BJ2S49 - Critical Culture 2 10 Mar 2016 - 11 Aug 2026 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: BJ2S49
Module Title: Critical Culture 2
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Film and TV
Faculty Sub Group: Film and TV
Module Leader: Paul Appleby
Module Team: Paul Mallison, Gwyneth Moore
First Intended Intake: SEP 2017 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100443 - media production
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 10 Mar 2016
Valid To 11 Aug 2026

Module Aims

Introduce students to contemporary trends in global media production, distribution and exhibition;

To provide opportunity for students to evaluate these references in the context of their chosen specialism;

To develop a proposal document to inform the final year dissertation;

Develop skills in research, writing, communication; as part of transferable skills necessary in the media industries.

Content Summary

It is essential for students wishing to enter the media industry to have a current awareness and critical perspective on contemporary output and practices.

The module will allow students to study key practitioners, contemporary national and international media outputs and aid their understanding of the historical evolution and innovative characteristics of the work of writers, designers, directors/producers and craftspeople in, or associated with, contemporary media.

They will also study key technological advances and their effect on the media industry, along with discussion of writings and critiques about a range of media products.

The student will complete the module by employing appropriate methods of research and information retrieval, to shape an appropriate research proposal, showing how historical, contextual and contemporary practice influences the students’ intended specialist pathway.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 18
Seminar 18
Independent Study 100
Directed Study 64
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Define contemporary and emerging theoretical debates in broad subject area of ‘media’ practice or studies.
LO2 Conduct academic research, analysis and evaluation of theory, debates and practice, relevant to a specific discipline.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Oral Assessment (CW) Presentation (CW) 1 Video Project Proposal - Critical presentation of an aspect of contemporary media production practice (3 min) 5 N/A 50 No 40
Written Assignment (CW) Essay (CW) 1 Third Year Proposal - Critical Analysis Essay of proposal project 0 2500 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Presentation (CW) 1
Essay (CW) 1

Reading List

Balnaves, M. and O’Regan T. (2011) Rating the Audience: The Business of Media, London: Bloomsbury Academic.

Barlow, D. & Mills, B. (2009) Reading Media Theory: Thinkers, approaches, contexts.

Berger, A. (2013) Media and Communication Research Methods: An Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. SAGE Publications

Bryman A. 2012 Social Research Methods Routledge

Christopher, D (2015). British Culture: An Introduction. London: Taylor & Francis.

Denscombe, M. (2014) The Good Research Guide: For Small Scale Research Projects. OUP.

Deuze, Mark (2007) Media Work. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Francis, P. (2009). Inspiring writing in art and design: Taking a line for a write. Bristol: Intellect Books.

Lobato R. Thomas J. 2015 The informal media economy Cambridge, UK ; Malden, MA : Polity

Mayer V.and Banks M. 2009 Production Studies: Cultural Studies of Media Industries Routledge

Willett A. 2013Media production a practical guide to radio & TV London ; New York : Routledge