Teaching
You will be taught through a combination of interactive lectures, seminars and workshops. You will also have the opportunity to develop your understanding by taking part in class trips such as being able to experience immersion for yourself at a virtual reality gaming arcade and going behind the scenes at a local festival. You will also be invited to our course events which include exclusive film screenings and guest speakers.
You will be expected to share your opinions and experiences in our seminars. You will develop your understanding of key concepts and theoretical ideas through discussion and debate with our lecturers and your peers. We do not shy away from controversial topics, especially as they are often (mis)represented in the media and films, but we pride ourselves on creating a safe, inclusive and respectful space where our students feel supported and confident to share their thoughts.
Some modules will be delivered through workshops which are designed to help you develop transferable skills, digital literacy and strategic career plans. This might include working on professional social networking through LinkedIn, industry-standard blogging platforms such as WordPress or creating content for TikTok.
You will always be expected to engage in critical analysis: of the media, of films and the industry and yourself. On our course we seek to understand how and why the media functions as it does and what effects this has on its users and audiences. We also want you to think critically and reflectively about your own culture and experiences, as this will affect how you respond. We will teach you critical concepts and ideas from a variety of theoretical frameworks including black histories, intersectional feminisms and queer approaches, which will enable you to decode the media. We will utilise the research methods of the field including semiotic and discourse analysis.
All of our modules will examine at least one of the following:
- Texts and representations (e.g. critical analysis of specific media or film examples such as Roblox, YouTube content, I May Destroy You or Hereditary; asking who is represented and who is not?)
- Audiences and consumption (e.g. asking who the intended user or audience is and, examining their engagement or reactions.)
- Production and institutions (e.g. asking who owns and controls our data on social media platforms? Or, how has the film industry changed since the development of streaming platforms and online subscriptions?)
Skills
You will explore how types, forms and applications of the media and the film industry operates and, its impact on culture, society and our identities. You will develop the following academic skills:
- critical analysis
- research
- creative problem solving (e.g. devising a mixed reality app to help with mental health)
- synthesis
- essay writing
- presentation communication
- creative application (e.g. devising a social media marketing campaign)