| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
For Study Abroad students, a background in Media, Communication and Cultural Studies is recommended.
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This module aims to develop students’ understanding of textual and discursive approaches to media representation in relation to youth identity through analyses of a range of contemporary media texts. The module places emphasis on intersectional approaches to youth identity such as gender, race, LGBTQ, class and disability. While the primary focus is on representations of youth identity, this module will also explore how young people are positioned as consumers and producers of contemporary media. By the end of the module, students will be able to critically analyse how discourses of youth identity are mediated within a range of contemporary texts, such as films, television, newspapers, magazines and digital culture, and how these discourses circulate within media culture and more broadly in society.
This module offers theoretical perspectives from media studies, cultural studies and sociology as well as the critical tools needed to explore how youth identities are constructed and represented in contemporary media.
Module content may include:
- Theories of youth, identity, (self-)representation, individualism and authenticity;
- Moral panics related to youth identities;
- Representations of youth in contemporary film and television
- Youth and digital culture – self-representation and online activism;
A student successfully completing the module will have:
- A critical knowledge of how youth identities are constructed in contemporary media;
- An understanding of the theoretical frameworks and approaches through which we can explore the construction of youth identities;
- An understanding of how youth identities intersect across various social divisions.
A student successfully completing the module will be able to:
- Critically analyse the construction and mediation of youth identities in a range of media texts;
- Utilise and apply appropriate theoretical arguments and frameworks to analyses of representations of youth identities;
- Effectively communicate information, argument and analysis in a variety of forms.
- Think critically and research independently.
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 1 | 0:30 | 0:30 | Non-synchronous online video introducing students to module (30 mins) |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Non-synchronous online. Materials enable students to engage with content, inc. readings, activities |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Learning consolidation lectures on campus. Can be delivered non-synchronously online if necessary |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 | Assessment 1: Critical Discussion |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 70:00 | 70:00 | Assessment 2: Essay |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 10 | 4:00 | 40:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Weekly seminars designed to enhance knowledge and understanding. On campus but can move online |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured non-synchronous discussion | 1 | 0:30 | 0:30 | Discussion board to feed in to revision/ assessment prep lecture/seminar |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 37:00 | 37:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
This module aims to develop students’ knowledge of, and ability to critically analyse, how youth identities are constructed and represented in contemporary media. The teaching methods are designed to facilitate these aims and learning outcomes. The non-synchronous lectures will introduce students to the key theoretical concepts and tools needed to analyse media texts in relation to youth identities and provide a range of contemporary examples. The small-group teaching enables critical engagement with the key ideas where students are encouraged to draw on their own examples in preparation for the assessment.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 20 | Critical discussion. 500-word critical analysis posted to a discussion board with max. 500 words of comments on other posts. |
| Essay | 1 | A | 80 | 3000-word essay |
The critical discussion prepares students for their final essay as an ability to critically analyse media texts in relation to key themes is a central component of the assessment. The comments function to encourage students to engage with their peers and further their understanding. The critical discussion assessment also requires students to communicate ideas clearly and succinctly for an audience, which has broader links to employability.
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Disclaimer: The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2021/22 academic year. In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described. Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2022/23 entry will be published here in early-April 2022. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.