MDIA 3331 - Popular Media: Text, Audience, Industry

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2022

Popular franchise media dominate the contemporary English language screen media landscape. This course aims to analyse franchise media products from three separate directions: as texts, through audience analysis, and through examination of industrial 最新糖心Vlog. Students will work in teams, focusing on their choice (from given options) of franchise, applying the overlying theoretical and analytical frameworks to their specific case study. The first portion of the course will focus on the texts themselves, analysing how they make meaning using different media studies approaches. The second part of the course will focus on media users ? fandoms and audiences ? as well as interrogating the celebrity 最新糖心Vlog associated with the contemporary media industry. Thirdly, the industrial 最新糖心Vlog of mass media production will be investigated. The course work will build on the ideas and theories developed across the core courses in the media program, allowing students to apply their learning to a specific case study. The final assignment asks students to combine these three approaches into an integrated report on their franchise media product, demonstrating a cohesive understanding of the interdependence of text, industry, and audience.

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Course Details

Course Code	MDIA 3331
Course	Popular Media: Text, Audience, Industry
Coordinating Unit	Media
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Prerequisites	MDIA 2306
Assumed Knowledge	Students should have good knowledge of a range of media theories
Assessment	Weekly reading tests x 10, Group Textual Analysis, Group Audience analysis, Franchise report, Reflection on participation.

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Kim Barbour

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

Please note that attendance at weekly 3 hour seminars is compulsory, and your participation is assessed. Seminars are not recorded.

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of htis course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an integrated understanding of the role of popular media franchises in the contemporary media environment.
2. Critically analyse popular mass media texts using a variety of theoretical lenses.
3. Critically engage with texts produced by media users.
4. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the interdependence of media industries, texts, and users.
5. Communicate key analytical findings clearly and in a form appropriate for the audience.
6. Work effectively in small teams to produce work to deadlines.

最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1, 2, 3, 4
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	5, 6
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	5, 6
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	1, 5, 6

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course is built around a small group learning framework, and is designed to support integrated and independent learning outcomes for students.

The seminars will incorporate a mix of lecture style content delivery, structured group activities, and assessment preparation work. By completing the requiring reading and associated weekly test prior to each class, students will bring existing knowledge into the seminar, which they will then apply through their activities.

Students will develop an integrated, in-depth understanding of the interdependence of media texts, audiences, and industries by structuring their in-class activities and their written assessment around a single specific media franchise. Groups will be finalised in week one, and will remain fixed for the semester.

Focus franchises will be grouped under the following themes, with a specific focus franchise chosen in the first seminar:

Space adventures
Dystopias
Witches, wizards, and dragons
Werewolves and vampires
Crime television
Zombies
Superheroes
Kids franchises
Spies and adventure
Manga
Reality TV

Note that learning activities start in the first week of semester, and students should plan to be in attendance every week; any travel plans between semesters should conclude prior to the first week of teaching.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

Task	Weekly Time Committment	Total Time Committment
Seminar/Workshop	3 hours	36 hours per semester
Reading (including reading test)	6 hours per week	72 hours per semester
Assignment preparation (including group work out of class time)	4 hours per week	48 hours per semester

Learning Activities Summary

Weeks	Lecture topic
1-4	Text
5-8	Audience
9-12	Industry

The 最新糖心Vlog's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Weighting	Course Learning Outcomes	Task Type	Due
Weekly Reading tests x 10	20% (2% each)	1, 4	Summative	Weekly, prior to workshop
Group Textual analysis	15%	1, 2, 4, 5, 6	Formative and summative	Week 5
Group Audience analysis	15%	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6	Formative and summative	Week 9
Franchise report	40%	1, 2, 3, 4, 5	Summative	Week 13
Reflection on participation	10%	6	Formative and summative	Week 11

Assessment Related Requirements

Participation in weekly seminars is compulsory. Due to the set groups and individualised focus, students cannot attend alternate workshops to 'make up' for missed classes. Less than 80% attendance will make you ineligible to pass the course. Excused absences can be requested from the course coordinator with appropriate documentation (medical certificates or similar) in some circumstances.

You will be required to complete group work outside of class time, and need to be willing to make those arrangements in good faith with your group mates.

Assessment Detail

Weekly Reading Tests:
Run in weeks 2-11, these weekly 2% tests (total 20%) assess student’s comprehension of the required readings. The tests will be completed prior to each week’s scheduled class, and be online, composed of multi-choice, multi-answer, true/false, and matching questions.
Textual Analysis:
Working in their franchise teams, students will produce a short textual analysis of one element of their chosen franchise product, in line with course content and discussion. 1200 words, 15%.
Audience analysis:
Working in their franchise teams, students will produce a short audience analysis of one element of their chosen franchise product, in line with course content and discussion. Group presentation, equivalent to 1200 words, 15%.
Franchise report:
Working independently, each student will build on their prior group submissions to create a substantive franchise report. This will include elements of the textual analysis and the audience analysis, substantially added to with industry analysis. The report will allow students to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of their chosen franchise media product, the interdependence of the text/audience/industry framework of the course, and the role of franchise media and popular culture in the contemporary media landscape. 2800 words, 40%.
Reflection on participation:
Individual reflection on the SGDE exercise. Max 500 words, 10%.

Submission

Weekly reading tests will be available prior to class on MyUni.
Written assignments will be submitted through the MyUni TurnItIn portal.
The in-class group presentations will run during scheduled class time.

Extensions on all individual or group work must be requested prior to the deadline.
Extensions requested in line with a Learning Access Plan should be in writing via email prior to the deadline, and have the plan attached.
Contact the course coordinator in the first instance for queries about extensions on group assessment. You will be required to meet with the course coordinator to explain why additional time is required. Extensions on in-class group presentations are unlikely to be approved, except in extreme circumstances.
Extensions for the final individual Franchise Report will only be granted if a fully completed Application for Extension Request form is submitted prior to the deadline to the Arts office, or if a Learning Access plan is submitted to the course coordinator prior to the deadline.

The Faculty of Arts Late Assessment Policy applies to this course. No assessments will be graded if submitted more than 7 days late. A 2% per day deduction will apply to all assignments submitted late without an extension.

Assignment grades and written and/or audio feedback will be returned to students no later than 4 weeks after submission, via the MyUni grading system.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through .

Student Feedback

The 最新糖心Vlog places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the 最新糖心Vlog to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

This course was really well received when it ran in 2018 and 2020. Actionable feedback requested that quiz questions be adjusted to ensure they were clearer, which has been taken on board for 2020, and the group-work component (with students working in the same group of peers on the same franchise for all classes) to be highlighted more fully in the course outline so that students were aware of this structure. Based on experiences of students in 2020, it has been determined that this course is not appropriate for remote learners.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator

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