2018/19 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
COMM2725 Digital Cultures
20 creditsClass Size: 48
Module manager: Dr Ioanna Ferra
Email: I.Ferra@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2018/19
Pre-requisite qualifications
This module is approved as a discovery module
Module summary
In this module you will explore the interactive leisure forms and practices of digital technologies such as gaming, modding, play, hactivism, and social media. We ask how seriously we should take these new forms of interactions, and the extent to which they are changing our understanding of culture today. You will explore a number of digital cultures and practices and consider a range of themes and issues that relate to them. We also address the contexts of these cultures, in order to develop your understanding of the political, economic, social and technical implications of what might seem like harmless and benign leisure activities.Objectives
This module explores the interactive leisure forms and practices that are based on, emerge from, and ask questions about, digital technologies. It explores a range of themes and issues that relate to digital cultures, as well as looking at a range of digital cultures and the technologies and social contexts that facilitate the emergence of these cultures. It develops students’ understanding of the political, economic, social and technical contexts from which digital cultures have emerged.Learning outcomes
1. Knowledge of a broad range of contemporary digital cultures, forms and practices
2. Familiarity with key debates & writers in the field of digital cultures;
3. The ability to carry out analysis of digital cultures from social, technological, cultural & political perspectives;
4. Investigate a critical issue around digital cultures and develop a small research project to explore it
Skills outcomes
Analysis of digital cultures
Syllabus
Issues addressed include, but are not limited to: the digital and: youth cultures; subcultures; indie cultures; FLOSS cultures; hacker/hactivist/activist cultures; video & computer game cultures; mobile & locative media cultures; fanzines, ezines & other amateur production cultures; modding & playbour; social media & social media marketing cultures; visual digital cultures; convergence cultures; technocultures; politics, knowledge, value; the political & social implications of digital cultures.
Teaching methods
Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
Lecture | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
Seminar | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
Private study hours | 180.00 | ||
Total Contact hours | 20.00 | ||
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 |
Private study
Students will:- read set reading & beyond (45 hours)
- carry out research into a range of digital cultures as identified each week (30 hours)
- carry out small scale / limited primary research (10 hours)
- prepare to present their findings in seminars (5 hours)
- research for and write their assessments (90 hours).
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Student progress will be monitored via participation in seminars, including informal presentations, and tutorials, as well as through mid-module assessmentMethods of assessment
Coursework
Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
Essay | 1 x 2,500 - 3000 words | 40.00 |
Case Study | Digital Culture 3000-3,500 words | 60.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 18/09/2018
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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