- There will be no terminal written examination for this module. Instead you must choose two assignments from those listed (with word limits of 2,000 each).
- Sessions are 'workshops', including both interactive lectures and seminar-style practical activities. There are no separate seminars/tutorials for this module. Students are welcome to make appointments to discuss their assignments; there are detailed online guidelines for all assignments.
- For 2007/8 this is a first semester module run on Mondays 4.10 pm to 6.00 pm in lecture room B46 in the Edward Llwyd building on Penglais Campus
- Introduction
- Objectives/Learning Outcomes
- Lecture Topics
- Some General Reading
- Assignment Deadlines
- Assignment Guidelines
- Assignment Batch One
- Assignment Batch Two
- Feedback form for written assignments
- understand the limitations of transmission models of communication;
- show an awareness of key factors in human communication;
- identify key features of different media of interpersonal communication;
- demonstrate the limitations of technological determinism.
- Theoretical Models (Daniel Chandler)
- Historicizing Communication: Case Studies (Rod Munday)
- Television (see also lecture notes)
- The Internet
- Situating Theories (Daniel Chandler)
- Situating Mediation: Case Studies (Daniel Chandler)
- "I'm on the Phone!" (see also Studies of Phone Users)
- Online Communication: Email, Chatrooms and Webcams
- The Phenomenology of Writing
- Communication and Identity: Personal Homepages on the Web
A site of struggle ®
Mediated Communication
Daniel Chandler with Rod Munday
Assignments should be handed in to the departmental secretariat
in the Parry-Williams building by the specified time on the due date. They must
never be handed directly to tutors. Keep your own personal copy!
This is a compulsory introductory module for a new degree in Media and Communication
Studies. The first major theme is an exploration of the nature of communication.
We explore, for instance, the limitations of the commonsense 'transmission' model of
communication as the simple sending of messages to receivers. We also discuss some of the
key media used in interpersonal communication, including various forms of online communication.
The second main theme of this module concerns broad theories about the influence of
communications tools and media (such as writing, print, television and computers)
on their users. The widespread stance of 'technological determinism' sees changes
in communications technologies and media as having profound consequences for the
individual and for society. This viewpoint is deconstructed and illustrated with a
critical study of the ideas of Marshall McLuhan, who coined the well-known aphorism,
'the medium is the message'. This theme raises the question: to what extent are we
shaped by our use of what we typically think of as 'neutral' tools and media?
Historical case-studies of communications media serve to emphasize the importance of
the social context of media use.
Typically, upon completion of this module, a student will be able to:
This includes a small selection of relevant Web links which
you can click on and access directly.
Administrative arrangements
Introduction
Objectives/Learning Outcomes
Lecture Topics
