Course syllabus autumn 2015
Course syllabus autumn 2015
Title
Media, Globalization and Development
Swedish title
Media, Globalization and Development
Course code
KK620C
Credits
15 credits
Grading scale
UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2015-05-27
Syllabus valid from
2015-08-31
Entry requirements
1. Degree of Bachelor or equivalent.
2. The equivalent of English course B in Swedish secondary school.
Level
Advanced level
Main field
Communication for Development
Progression level
A1N
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
Compulsory course for the Master Degree in Communication for Development.
Course contents
This course establishes the global perspective and supplies the general theoretical outlines, related to the four concepts Globalization, Communication, Culture, and Development. It is divided in two modules, ‘Globalization and Communication’ (7.5 credits) and ‘Culture and Development’ (7.5 credits).
The first module gives a broad introduction to globalization debates in relation to questions of communication, media and social change, stressing the cultural rather than political and economic aspects. The sequel module gives a similar introduction to Development theory and the field of international development cooperation, with emphasis on culture’s role in development studies and development cooperation. Special attention is further paid to the journalistic and literary depiction of the emerging globalized world, and especially the global South.
Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
After completing the course, the student shall demonstrate:
- a broad understanding of globalization processes with specific attention to communication, culture and media in the context of global and local change.
- a deepened understanding of the relationship between culture, development and identity, with special regard to identity politics,
- a broad knowledge of current trends in the global media industry, with focus on transnational communications and public spheres, and
- a knowledge of postcolonial and development theories with an emphasis on the tension between development aid, poverty reduction and policies for development and social change.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
After completing the course, the student shall demonstrate:
- the ability to critically assess the role of media, culture and communication in the globalization process.,
- the ability to analyze media and cultural texts or communication products and their role in, or connection to, ideas and processes of development,
- the capacity to work in a group with participants from different cultural backgrounds, to interact online, and accordingly to critically reflect upon the different learning activities of the programme and his/her own background and position.
CRITICAL SKILLS AND APPROACH
After completing the course, the student shall demonstrate:
- the ability to critically reflect upon the relationship between globalization, culture, communication and development,
- that he/she is equipped to critically analyse development theories in a historical perspective,
- the ability to critically assess relations between development, colonialism, modernization and globalization,
- an engagement in critical discussion on the value and role of globalization for an analysis of culture.
Learning activities
The course is given as distance learning, with two week-end seminars at Malmö University or other venue, a range of online lectures, as well as online guidance. A collaborative pedagogy is applied, based on the productive use of group dynamics through peer reviewing and other forms of interactive communication on the Internet. The seminars at Malmö University (or other venue) are compulsory, either by participation online or physically at the venue/in person where the seminar takes place. The seminars are broadcast via streaming video and can be followed online by those international students who are not able to attend in person.
Assessment
Assessment is carried out in three different assignments.
The first module (7.5 credits) is examined through a combination of collaborative group work, individual paper writing, and peer review. The second module (7.5 credits) is examined through an individually written assignment and a home-exam.
Course literature and other study material
Module 1. Globalization and Communication:
Castells, Manuel (2009). Communication Power. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Selected chapters: Introduction + Chapter 5 Reprogramming Communication Networks. Social Movements, Insurgent Politics and the New Public Space
Couldry, Nick (2012). Media, Society, World. London: Polity Press
Eriksen, Thomas Hylland (2014). Globalization: The Key Concepts, 2nd and Revised Edition. New York: Bloomsbury. (2007 edition available as Ebook)
Hemer, Oscar and Tufte, Thomas (eds.) (2005). Media and Glocal Change: Rethinking Communication for Development. Buenos Aires & Göteborg: CLACSO/Nordicom.
http://bibliotecavirtual.clacso.org.ar/ar/libros/edicion/media/media.html
Hemer, Oscar and Thomas Tufte (2012). ComDev in the Mediatized World. Glocal Times, issue 16-17 / Nordicom Review, nr. 33
http://ojs.ub.gu.se/ojs/index.php/gt/article/view/1303
Hopper, Paul (2007). Understanding Cultural Globalization. London: Polity Press.
*Howard, Philip N. (2013). Castells and the Media: Theory and Media. London: Wiley.
Module 2. Culture and Development:
*Arce, Alberto and Long, Norman (eds.) (2000): Anthropology, Development, and Modernities: Exploring Discourses, Counter-tendencies, and Violence. London: Routledge
*Clammer, John (2012). Culture, Development and Social Theory: Towards an Integrated Social Development. London: Zed.
Crewe, Emma and Axelby, Richard (2013): Anthropology and Development: Culture, Morality and Politics in a Globalised World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hemer, Oscar (2012). Fiction and Truth in Transition: Writing the present past in South Africa and Argentina. Berlin: Lit Verlag
*McEwan, Cheryl (2009). Postcolonialism and Development. London: Routledge.
*Nederveen Pieterse, Jan (2009). Development Theories: deconstructions / reconstructions. (2nd edition). London: Sage
*Scott, Martin (2014). Media and Development. London: Zed Books Selected chapters: Introduction + Chapter 6 Media Coverage of the Global South: Who Cares?
*Slater, Don (2014). New Media, Globalization and Development. Oxford: Polity.
*Smirl, Lisa (2015). Spaces of Aid: How cars, compounds and hotels shape humanitarianism. London: Zed.
*These books are available as ebooks through the Malmö University library system
Course evaluation
An anonymous electronic course evaluation is made immediately after the end of the course. Oral evaluations of the first module and the two seminars are made as part of the seminars. The electronic evaluation is accessible for all students.
Additional information
Access to computer with Internet connection (broadband) is required.