Overview

Mass Culture: From the Printing Press to TikTok provides a chronological overview of the development of mass media and culture, the evolution of media and communication technology, and their impact on society.

The module will re-construct the impact of media technology developments on the ways in which humans communicate, exchange information, form community, and construct a sense of self. The module will address: a range of media forms and their impact, the interrelationships between technology and society, political economy, identity and community, production, dissemination and ownership, communication and interaction, privacy, and the ideological implications of networked mediated culture.

Suggested topics include: - the printing press and mass communication - from Morse code to early radio - from the early internet to Web 2.0 - technological and cultural convergence - television and streaming - social/anti-social media

Assessment Strategy

Excellent (A- to A*)Submitted work is of an outstanding quality and excellent in one or more of the following ways: • Has originality of exposition with the student’s own thinking being readily apparent • Provides clear evidence of extensive and relevant independent study, demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of the subject • Arguments are laid down with clarity and provide the reader with successive stages of consideration to reach conclusions • Demonstrates detailed understanding of the issues at play, including through developing new links between topics and/or new approaches to a problem. • Excellent presentation with clear communication with little to no stylistic errors

Very Good (B- to B+) Submitted work is competent throughout and distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It demonstrates: • Very good structure and logically developed arguments • Evidence of research, including by drawing on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study (beyond the required readings). • Assertions are backed by evidence and sound reasoning • Some limited original interpretation • Well-known links between topics are described and/or problems are addressed through well-established methods/approaches • Good presentation with clear communication, mostly free of stylistic errors

Good (C- to C+) Submitted work is competent throughout and occasionally distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It demonstrates: • Understands main debates/topics but has limited original analysis, with only major links between topics described. • Answers question but may have some irrelevant material or weakness in structure • At least in parts draws on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study (beyond the required reading). • Assertions are largely backed by evidence and reasoning, although may have some factual errors • Some weakness in presentation and style

Threshold (D- to D+) Submitted work is adequate and shows an acceptable level of competence as follows: • Knowledge of key topics/ideas only but with weaknesses • Answer is poorly focused on question with some irrelevant material and/or poor structure and/or only a few ideas/arguments are presented but with weaknesses and/or lack of clarity • Limited or no original interpretation, with only major links between topics described • Many weaknesses in presentation and style • Assertions are made without clear supporting evidence or reasoning • Has structure but is lacking in clarity and therefore relies on the reader to make links and assumptions • Draws on a relatively narrow range of material and/or limited evidence of background study.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply a variety of critical approaches from media and communication studies.

• Critique key terms and concepts relating to the study of mass media and culture.

• Examine how economic, political, and cultural norms and developments have influenced mass media, communication technologies, and culture.

• Explore how technologies and media culture developed from the inception of mass media until today.