:
(Bates 1984: 120), and page references must always be given. Quotations of 4
lines or longer should be indented (from the left margin); avoid over-use of
direct (especially lengthy) quotations. References to TV programmes should
refer wherever possible to the title, country of origin, broadcast channel, and
date and time of broadcast. Titles of books journals and programmes should be
italicised. Failure to acknowledge sources explicitly may be regarded as
plagiarism. Avoid sexist use of language (as in the universal 'he'). Check for
accuracy of spelling and grammar (particularly the use of apostrophes).
A dated copy clearly bearing your name and course title must be submitted
to the Education Degree Office (never directly to tutor) in a
transparent folder. You must keep a copy for yourself!.
Click
here for general guidelines on writing essays for this module.
Remember in particular that your essays should always offer the best
evidence which you can find to illustrate the point you are making.
Above all, avoid relying on simple assertion ('we all know that...'), avoid
wide-ranging generalization ('everyone who watches television...'). Simply
quoting some published assertion is not evidence either (except of that
person's attitude).
A wide range of World-Wide Web resources is available on the
Media and Communication Studies Site. You are expected to consult these as well
as conventional printed sources.
Student essays which are awarded 'A' grades and which are subsequently made
available in a suitable format on disc may be submitted for possible
publication on the World-Wide Web.
For examples of essays by UWA students click
here.
This page has been accessed
Page contents
Introduction
Aims and Objectives
Assignments
Some general reading
times since 30th September 1999.