BA Politics and Digital Cultures

Key details

BA POLITICS AND DIGITAL CULTURES

Start Year

2021

Attendance

Full Time

Award

Degree of Bachelor of Arts

UCAS course code

LP23

Entry Requirements

BBB or ABC

Our Politics and Digital Cultures degree will equip you with tools to enable you to understand and research the relationship between the modern social and political world and the many forms of contemporary digital technologies – from digital political communications to social media and video games.

We ask not just how to make sense of this new world but also how to address its challenges, from making better media, to more effective regulation, to other forms of political contestation. Our degree programme will help you to understand this new emerging world and to prosper in it.

You will gain insights into the history and practice of digital media, explore how digital cultures emerge and interact with the offline world, explore how social media enable and shape the expression of different kinds of identities, and encounter the machinations and techniques of contemporary digital politics. You will also think about the economic impacts of monopolies like Facebook or Google and even the ways in which AI, automation, and other new digital technologies will create increasingly significant effects in vast areas of our lives, from healthcare to transportation.

Our course will give you the opportunity to arm yourself with the skills necessary for a career in digital journalism or to run a political or social campaign. You’ll also be offered the chance to learn a foreign language, or to study abroad for a semester.

About

Want to know if Twitter won Trump the presidency? Can’t make up your mind about Elon Musk? Curious about the sociological significance of YouTube celebrity? Interested in the politics of video games?

Politics and Digital Cultures is a unique degree programme that starts from the assumption that digital technologies are rapidly transforming our lives, our cultures and our politics. From their impact on the political upheavals of Brexit and Trump, to youth subcultures emerging on YouTube and Instagram, to the transformation of televisual culture through platforms like Netflix, digital technologies are central to our societies. This course will allow you to explore and understand the multitude of different ways in which digital cultures are reshaping the world.

Grounded in the respected academic discipline of politics, while drawing on cultural studies, digital sociology, media theory and more, this pioneering politics degree is the first of its kind.

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Course Reference Number: 1545725

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Assessment for Year 1

We use a variety of assessment techniques, including essays, exams, presentations, group work and portfolios.

Some of our assessments are linked to work with professional organisations outside the university, which will help prepare you for your future career.

Whatever the form the assessment takes, we’ll help you by providing formative feedback and guidance.

Structure

Our Politics and Digital Cultures degree includes both compulsory and optional elements. The compulsory modules are designed to provide you with key knowledge about your areas of study, together with the academic and practical skills essential to success in your degree. The optional modules allow you to tailor your degree to your interests. A wide range of languages at a variety of levels are available each year, either as part of the course or as non-credit modules.

The course begins with modules that will give you an appreciation of the core ideas in the study of digital media and culture. You’ll trace the history of media technologies and engage with debates about media power and about the multiple forms of political communication. Options include modules on representation, global politics or social and political theory.

Teaching and Learning

Our degree combines a range of teaching methods. This includes lectures which will provide you with an overview of the topic, small group seminars where you’ll debate the work you’ve been reading that week, and one-to-one tutorials which are great opportunities to get feedback to help your studies develop and improve.

Our teaching is focused, interactive and up-to-date – and we make a point of incorporating current world events into our teaching.

While you discover more about politics and the fascinating world of digital cultures, you’ll also develop crucial skills such as how to summarise and analyse information, how to develop and critique arguments, and how to communicate those arguments and information in the public realm.

Independent study

Our Politics and Digital Cultures degree will provide you with opportunities to learn and study independently. From your first year onwards, you will spend time reading, analysing and critiquing the arguments of others.

As you progress through the course, you’ll have the chance to develop, research and present your own ideas – including writing a dissertation on a topic of your choosing, under the supervision of an academic expert.

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Assessment for Year 2

We use a variety of assessment techniques, including essays, exams, presentations, group work and portfolios.

Some of our assessments are linked to work with professional organisations outside the university, which will help prepare you for your future career.

Whatever the form the assessment takes, we’ll help you by providing formative feedback and guidance.

Structure

In your second year, you start to tailor your degree to your interests more fully while developing the skills needed for independent research. You’ll start by looking closely at the relationship between digital technologies and society. In the second semester you can take a semester abroad or study how media and culture are regulated. You’ll then be able to choose from a wide range of options. These include the examination of different fields of digital media production, how identity is created and modified in digital environments, the politics of desire through the lens of LGBTQ, and how to critically analyse video games and their players. You can also take modules on ‘fake news’ or do a year-long practical journalism module taught by professional journalists, look at feminist activism or step back and consider the broader relationships between politics and the media. There are options to focus on more traditional political questions such as the nature of power and the state or look at the challenges of international security.

Teaching and Learning

Our teaching is focused, interactive and up-to-date – and we make a point of incorporating current world events into our teaching.

Independent study

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Assessment for Year 3

We use a variety of assessment techniques, including essays, exams, presentations, group work and portfolios.

Some of our assessments are linked to work with professional organisations outside the university, which will help prepare you for your future career.

Whatever the form the assessment takes, we’ll help you by providing formative feedback and guidance.

Structure

In your final year, you’ll study the cutting edge of digital politics with options that take the interests and aptitudes developed throughout the degree in a self-directed, but carefully supported, pathway. That might be through a traditional dissertation, a research placement with an NGO or politician, or through a student-led campaign. Either way, your third year is when the degree moulds to your growing expertise. Further options are drawn from a wide range of topics from politics, media, sociology, linguistics and cultural theory.

Teaching and Learning

Our teaching is focused, interactive and up-to-date – and we make a point of incorporating current world events into our teaching.

Independent study

Apply

Life at UEA

Assessment for Year 1

We use a variety of assessment techniques, including essays, exams, presentations, group work and portfolios.

Some of our assessments are linked to work with professional organisations outside the university, which will help prepare you for your future career.

Whatever the form the assessment takes, we’ll help you by providing formative feedback and guidance.

Compulsory Modules

MEDIA POWER

Code PPLM4054A

Credits 20

How was a reality TV star elected President? Should sexist media content be banned? Do popular media forms rot our minds? These sorts of questions are complex and different perspectives offer different sorts of response. This module helps you answer challenging and important questions like these by introducing key media theories and using them to think about power in our society. You will practice key skills of academic reading and writing in a structured and supportive environment. You will reflect on the importance of reading for academic research and learn how to assess and discuss the relevance and impact of milestones in media and mass communications theory from the nineteenth century to the present. You will explore theoretical approaches to media content, production, regulation and reception, including key themes such as freedom of speech, public sphere and political economy.

INTRODUCTION TO CONTEMPORARY POLITICS

Code PPLX4052A

Credits 20

Politics is changing. And changing, faster than ever before. The rise of populist movements, environmental challenges, economic crises and the rise of digital politics are reshaping the relationships between states and citizens. Liberal democracy, once thought to be the triumphant political system, is under threat. This module will provide you with an overview of the different ways the subject has been approached so far to assess whether these are fit for purpose in new times. You’ll then be provided with knowledge of a series of case study countries including from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas, around the world from our in-house experts. Finally, we’ll explore the nature of these challenges thematically to give you a cutting-edge knowledge of contemporary politics.

Digital Media: Concepts, Technologies & Cultures

Code AMAM4031B

Credits 20

This module introduces students to the study of digital media, focusing on both the technologies and platforms that drive the 'digital age' and the cultures they have produced. We will examine how scholars have theorised digital media since the early 1990s, mapping how the production, circulation, and, consumption of new media has changed over the past twenty years. Weekly case studies will allow students to apply theories to contemporary cultural events and phenomena, which may include #blacklivesmatter, selfie culture, the Arab Spring, and SciHub.

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL COMMUNICATION

Code PPLM4001B

Credits 20

Trump’s Tweets, Corbyn’s “fans”, and personalised campaign messages sent by algorithms…political communication has changed drastically in the last five years. Pundits and some scholars warn of serious dangers to democracy. What are the tricks of the trade in modern political communication and how different are they from those of the past? How does one now succeed to get across a message and gain support? Should we be worried about the implications for political discourse and decision-making? This module will enable you to critically assess the role of communication in national and international politics and help you understand the dynamics among political actors, media and citizens in opinion formation and decision-making. This is a professional practice module in which you will gain skills relevant to the conduct of political communications and to many other work environments, as well as experience working in a team on a task that requires critical thinking and collaborative strategizing. This module is ideal for anyone interested in working in politics, diplomacy, journalism, marketing, or for advocacy or activist civil society groups. Ideas about the power of communications and the ways that various political actors use that power are at the heart of this module. You’ll examine how these actors use the media in political communications. Lectures and readings will cover media effects, how political communication has changed with changes in media technology, branding and celebrity in politics, and soft power with political communication at the international level, as well as the tools used by various political actors, such as political parties or civic movements. Lectures are interactive, using an audience response system and open discussion. Seminar activities include practical tasks as well as ones to enhance understanding of the readings. The first assessed work is a group project in which you will play the role of junior analysts in a communications consultancy and you will work together to assess the political communications of a real political actor, your “client”, producing a report and presentation that includes recommendations for improvement. The second is an essay that gives you the chance to develop your ability to analyse and synthesise. By the end of this module you will be able to identify and describe the actors and their interests in a given political communications contexts, as well as formulate and articulate clear arguments about the relationships between political actors and the media in relation to power and agency. You will have gained experience in a simulated work scenario that will give you skills transferable across a number of professions as you will have delivered analysis and recommendations in a professional-style presentation and report. You will also be able evaluate political communications’ role in an international context, something increasingly necessary in the ever more globalized world both for political and corporate actors.

Optional A Modules

(20 credits)

MEDIA REPRESENTATION

Code AMAM4034A

Credits 20

How do the media represent social groups and why does this matter? These two questions are central to Media Studies. On this module, we will give you an introduction to research across a range of topics, such as the representation of women, migrants and older people. You will learn how the media have represented these groups in the past and discuss whether and why representations have changed today. You will be introduced to theories that are central to Media Studies and which you will be able to explore in depth in more specialist modules in your second and third year, for example feminist theories, post-colonialism, critical race studies, queer theory, and disability studies. The assessment on this module is a small piece of independent research. You will write a literature review, a discussion of your research methodology and you will present and analyse the findings of a small piece of media analysis. This module will teach you the necessary skills of academic writing.

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THEORY

Code PPLX4051A

Credits 20

This module introduces you to a few important and interesting writers and thinkers whose ideas have been so influential that they have become part of, and have even transformed, our society, culture and politics. As you read their work, learning how to make sense of it and arguing about it with others, you will come to think more deeply about the workings and politics of contemporary society and culture: the forces that shape it and the contradictions that define it. You will pay special attention to the three fundamental values that have shaped modern society and politics since the French Revolution: liberty, equality and fraternity. This will underpin your studies on other modules (in Political Science, International Relations, Media, History and Literature) and provide you with a strong basis upon which to develop your knowledge in Levels 2 and 3.

Optional B Modules

(20 credits)

BEGINNERS' FRENCH I - A1 CEFR (SPRING START)

Code PPLB4015B

Credits 20

Bonjour, comment ça va? Do you want to understand what this means and how to say it? This module will help you to master basics of French language and communication. This module is perfect for you if you have never studied French before (or have very little experience of it). Throughout the semester, you’ll develop reading, listening, speaking and writing skills at the A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This means that you will learn to communicate about yourself and your immediate environment in a set of concrete, everyday situations. You’ll be taught in a very interactive and friendly environment, and will often work in pairs or small groups. Your two-hour seminar will focus on listening, reading and writing skills, while the oral hour will help you to develop your confidence in speaking. We’ll tackle some grammatical notions in class, but always as a means for you to improve your communication skills. You’ll also have opportunities to explore aspects of the cultures where French is spoken, thanks to the various documents we will use to develop your linguistic skills (songs, podcasts, leaflets…). You’ll be assessed by two course tests: the first will cover listening, reading, and writing skills and the second will cover your speaking skills. On successful completion of this module, you’ll be able to understand and use familiar everyday expressions aimed at both the satisfaction of concrete needs, or those used to describe areas of most immediate relevance. You’ll be able to introduce yourself and others, ask and answer questions about personal details, and interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly. Please note that students should not have a level of French that exceeds the level of this course. This module is probably not appropriate for you if you have a recent French GCSE at grade C or above, if you have studied French abroad, or if you have learnt French in an informal setting (such as in your family). If you have such experience, please contact the Module Organiser as soon as possible to complete a level test.

BEGINNERS' SPANISH I - A1 CEFR (SPRING START)

Code PPLB4024B

Credits 20

Do you want to learn a new language? Do you want to access the Spanish-speaking world? Are you about to travel through Spain or any Spanish-speaking country in Latin America? Then, it´s the right time to enrol to Beginners´ Spanish I. This module will improve your academic education and will provide you with the confidence to advance towards intermediate and advanced levels. It sounds good, doesn't it? You will develop your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills and you will have the opportunity to receive personal feedback on all your efforts. You will take part in classroom-based activities, working in pairs and small groups exchanging ideas and supporting each other in the process of learning the language. You will also be able to focus on real life situations as well as the ability to communicate effectively in those situations. There will also be opportunities to explore aspects of the cultures where Spanish is currently the main language. By the end of this module, you will have the linguistic competence necessary to understand and use common, everyday expressions and simple sentences, to address immediate needs. If you have a recent Spanish GCSE grade C or below, or an international equivalent, then this module is appropriate for you.

INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE I (SPRING START)

Code PPLB4033B

Credits 20

How would you converse with someone who is deaf? At work? In school? In an emergency? How can you avoid typical faux pas due to ignorance of a different culture? Can a 'signed'/'visual' language 'convey as adequately' as a 'spoken' language? These questions highlight the central learning achieved in this module. This is a course in British Sign Language assuming no prior, or minimal knowledge of the language. Throughout the course you will discover aspects central to the Deaf World and its Culture, and how to communicate through a unique 'visual' language, a language that uses your hands and body to communicate! Teaching and learning strategies involve signed conversation (from early on), role-play, and lots of games and exercises that make a truly 'fun and enjoyable' module to take. You will learn a little about the history of the Deaf and Sign Language itself, and its long battle to be recognised. You will discover how using your body and hands can be an exciting and meaningful way of communicating. You will acquire q wide range of easily usable vocabulary, a deeper look into various features that make the language unique, and very different to spoken languages. On successful completion of this module you will have developed knowledge and skills that will enable you to communicate with a Deaf person. You will be able to take your British Sign Language studies onto the next level, broadening your knowledge and developing further, the skill within this amazing 'Visual' language. Please note that very occasionally subsidiary language modules may be cancelled due to low enrolment. Students who are found to have a level of knowledge that exceeds the level for which they have enrolled may be asked to withdraw from the module, at the Teacher's discretion.

BEGINNERS' JAPANESE I (SPRING START)

Code PPLB4042B

Credits 20

Do you want to explore Japanese culture or travel to Japan? Would you like to enhance your career opportunities? This is a beginners’ course in Japanese assuming little or no prior experience or knowledge of the language. In this module, you’ll learn reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. You’ll gain the linguistic understanding of a number of real life situations, as well as the ability to communicate effectively in those situations. There will also be opportunities to explore aspects of the cultures where Japanese is spoken. Particular emphasis will be placed on your acquisition of a sound knowledge of grammar. Please note that this is a subsidiary language module. Very occasionally, subsidiary language modules may need to be cancelled if there are low levels of enrolment. Please note that if you are found to have a level of knowledge in a language that exceeds the level for which you have enrolled, you may be asked to withdraw from the module at the Teacher’s discretion.

BEGINNERS' ARABIC I (SPRING START)

Code PPLB4045B

Credits 20

Its aim is the mastery of the alphabet: the script, the sounds of the letters, and their combination into words. Also, it introduces basic Arabic phrases and vocabulary to help you have introductory conversations. You will develop essential speaking, listening, reading and writing skills as well as a solid understanding of the structure of the language in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Some aspects of the Arab world and culture(s) are covered.

BEGINNERS' GERMAN I (SPRING START) - A1 CEFR

Code PPLB4047B

Credits 20

Have you ever wished you could order your mulled wine at the Christmas market in German? How would it feel be to be able to introduce yourself in German or survive a basic conversation in the language? Or do you simply want to understand what makes the Germans, the Austrians, or the Swiss tick? These questions highlight the central learning you will achieve within this module. Our beginners’ course in German is perfect if you have very little or no prior knowledge of the language. You will gain the confidence to use German in basic conversations as you develop a first understanding of German sounds and essential grammar. You will build up a bank of key vocabulary to survive in real-life situations. You will also gain a greater awareness of German traditions and ways of thinking to help you make sense of a country that is deeply rooted in the heart of Europe. In a relaxed environment you will participate in classroom-based activities, working in pairs and groups to try out and be creative with new sounds, words and phrases. The fun of language learning will never be far away and promises to give you the confidence to make the first steps in German. As well as speaking and listening to each other you will discover the joy of understanding an authentic German text and to write an amazing first paragraph in German. A first course in German will enable you to add a vital skill to your CV. At this crucial political and cultural moment in time the study of the German language and culture will without doubt make you a more attractive graduate and informed global citizen, whatever your specialism or area of interest. Please note that you should not have a level of German that exceeds the level of this course.

BEGINNERS' CHINESE I (SPRING START)

Code PPLB4051B

Credits 20

Did you know you could speak Mandarin in some way already? Try these: coffee as cah-fay, sofa as sharfah, pizza as pee-sah. Yes! Chinese people say these words pretty much as you do! Do you want to get an insight into Chinese culture? Are you planning an adventurous trip in China to explore the diversity of life and communicate with the local people? Your ears will be exposed to pinyin and you will begin to master the deceptively simple Chinese alphabet. You will open your eyes and mind to acquire meanings by drawing the characters. You will build up your vocabulary incredibly quickly, and soon learn to initiate conversations and read simple texts. You will work with your peers during grammar classes and classroom-based oral seminars which cover introduction to pinyin (pronunciation) and the common tricky sounds, word order, sentences at a basic communicative level, the spelling rules of hanzi (Chinese characters), building up your vocabulary, and topic relevant cultural norms. At the end of the module, there is a brief introduction to the Chinese daily meals and sentences you need to order food from a restaurant. By the end of the module, you will be able to recognize and pronounce pinyin confidently. You will develop knowledge of basic sentences. You will be able to understand simple linguistic rules so that you can carry on learning in the future. You will be able to greet people fluently. NOTE: Please note that students speaking other varieties of Chinese (e.g. Cantonese) are not eligible for this module.

GLOBAL POLITICS 2

Code PPLI4055B

Credits 20

Global Politics 2 explores the most important controversies and debates in contemporary international politics. Because international politics is constantly changing, we review this module every year, altering the precise mix of topics to reflect the world that you see around you. All of our topics involve questions of power, ethics, transnational cooperation and security. Recently we have explored terrorism, nuclear weapons, our moral obligations to foreigners, as well as migration, the fate of the environment, and emerging powers in the international system.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.

Assessment for Year 2

We use a variety of assessment techniques, including essays, exams, presentations, group work and portfolios.

Some of our assessments are linked to work with professional organisations outside the university, which will help prepare you for your future career.

Whatever the form the assessment takes, we’ll help you by providing formative feedback and guidance.

Compulsory Modules

DIGITAL MEDIA AND SOCIETY

Code PPLM5053A

Credits 20

For better or worse, digital technologies are hyped at having revolutionised society. This module will provide you with an introduction to the ways in which the internet and other digital technologies are (and are not) affecting society from theoretical and empirical perspectives, and how society shapes technology. Topics covered include: the evolution of the internet; the network society ; regulating new media; the radical internet and terrorism; social networking, blogs and interactivity; culture and identity in the digital age; and how the internet affects politics and the media.

Optional A Modules

(0-40 credits)

GENDER AND POWER

Code PPLM5002A

Credits 20

Providing a conceptual overview of feminist research approaches, this module examines contemporary gender and power relations. You will examine both the formal and informal power structures that shape the experience of gender. Bringing together the fields of media and sociology, politics and cultural studies, you will explore the relationship between feminist theory and activism.

WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT

Code PPLX5064A

Credits 20

In this second year module you will examine in depth the works of selected thinkers who are seminal to the Western tradition of political thought, and have shaped the ways in which we think about politics even today, including Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill and Machiavelli. You will also compare their work thematically, with a focus on themes such as the natural law and social contract traditions, and other schools of thought which have been influenced by these traditions. The module will be based on the study and interpretation of key primary texts and will enable you to develop skills of textual analysis and critique. It will also provide some of the historical background necessary to study more contemporary political theory at 3rd year undergraduate level, as well as building substantially on some of the political theories encountered on Social and Political Theory at first year level. The module is taught by a combination of weekly lectures and seminars, supported by private study of your own, and you will be assessed by coursework, usually a combination of an essay and a portfolio which reflects on your reading and seminar performance throughout the semester.

Optional B Modules

(0-60 credits)

LIES, ALGORITHMS AND CONCERTOS: UNDERSTANDING MEDIA AND CULTURAL POLICY

Code PPLM5005B

Credits 20

How should we deal with the dissemination of 'fake news'? What role do algorithms play in the media we consume, and is it concerning? What kind of government intervention is there in media markets and in cultural life and how does this get decided? This module will enable you to understand the dynamics and issues of media and cultural policy and how various levels of governance are involved in regulating media cultural sectors. The module will start by introducing you to public policy and policy making processes, covering multi-level governance, multi-stakeholderism, and the policy cycle. It will then enhance your understanding though deep dives into current issues in media and cultural policy, such as audiovisual media policy, arts institutions, net neutrality, harmful content on platforms, sports and premium content rights, urban regeneration through culture, evolving models of (self/co-)regulation. The module will draw on examples from across the globe and at various level including local, regional, national and supra-national policy making, with special efforts made to integrate ones from non-Western contexts. You will have the opportunity to work on real policy issues and practice professional skills in simulations and assessment activities. This module is for anyone interested in media and culture or in public policy in general. It covers topics that touch our daily lives so would be useful to anyone concerned about the shape of our society.

THE MEDIA AND IDENTITY

Code PPLM5042B

Credits 20

How do the media shape how we see ourselves? Or indeed how others see us? In a world of social media, self-branding and the increasing importance of mediated forms of identity, on this module you will explore critical ways of thinking about the relationship between culture, media and the self. Drawing on a range of theoretical approaches in the field of media and cultural studies, this module asks you to use research methods from autoethnography to content analysis to explore both their own identities and the way in which identities more broadly are formulated through contemporary media culture. Through discussing the representation of identity in media content, as well as issues of media production, regulation and consumption, you will critically reflect upon the relationship between media culture and social power and consider how social and technological changes impact on the ways in which identity is experienced in everyday life. On successful completion of this module, you should be able, at threshold level, to critically reflect upon the ways in which media texts construct social identity and should be able to discuss the relationship between media and identity with awareness for social, institutional and technological factors that shape both media production and consumption. Assessment is by group presentation and independent research project.

REPORTING THE NEWS - A PRACTICAL INTRODUCTION TO JOURNALISM

Code PPLM5051B

Credits 20

You will be introduced to the ways news is reported in a professional environment, looking at the different techniques, formats and styles of Television, Online and Social Media. You will be given guidance on news writing and helped to develop stories for the various formats, compiling video reports using mobile and professional equipment, and uploading them using a popular Content Management System. You will be introduced to the regulatory framework within which journalists operate within the different genres of their profession. 1 News Values, Media Law and Ethics, Regulation 2 News formats – Comparing TV, Radio, Online and Social Media (Programme and Content Review) 3 News Writing and CMS (followed by news story development & mobile shoot activity) 4 SM Mobile Edit and Delivery - Posting Stories. 5 Online Reporting 1: Developing a ‘Long Read’ feature with Multimedia assets (followed by write-up activity). 6 Online Reporting 2: Shooting and Editing Multimedia and Photographs (stills) 7 Online reporting 3: Finalising ‘Long Read’ Posts 8 TV Part 1: Setting up a TV report and shooting – Part 1 (followed shoot & edit activity) 9 TV Part 2: Shooting & Editing 10 TV Part 3: Editing for TV 11 TV Part 4: Making a TV Bulletin

Optional C Modules

(20-40 credits)

CONTEMPORARY MEDIASCAPES

Code AMAM5020A

Credits 20

You'll be provided with an understanding of media access, production, participation and use/consumption. Module content is organised around notions of space and place, thereby enabling engagement with issues including: globalisation/the global; national media and media systems; regional and local media; community and ‘grassroots’ media, domestic and ‘personal’ media. Over the course of the module, you'll develop an understanding of the range and reach of media and the multiplicity of factors determining how, when and where populations are enabled to access and participate in media activities. Parallel to the above will be an exploration, through selected case study examples, of media and cultural policy issues, spaces/places of media production as well as a critical engagement with questions of power in relation to these. The module also adopts a contemporary focus by incorporating debates about the role and potential of digital media and communications technologies in enabling new forms of media production, distribution and participation.

ANIMATION

Code AMAM5024A

Credits 20

Animation has long been one of the most popular and least scrutinised areas of popular media culture. This module seeks to introduce you to animation as a mode of production through examinations of different aesthetics and types of animation from stop motion through to cel and CGI-based examples. It then goes on to discuss some of the debates around animation in relation to case study texts, from animation's audiences to its economics. A range of approaches and methods will therefore be adopted within the module, including methods like political economics, cultural industries, star studies and animation studies itself. The module is taught by seminar and screening and is not a practice module.

GENDER AND THE MEDIA

Code AMAM5031A

Credits 20

You’ll examine the role of media in constructing – and challenging – contemporary gender relations and understandings of a range of femininities and masculinities, providing a conceptual overview of feminist research methods You’ll explore both theoretical and methodological issues and cover theoretical approaches from feminist media studies, cultural studies, gender studies and queer theory. You’ll explore a range of media and visual cultures including television, magazines, sports media, music, digital media culture, etc.

LGBT AND BEYOND: SEXUAL CULTURES, QUEER IDENTITIES, AND THE POLITICS OF DESIRE

Code HUM-5007A

Credits 20

How do notions of gender and sexuality shape culture, and how are in turn our understanding and experiences of gender and sexuality shaped by cultural production? How important are other times, places and identifications – associated with class, race, ethnicity – to these understandings and experiences? And to what extent can a film, an image, a testimony, or a place capture such complexity? Addressing these questions from an interdisciplinary approach, the aim of the module is to explore the ways in which gender and sexuality are constituted through a broad array of experiences, practices, and cultural products. The module focuses on issues raised in classical and contemporary research in history, politics, media, cultural studies and visual cultures such as: representation and cultural production; subjectivity; identity; identification; bodies and embodiment; performance and performativity; among others. Overall, by exploring theory in conjunction with queer cultural production that explores questions of power, identity, and desire across different racial, national, and cultural landscapes, the module aims to problematise how gender and sexuality are not stable identities or classifications but are instead processes involving normalisations, hierarchies and relations of domination that can be challenged, troubled and/or queered.

GENDER AND POWER

Code PPLM5002A

Credits 20

PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY AND POLITICS FOR SECOND YEARS

Code PPLP5167A

Credits 20

History and politics are inseparable because human societies and communities develop and transform historically. Philosophical thinking about society and community requires us to question deep assumptions about the human good and how we form ideas about that good over time. Does history show that we have made political progress? What does ‘progress’ even mean? How should we think about our social understanding of the past? Does your historical situation limit your political horizons or your political culture limit your historical understanding? Is it in the person or the community that should not be divided, i.e. that is ‘in-dividual’? What kind of understanding, what kind of methods are involved in the disciplines of history and politics? Can philosophy ground a political system, and, if so, which political system(s) does philosophy ground? These are some of the question you’ll address in dialogue with key thinkers of history and politics, such as Hegel; Marx; Collingwood; Simone Weil; Arendt and Rawls.

WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT

Code PPLX5064A

Credits 20

POLITICS IN THE USA

Code PPLX5164A

Credits 20

The election of Donald Trump as President in 2016 has radically changed US politics. Yet to fully understand the current times, contemporary American politics needs to be put into context. This module covers the historical themes that exist in US politics from the eighteenth century to the present day. The emphasis will be on modern political history and contemporary politics, but this will be underpinned by a knowledge of the political philosophy at the time of the formation of the United States, the governmental structures, and political developments over historical time.

Optional D Modules

(0-20 credits)

PROMOTIONAL CULTURE

Code AMAM5049B

Credits 20

The advertising and PR industries are central to public life: in business, politics and culture. Branding strategies reach into our intimate lives, whether this is through the ways that we promote ourselves in social media or how corporations collect, analyse and sell our data for marketing purposes. The purpose of this module is to introduce you to these developments, their histories, and the key ethical and political debates that surround them. Previous discussions have included how PR has informed politics and ideology since the 1920s, through the rise of the advertising in 1960s Manhattan, to today’s flow of brands across digital platforms. Also, the promotional cultures surrounding the film and television industries, including product placement, corporate sponsorship and celebrity. It could examine the ways in which we are encouraged to become micro-celebrities, using promotional techniques online and offline in order to market ourselves in an increasingly visual and commercialized culture. It may ask to what extent brands are integral to our social lives and subjectivities, how far they forge intimate relationships with and between users. It will use case studies that may touch on vlogging, selfies, viral marketing, and issues or controversies affecting the promotional cultures such as sexualisation, corporate social responsibility, greenwashing, sustainability, and surveillance.

BREAKING NEWS! AMERICAN JOURNALISM: HISTORY AND PRACTICE

Code AMAS5049B

Credits 20

How do we know what is real and what is fake? Previous generations, we are told, could reliably turn to “the news”—but is that really true? From the very beginning, American news was always synonymous with low scandal, scurrilous rumour, and fakery. And yet, there is no doubt that there have been crucial moments when journalists and journalism have gone beyond merely reporting events, to shape the public imagination. “The news” has always manipulated as much as informed its audiences, and in this module you will learn about how this in turn has shaped American life. In learning about the history of journalism and its cultural impact in America in the wider global context, you will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of the art of journalism, both critically and in practice. You will engage with questions surrounding print, broadcast and digital media—looking back to the past, reflecting on the present, and looking forward into the future of journalism. You will consider the ways in which marginalised peoples have sought to assert their voices through news media, by seizing the means by which our public understanding of reality is produced. The work will involve critical readings, engagement with primary source materials, seminar discussions, presentations, and critical writing with creative practice. You will have the opportunity to refine your communication skills, and especially the art of writing in different modes for different audiences.

OF MICE AND KRAZY KATS: HISTORY AND ART OF AMERICAN COMICS

Code AMAS5050B

Credits 20

Are comics art? The answer is yes, and this module will show you why through an in-depth examination of American comics from early newspaper strips to contemporary graphic novels. You’ll read a wide range of different comics, including the birth of superheroes, World War II propaganda comics, controversial horror comics, underground comix from the San Francisco counterculture, recent alternative comics, and the current boom in reality-based graphic novels. You’ll learn about the complex history of American comics, including the specific contexts for the form’s development as a mass medium and its frequent marginalisation in the cultural sphere, such as the great comic-book scare of the 1950s. In the process, you’ll learn to pay special attention to form as well as content when reading comics, and will develop a critical vocabulary for evaluating the aesthetics of the form. In addition to a broad selection from the history of American comics, you’ll also examine comics through different thematic perspectives, such as race, gender, and sexuality, and you’ll read critical material that’ll further inform your understanding of the form. You’ll learn through seminars as well as through independent library study of the periods and themes that resonate the most with you, and you’ll be assessed through coursework. At the end of the module, you’ll have gained a deep understanding of the many historical and cultural issues that inform any appreciation of comics, and you’ll have learned to consider the form as a unique and mature form of American art.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Code PPLI5056B

Credits 20

Why are wars fought? What is peace? What is security? International Security introduces you to these key issues in global politics. In the first part of the module, you will explore the continuing salience of violent conflict and the use of force in world politics. While some have argued that the advent of globalisation and spread of liberal democracy would make violent conflict less relevant in today’s world, war and the use of force remain an integral part of the international system. In exploring these issues, you will study a variety of perspectives on the causes of war and peace to examine the roots of violent conflict and security problems in the present day. In the second half of the module, we will turn to contemporary ‘critical’ debates around international security. These include constructivist and feminist perspectives on what security is, how it is achieved, and whether it is desirable. We will also investigate the host of seemingly new security challenges that have increasingly captured the attention of policymakers and academics. How useful is it to think of issues such as environmental degradation, gendered violences, and poverty as security issues? What do we gain and lose in broadening security studies beyond a narrow focus on warfare and military power?

POWER, WEALTH AND NATIONS: GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

Code PPLI5161B

Credits 20

What if I told you that the West was no longer the power centre of the world’s economy? Could Pax Sinica provincialize the UK as political economic power settles over Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta? What would Adam Smith, Karl Marx and Friedrich List have to say about global transformations underway in the global political economy? And, as Susan Strange famously put it: cui bono: Who benefits from all these transformations? Multinational corporations, nation states, financial sector, exporting economies, citizens? You’ll investigate the accumulation of wealth, movement of capital, centres of power, flows of globalisation, patterns of trade, and the ubiquity of finance in a world being transformed by innovation where emerging powers challenge the status quo of North Atlantic powerhouses.

POLITICAL VIOLENCE & CONFLICT: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES

Code PPLM5002B

Credits 20

Political violence, individual or collective, is easily condemned as an irrational and barbaric phenomenon, with little relevance for understanding political developments and social change. A lot is down to LeBon’s famous nineteenth century accounts of the crowd as ‘a primitive being’ so destructive ‘that the interests of the individual, even the interest of self preservation, will not dominate them’ (LeBon, 1995). The taboo of violence persists despite attempts of social and political theorists to engage with the issue and understand different forms and contexts, from riots, to religious violence and terrorism. The aim of the module is to break this generalized taboo by tracing the role (explicit or implicit) of political violence in political theory and its function in processes of socio-political transformations and change. Critical engagement with contemporary theoretical and empirical debates around the issue and the examination of mass and new media representations of political violence will enable students to develop a sophisticated understanding of the origins, logics, perceptions and outcomes of political violence and conflict.

MEDIA, GLOBALISATION AND CULTURE

Code PPLM5003B

Credits 20

What role do media and communication play in processes of globalisation? How is an ever more global media creating cultural change? In this module you will explore the cultural implications of global media and culture by investigating audience practices and media representations. It begins by introducing the main theoretical approaches to mediated globalisation, before examining how these work in practice. Indicative topics include the power of global branding, global celebrity culture, global publics and local audiences, transnational cultures, and representations of migration.

LIES, ALGORITHMS AND CONCERTOS: UNDERSTANDING MEDIA AND CULTURAL POLICY

Code PPLM5005B

Credits 20

THE MEDIA AND IDENTITY

Code PPLM5042B

Credits 20

POWER AND SOCIETY

Code PPLX5159B

Credits 20

This module introduces students to key perspectives in 19th & 20th century social and political theory. Central to this module is an interest in the relationship between economic, social and cultural structures and individual agency and identity. Areas explored include the following: social conflict and consensus; conceptions of power and domination; Marxism and neo-Marxism; critical theory; structuralism; poststructuralism; ideology and discourse; postmodernity; the self and consumer society.

STATES, INSTITUTIONS AND CITIZENS

Code PPLX5162B

Credits 20

Political systems around the world are facing profound challenges and transformations. Established democracies in Europe and North America have seen the rise of populism, as marked by election of Donald Trump in the USA, the Brexit referendum in the UK or Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil. Democracy has also been in retreat in many states which democratised or partly democratised after the cold war such as Russia and Poland. At the same time, autocratic regimes in the Middle East and North Africa have come under pressure, with movements such as the Arab Spring signalling aspirations amongst many people for a more democratic system of governance. This module provides you with a critical understanding of how political systems vary around the world and the pressures facing them. It begins by focusing on the drivers of democratisation. It then proceeds to consider how political institutions such as the executive, legislature and the degree of decentralisation vary - and the effects that this has. Finally, we consider new trends in citizen's voting behaviour at the ballot box and pressure groups campaigning for change. You'll gain a critical awareness of current debates in comparative politics and develop key skills including critical evaluation, analytical investigation, written presentation, and oral communication.

Optional G Modules

(0-60 credits)

PSI SEMESTER ABROAD MODULE

Code PPLX5166B

Credits 60

Students often say that spending a semester abroad expands their horizons and improves their career prospects. You will be able to judge this claim for yourself by completing this module. You’ll experience a different educational culture and develop new perspectives on learning. Assessed formatively and summatively by the host university and on successful completion of the semester abroad, you’ll have developed the knowledge and skills to study in a foreign academic environment with more confidence. Assessment will be in the foreign institution and you might be assessed via different methods depending on the institution you attend. To check eligibility criteria it is important that you liaise with our Study Abroad Team.

Optional H Modules

(0-20 credits)

BEGINNERS' FRENCH I - A1 CEFR

Code PPLB4013A

Credits 20

Bonjour, comment ça va? Do you want to understand what this means and how to say it? This module will help you to master basics of French language and communication. This module is perfect for you if you have never studied French before (or have very little experience of it). Throughout the semester, you’ll develop reading, listening, speaking and writing skills at the A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This means that you will learn to communicate about yourself and your immediate environment in a set of concrete, everyday situations. You’ll be taught in a very interactive and friendly environment, and will often work in pairs or small groups. Your two-hour seminar will focus on listening, reading and writing skills, while the oral hour will help you to develop your confidence in speaking. We’ll tackle some grammatical notions in class, but always as a means for you to improve your communication skills. You’ll also have opportunities to explore aspects of the cultures where French is spoken thanks to the various documents we will use to develop your linguistic skills (songs, podcasts, leaflets…). You’ll be assessed by two course tests: the first will cover listening, reading, and writing skills and the second will cover your speaking skills. On successful completion of this module, you’ll be able to understand and use familiar everyday expressions aimed at both the satisfaction of concrete needs, or those used to describe areas of most immediate relevance. You’ll be able to introduce yourself and others, ask and answer questions about personal details, and interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly. Please note that students should not have a level of French that exceeds the level of this course. This module is probably not appropriate for you if you have a recent French GCSE at grade C or above, if you have studied French abroad, or if you have learnt French in an informal setting (such as in your family). If you have such experience, please contact the Module Organiser as soon as possible to complete a level test.

BEGINNERS' FRENCH II - A2 CEFR

Code PPLB4014B

Credits 20

Parlons français ! This module will help you to further your basics of French language and communication in order to enable you to cope with concrete situations. This module is perfect for you if you have taken Beginners’ French I – A1 CEFR, or if you have some experience of French language. Throughout the semester, you’ll develop reading, listening, speaking and writing skills at the A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This means that you’ll be able to cope in a number of situations, including some you may encounter when travelling. You’ll be able to talk and write about yourself and your immediate surrounding environment in some detail, and you’ll work on handling short social exchanges. You’ll be taught in an interactive and friendly environment, and will often work in pairs or small groups. Your two-hour seminar will focus on listening, reading and writing skills, while the oral hour will help you to develop your confidence in speaking. We’ll tackle some grammatical notions in class, but always as a means for you to improve your communication skills. You’ll also have opportunities to explore aspects of the cultures where French is spoken, thanks to the various documents we will use to develop your linguistic skills (songs, podcasts, short articles and videos…). You’ll be assessed by two course tests: the first will cover listening, reading, and writing skills and the second will cover your speaking skills. On successful completion of the module, you’ll be able to understand and use expressions related to areas of immediate relevance, or that you may encounter when travelling. You’ll be able to communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a direct exchange of information. You’ll be able to describe in simple terms aspects of your background, immediate environment and needs. Please note that you should not have a level of French that exceeds the level of this course. This module may not be appropriate for you if you have a recent French GCSE at grade B or above, if you have studied French abroad for a long time, or if you have learnt French in an informal setting (such as in your family). If you have such experience, please contact the Module Organiser as soon as possible to complete a level test..

BEGINNERS' FRENCH I - A1 CEFR (SPRING START)

Code PPLB4015B

Credits 20

BEGINNERS' SPANISH I - A1 CEFR

Code PPLB4022A

Credits 20

BEGINNERS' SPANISH II - A2 CEFR

Code PPLB4023B

Credits 20

Have you ever taken any basic Spanish course? Do you want to carry on studying this well spoken language after taking Beginners´ Spanish I? Do you feel that learning a language might be a relevant skill for your career? Then, Beginners´ Spanish II is what you really need. This module will improve your academic education and will provide you with the confidence to advance towards upper intermediate and advanced levels. But, how will you make it? Thanks to this module, you will work on your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. You will get the personal feedback on every single of your efforts. You'll take part in classroom-based activities, working in pairs and small groups exchanging ideas and supporting each other in the process of improving this language. You'll also be able to focus on real life situations as well as the ability to communicate effectively in those situations. There will also be opportunities to explore aspects more carefully of the cultures where Spanish is the mother tongue. By the end of this module you will be able to understand commonly used, everyday phrases and expressions related to areas of experience especially relevant to them (basic information about themselves, and their families, shopping, places of interest, work, etc.). If you have a recent Spanish GCSE grade B or above, or an international equivalent, then this module is probably not appropriate for you - please contact the module organiser as soon as possible to be sure).

BEGINNERS' SPANISH I - A1 CEFR (SPRING START)

Code PPLB4024B

Credits 20

BEGINNERS' ARABIC I

Code PPLB4029A

Credits 20

This course is a pre-requisite to the study of Arabic language. You will master the alphabet: the script, the sounds of the letters, and their combination into words. You are introduced to basic Arabic phrases and vocabulary to help you have introductory conversations. You will develop essential speaking, listening, reading and writing skills as well as a solid understanding of the structure of the language in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Some aspects of the Arab world and culture(s) are covered.

BEGINNERS' ARABIC II

Code PPLB4030B

Credits 20

This is the second part of a beginners' course in Arabic following on from Beginners' Arabic I. Students with a basic knowledge of Arabic writing and speaking may join this module.

BEGINNERS' CHINESE I

Code PPLB4034A

Credits 20

BEGINNERS' CHINESE II

Code PPLB4035B

Credits 20

Thinking about brushing up on your Mandarin? Planning an exciting trip to China? Still struggling with pinyin and reading Chinese? Then this module is designed for you! You will explore more sentence patterns in daily life communicative situations. You will build up your character blocks rapidly. You will acquire discourse skills in these scenarios. You will stretch your linguistic ability by becoming aware of cultural norms so that you can communicate with local people freely, but without a scary amount of vocabulary. The module comprises two sessions per week: a two-hour grammar class and a one-hour oral seminar. You will participate in these to learn different ways to ask questions, tenses, reading characters, cultural norms in contexts and topics ranging from friends and family and housing to leisure and health. You will write short essays throughout the process. By the end of the module you will have established a solid foundation in Mandarin, and will have achieved a communicative level. You will be able to recognise about 200 Chinese characters. You will be able to compose messages to your friends or future colleagues. You will be able to express your needs while traveling, and to enjoy the cultural diversity of megacities like Shanghai and Beijing. NOTE: Please note that students speaking other varieties of Chinese (e.g. Cantonese) are not eligible for this module.

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Life at UEA

Important Information

Students must select an even balance of modules. Students cannot study more than two modules per semester.

Assessment for Year 3

We use a variety of assessment techniques, including essays, exams, presentations, group work and portfolios.

Some of our assessments are linked to work with professional organisations outside the university, which will help prepare you for your future career.

Whatever the form the assessment takes, we’ll help you by providing formative feedback and guidance.

Compulsory Modules

DIGITAL POLITICS

Code PPLM6077A

Credits 30

Today's political world is more than ever influenced by digital technologies, from innovative social movements to 'fake news' and digital election campaigns. We will explore how the technologies influence political processes and how political processes in turn influence technology. We will examine the impact of digital media on electoral politics, examining key election campaigns (including recent UK and US elections) and the impact of social media, big data, and targeted advertising on their results. We will investigate how social movements (from Black Lives Matter to the Alt-Right) have been transformed through their use of digital networks. We will navigate the world of online politics, with a particular focus on the new culture wars being fought out in online environments. Finally we will explore the politics of the everyday, and the political effects of the technology platforms on which we live our online lives.

Optional A Modules

(30 credits)

WE’RE HERE, WE’RE QUEER: GLOBAL SEXUALITIES AND CONTEMPORARY QUEER CULTURES

Code HUM-6005A

Credits 30

The transnational movement of bodies, images, and capital has transformed modern conceptualisations of gender and sexuality. Sexual practices, identities, and subcultural formations have been altered through processes of migration and globalisation, as well as by the advent of new media technologies and the wide-reaching circulation of categories such as gay, lesbian, and transgender. In this context, this module aims to situate categories of gender and sexual difference within specific cultural and political contexts, and investigate non-normative gender and sexual formations in relation to emerging discourses on race and class and to anti-colonial theories of modernity and global capitalism. At the centre of the module sit questions such as: How have queer subjects been incorporated into nationalist projects and consumer culture? How has the liberal framework of human rights reshaped the struggles of queer movements outside the West? In what ways have transnational discourses on multiculturalism reshaped notions of queer community and belonging in global cities and in postcolonial metropolitan spaces? What role have media technologies and various forms of visual culture played in the reconstitution of gender and sexual identities and of representations of queer desire, affect, and kinship? Addressing these questions from an interdisciplinary perspective, and drawing on case studies from different geographical regions and from different disciplinary fields, the overall aim of the module is to explore the varied ways local histories and geographies interact with the forces of political, economic, and cultural globalisation, focusing especially on the experiences of sexual minorities in the Global South and of queer diasporas in the Global North.

POLITICS AND POPULAR CULTURE

Code PPLM6037A

Credits 30

Popular culture links to politics in a variety of ways, some obvious, some less obvious. There are the politicians who seek the endorsement of film stars; there are the politicians who were film stars; and there are the rock performers who pretend that they are politicians. And then there are the states that censor popular culture, or those that sponsor it and use it as propaganda. We will explore the many ways in which popular culture and politics are linked. You will: - be introduced to competing theories of the politics of popular culture - those that see popular culture as political manipulation and those that see it as political resistance. - analyse examples of popular culture for the political ideas and values they represent. - look at how popular culture is used in political communication. - track developments in the political economy of popular culture, especially in relation to globalisation, digital media and power within the cultural industries. - debate the censorship of popular culture and use of state subsidies to promote it. - reflect on the effects of popular culture, and about its role in personal and collective identity.

TOPICS IN PUBLIC OPINION

Code PPLM6045B

Credits 30

The role of public opinion is paramount in any democracy, as the public is often asked at election times and in-between elections to confer legitimacy to politicians and to their decisions. Yet what determines the public’s opinion? How much does the public know about politics? How does political communication influence the public’s positions? And last, but not least, how do we measure public opinion? You’ll discuss old and new directions in answering these questions, drawing on political psychology and communication theories. The module is well anchored in current politics, and will provide you with the tools to understand current public opinion trends in the UK and other democracies.

ACTIVIST CAMPAIGNING

Code PPLM6076B

Credits 30

How do grassroots and third sector organisations campaign for social and political change? Rather than pose this as an abstract question, you will partner with existing organisations to conduct campaigns on specific issues such as climate change, tax avoidance or gender inequality. You will receive a brief from a partner organisation and be supported in planning, devising, and carrying out activities that will achieve the aims of the brief. Taught content will include strategies for both online and offline activism, analysing power relations at different scales, and ways of assessing the effectiveness of your campaigns, but the bulk of the module will be the experience of a “live” campaign. You will combine applied research skills with professional practice in the form of a “reverse internship.” As the partner organisations are embedded in the module, you will build valuable skills for employability as well as an opportunity for being supported in the exercise of engaged citizenship. You will be assessed by presentation and critical reflection. In the year 2017-2018 the partner organisation was Greenpeace, but partners may change each year.

DISSERTATION MODULE

Code PPLX6042Y

Credits 30

The dissertation module gives you the opportunity to undertake research on a project of your own choosing under the supervision of a member of academic staff. The goal is to produce a dissertation of 8,000-9,000 words, which involves in-depth research on a specialist topic. An undergraduate dissertation represents a piece of independent research produced over an extended period and which demonstrates elements of originality in the selection of the topic, the use of sources and the analysis or argument contained within it. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the depth of your understanding of what you have learned across your degree course by applying concepts and theories from one or several modules to new contexts. A limited number of parliamentary internships are also available as part of this module. You will be expected to attend a series of lectures in the autumn semester which provide general advice on the process of conducting a dissertation, as well as meeting your supervisor on a regular basis over the course of the year.

ADVANCED RESEARCH TOPICS

Code PPLX6046A

Credits 30

This module offers students a valuable experience of both individual and collective research - as well as the opportunity to study in depth an important contemporary aspect of politics, media and international relations. You will work in small groups pursuing research into a specific topic using a wide variety of source materials under the guidance of a leading expert in the field. There will also be accompanying classes developing skills vital for undertaking research and presenting that research to policy makers and practitioners. The available topics will vary on a yearly basis, but may include subjects such as: The Trump Presidency, China moves West – Politics of the Belt & Road Initiative, the Political Philosophy of the Labour Party, Assessing British Prime Ministers, The Rise of Populism, Nuclear Brinkmanship on the Korean Peninsula, Inside the EU, The Macron Presidency, The Politics of Energy and the Environment, and Negotiating Brexit.

Optional B Modules

(60 credits)

MAGAZINES

Code AMAM6032A

Credits 30

You will explore magazines both as cultural objects and consumer products from the emergence of the medium in the 17th century to the present day. You will critically engage with the rapidly transforming structure, nature and operations of the industry in an increasingly digital age, understanding contemporary magazines as transmedia, multi-platform brands. You will explore magazines as key sites for the negotiation of contemporary power relations. You will be examined through a series of case studies relating to the political economy of the magazine industry; promotional cultures; digital media; and gender, sexuality and the body. Your module also contains a vocational strand that seeks to equip you with knowledge of contemporary magazine production processes.

CELEBRITY

Code AMAM6090B

Credits 30

You'll explore the phenomenon of celebrity and fame from its origins to the present day, moving across a range of different media, including film, television, print media and the internet. In the process, You'll examine key approaches to the study of celebrity, paying particular attention to the cultural formation of celebrity and how it is bound up with structures of power (e.g. gender, class, ethnicity). It will feature a range of case studies that will include Classical Hollywood cinema, the coming of television, the supposed 'tabloidization' of print media, the birth of Reality TV, the growth of the celebrity scandal and the relationship between celebrity and the internet.

MEDIA AND THE BODY

Code AMAM6111B

Credits 30

Over the past 30 years a variety of academic disciplines have understood the body to be central to our experiences of media cultures. You will examine the ways that different bodies are not only represented by and produced in relation to the media but also the place of the body in the consumption of media texts. Using different theoretical frameworks your module approaches the body as a key site in popular culture where power relations are negotiated. It does this through a range of case studies and therefore a range of different media forms. These case studies include the racialised body, the muscular body, the pornographic body, the politics of beauty, the HIV/AIDS crisis, trans-bodies, fitbits, and disco & grime subcultures. By the end of your module you should be able to analyse and assess a contemporary mediated body culture of your choice using one (or more) of the body theories that have been taught.

GENERATION AND THE MEDIA

Code AMAM6113A

Credits 30

Generation is a key part of media discourse. Young people are represented as having fewer opportunities than the generations before them. They are portrayed as narcissists, obsessed with brands and social media. Older generations, such as the ‘Babyboomers’, are represented as selfish and as having stolen young people’s future. This module complicates these stereotypes. You’ll explore theories of generation and their relation to media texts and media use. It asks, how are generations represented in the media, and what are the effects of this on people’s experience and identity? You’ll look at how media is used and consumed in different ways according to age, lifecycle and family structure. You’ll explore the ways that generation intersects with other identities such as race, class, gender, ability, sexuality, place. You’ll combine textual analysis and theory with an emphasis on personal experience and autoethnography. That is, you are expected to engage with the academic debates around generation but also to critically reflect on their own understandings of generation in relation to their peers, family, the past and the future.

NEW AMERICAN CENTURY: CULTURE AND CRISIS

Code AMAS6052B

Credits 30

On the eve of the twenty-first century it appeared that the United States of America was indeed entering into a new American Century with its role as global leader as strongly defined as it was a century earlier. However, the last decade and a half has been witness to a nation in turmoil and crisis, from the conflict between a universalising (Americanising) globalisation and an introspective nationalism; the war on terror and the conflicts in Afghanistan Iraq and Syria; environmental crisis and disaster; the conflict surrounding immigration and national identity, to the present financial crisis. The renewed and vigorous return to rhetoric of national ‘unity’ that characterised the campaign and election of Barack Obama as President of the United States in 2008, and the election of Donald J Trump in 2016, serves to highlight the historical divisions and crises of American society and underscores that contemporary America is in crisis geopolitically, economically, democratically, environmentally, and culturally. This module seeks to engage you with these areas of crisis and examine a variety of cultural responses to the America of the millennium. Through a variety of cultural texts, from literature, film and documentary, political speeches and letters, to historical texts and pop culture, we examine the ways in which these crises have been culturally and politically constructed and given particular sets of meaning.

SHIFTING POWERS AFRICA IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Code PPLI6039A

Credits 30

What do you know about Africa? Is it still the Dark Continent, lost outside of time, or do you see it as the next exciting ‘happening’ place to follow fashion, use FinTech, and do business? Did you know that Timbuktu was one of the world’s greatest centres of learning? That West Africa’s gold underpinned the global economy? How about if I told you that an explosion of megacities is taking place in the Global South, principally in Africa as the continent’s population doubles to 2bn? You will look at Africa’s place and importance within the international system and more, including exploring China’s One Belt Initiative in East Africa, the African Union and security, and the African Development Bank’s ‘High five’ development plan.

TERRORISM AND COUNTER-TERRORISM

Code PPLI6040B

Credits 30

Although the term terrorism goes back to the French revolution, it was rarely employed until the 1970’s. Contrast this with today when terrorism, it seems, is everywhere we look: in foreign policy decisions, military interventions, homeland security measures, legal frameworks, newspaper headlines, speeches and sermons, films and video games, and, of course, in university modules such as this. In this module, we engage in a critical exploration of terrorism, counter-terrorism, and the academic field of terrorism research. You will explore the history of terrorism, and engage in debates around the definition and character of terrorist violence. Is it possible, necessary, or even desirable to separate terrorism from other forms of violence, for instance? The module will introduce different perspectives on the causes, types, and threat of non-state terrorism. You will examine a range of strategies for countering terrorism, and their political and normative implications. The module also explores the emergence and contribution of critical terrorism studies, examining issues including state terrorism, gender and terrorism, cultural representations of terrorism, and the production and influence of terrorism ‘experts.’

POLITICS AND FOREIGN POLICY OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC

Code PPLI6069A

Credits 30

This module will introduce you to important themes in international relations within the Asia Pacific, at a time when the region has assumed great importance. There will be a particular focus on the important historical periods in the relations between the USA, China and Japan. An understanding of elements of the trajectory of these relationships will be provided by taking a selection of historical subjects for analysis. While you will address the knowledge of history, and of long-term themes, in the latter part of the module you will consider contemporary political issues. This will require you to develop an understanding of the interaction of the United States with Asia, and China and Japan in particular.

IN AND OUT: THE POLITICS OF MIGRATION

Code PPLI6089B

Credits 30

You’ll address the politics of migration and citizenship. It will provide you with a background to political thought on citizenship, membership and belonging. You’ll then examine migration at the international, state and individual levels. The international level will focus on historical movements of people (such as from Europe and Asia towards the Americas) and contemporary flows of refugees and guest workers. The state level will look comparatively at immigration and emigration policies and critically assess the logic behind them. Attention will be given to different countries in various regions for comprehensive comparative evaluation. Different types of migration will be considered, including economic (such as non-immigrant and immigrant work visas), family (such as spousal and family reunification visas) and humanitarian (refugees, asylum seekers, and special humanitarian protections). The politics of these migration categories will be foregrounded, including governmental tactics of management, how they comply or fail to comply with international human rights norms, and the foreign policy implications of humanitarian visas. Finally the individual level will consider narrative accounts of migration in order to understand policy and practice from a bottom-up and experiential perspective. You’ll be encouraged to critically evaluate and analyse the politics of migration as manifest in the various policies and practices.

BRITAIN AND EUROPE

Code PPLI6090B

Credits 30

Understanding Britain's relationship with the European Union and how the EU works is important in many jobs at local, national and international levels in the public, private and third (community and voluntary) sectors. The EU has been an integral part of the structures of governance of the UK and arguably will continue to impact the UK’s political, social and cultural life after Brexit. This module will enable you to understand the complex relationship between Britain and the rest of the EU as we attempt to explain the ambivalence of the British towards European integration. We also track Britain’s changing policy from aloofness to eventual accession in 1973 and the development of a reputation as an ‘awkward partner’. The module culminates in the decision in 2016 to pursue ‘Brexit’ by examining its impact, management and the wider consequences.

INTERNSHIP ABROAD FOR POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS STUDENTS

Code PPLI6093B

Credits 30

This module aims to open your horizons as to the employment opportunities and skills required for working at the international level and to prepare you for an optional internship and volunteering abroad. New skills will be developed and existing ones strengthened during the module itself and throughout any follow-on internship which you may with our help be able to secure - for example from researching public policy issues to preparing reports and presenting papers, helping to organise events, attending meetings and producing briefing papers, or carrying out fieldwork. We will help you where we can to secure a follow-on internship abroad and we have good links with many internatiional NGOs and other potential internship hosts. We currently have a number of places in Brussels and PPL students taking this module may apply for one of these. We also have places elsewhere and are seeking to develop more, which you may apply for, and we will also support and advise you when seeking to create your own internship abroad. Financial support towards travel and accommodation will be provided for PPL students for suitable internships, and other forms of financial assistance from UEA may also be available.

POLITICS AND POPULAR CULTURE

Code PPLM6037A

Credits 30

TOPICS IN PUBLIC OPINION

Code PPLM6045B

Credits 30

ACTIVIST CAMPAIGNING

Code PPLM6076B

Credits 30

BETTER WORLDS? UTOPIAS AND DYSTOPIAS

Code PPLX6041A

Credits 30

Would an ideal society have no more crime? Who would be wealthy? Would politics be outlawed? Do utopians wish to impose their views on the rest of us? This module explores questions such as these, which are central to political and social theory, through the prism of selected utopian and dystopian novels and other utopian texts ranging from Thomas More’s Utopia (1516) to the present. It focuses on themes such as property, social control, gender, work, the environment and politics. A major question which the module addresses is the political significance and effects of utopian ideas – often derided as frivolous or impractical in their own time - and the historical role of utopian ideas in political theory and social reform.

DISSERTATION MODULE

Code PPLX6042Y

Credits 30

ADVANCED RESEARCH TOPICS

Code PPLX6046A

Credits 30

MULTICULTURALISM

Code PPLX6072B

Credits 30

This module looks at the political implications of the rise of multicultural societies in Europe and North America since the end of World War II. (Canada is given consideration because of its importance to these debates both as a practical model as well as a source of influential theorists.) The aim is to introduce students to a range of contemporary theoretical perspectives on multiculturalism and facilitate critical assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of such approaches in the face of competing political discourses such as nationalism and alternative forms of liberalism. Theorists under examination may include; Parekh, Kymlicka, Levy, Taylor and Modood as well as major liberal alternative views; Barry, Rawls and Raz. Among the module themes the following will be addressed; group differentiated rights; institutional racism, Islamophobia, recognition vs toleration and cultural offence. The module will also look at divergent policies adopted within European states (eg: France and Germany) and give attention to the attempts to operationalize multiculturalism in the UK in particular via the Parekh Report.

CAPITALISM AND ITS CRITICS

Code PPLX6081B

Credits 30

The nature of Capitalism and its possible futures is one of the preeminent issues of our time. You'll consider the past, present and possible future development of capitalism as a socio-economic system. Drawing upon a wide range of classical and contemporary theorists of capitalism, you’ll deliberate capitalism in relation to a range of issues, such as: freedom, urbanisation, imperialism, technology, climate change, art and culture and go on to consider capitalism’s tendency towards recurrent crises, and what the alternatives to a capitalist system might be. The module will enable you to develop a critical understanding of capitalism as a political, economic and cultural system.

DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE

Code PPLX6097B

Credits 30

You’ll examine one of the fundamental and enduring questions of normative political theory and applied ethics: who should get what? You’ll focuse on some of the leading contemporary theorists of distributive justice, including Rawls, Nozick, Dworkin, Elster, and Sen. As well as exploring macro questions of justice (e.g. What principles of justice for the basic institutions of society? Equality or sufficiency? Need or desert?) you’ll also spend time on a range of micro questions about just allocation (e.g. How should household chores be divided between men and women? On the basis of what criteria should scarce donor organs be distributed in hospitals?) In addition to this, you’ll also address, through the work of Beitz, Pogge, and Miller, questions of global distributive justice (Is global economic inequality unjust? If so, why? Do people have a right to an equal share in the value of the Earth’s natural resources?). The format of the module will be a two-hour workshop each week, comprising research-led teaching, seminar discussions, practical exercises, textual reading, balloon debate, and essay writing and research-skills mini-sessions. The assessment will be comprised exclusively of a series of short workshop briefing papers, with a heavy emphasis on formative feedback on drafts to be discussed during optional weekly one-to-one tutorials.

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Life at UEA

Important Information

Entry Requirements

A Levels

BBB or ABC or BBC with an A in the Extended Project.

BTEC

DDM. Excludes BTEC Public Services and Business Administration.

Scottish highers

AABBB

Scottish highers advanced

CCC

Irish leaving certificate

2 subjects at H2 and 4 subjects at H3.

Access course

Access to Humanities & Social Sciences pathway preferred. Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 45 credits at Level 3.

European Baccalaureate

70%

International Baccalaureate

31 points

GCSE offer

You are required to have Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of Grade C or Grade 4 or above at GCSE.

Additional entry requirements

If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes.

If you do not meet the academic and/or English requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO University of East Anglia offers guaranteed progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree:

International Foundation in Business, Economics, Society and Culture (for Year 1 entry to UEA)

International Foundation in Humanities and Law (for Year 1 entry to UEA)

Alternative Qualifications

UEA recognises that some students take a mixture of International Baccalaureate IB or International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme IBCP study rather than the full diploma, taking Higher levels in addition to A levels and/or BTEC qualifications. At UEA we do consider a combination of qualifications for entry, provided a minimum of three qualifications are taken at a higher Level. In addition some degree programmes require specific subjects at a higher level.

Students for whom english is a foreign language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):

IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Please click here to see our full list.

If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:

Pre-sessional English at INTO UEA

Academic English at INTO UEA

Interviews

Most applicants will not be called for an interview and a decision will be made via UCAS Track. However, for some applicants an interview will be requested. Where an interview is required the Admissions Service will contact you directly to arrange a time.

Gap year

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.

Intakes

This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.

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Course Reference Number: 1545725

BA POLITICS AND DIGITAL CULTURES