2018/19 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

DESN5121M Social Aesthetics

15 creditsClass Size: 40

Module manager: Mr Mike Sheedy
Email: m.t.sheedy@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module encourages students to work practically and effectively in project planning by making specific references to wider cultural and theoretical contexts, which both inform and validate the project aims. Identifying and applying relevant theory to the process of defining the context and content of an informed communication project will ensure that relevance and academic rigour are present when addressing social issues. This process will involve a broad investigation into the field of study and the subsequent development of project focus, identifying a specific social need.

Objectives

To broaden theoretical knowledge and recognize the importance of scientific research in providing essential knowledge and methodologies essential for the identification and analysis of problems in order to be able to construct a creative solution. This will require a fundamental understanding of the principle theories relevant to popular culture, society and media and engagement in a range of critical debates surrounding the production and consumption of media products and popular culture. This module will examine how social critique and media culture
interact and cross-inform each other with a specific focus on how social and cultural issues concerning the integration of media technologies impact on everyday life. Opportunities to critically approach and analyse key debates surrounding the ideas, practices and institutions of cultural heritage and memory and develop a critical understanding of processes of mediation and remediation in the narrative construction of personal and collective identities.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of/ability to:
• Understand and apply principal theories from other disciplines in order to develop a distinctive “theoretical tool“ for the communication designer in the field of aesthetics, theory of perception, cultural studies, media philosophy and semiotics.
• Develop a high level of critical thinking and reflection in order to make informed judgements regarding quality and relevance of creative proposals against predetermined criteria.
• Develop advanced understanding of perception, context and meaning within existing and future social structures and media channels.
• Conduct objective analysis and interpretation of opinions and responses from a variety of audiences and in a variety of formats.
• Understand user-centred and interactive models in order to achieve strategic objectives of a communication design project.
• Understand and apply primary theories relevant to human behaviour and perception to a communication design project

Skills outcomes
Demonstrate the ability to effectively apply a broad range of relevant theories and subject knowledge in articulating the development and generation of a communication brief and project aims.
Ability to understand the broader cultural context of how communication is perceived and absorbed within specific social constructs.
Produce an appropriate project plan informed by relevant theories and research data.

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to the module
Week 2: Social Aesthetics
Week 3: Media and Society
Week 4: Semiotics; perception, context and meaning
Week 5: Anthropology, ethnography and human interaction
Week 6: Encoding and decoding
Week 7: User centred and interactive models
Week 8: Identifying and applying theory to a field of study
Week 9: Project Focus
Week 10: Research Methodology
Week 11: Project Planning

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
presentation	2	4.00	8.00
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Private study hours			120.00
Total Contact hours			30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

This module will require significant private study in order to reinforce and extend understanding following the lecture and seminar programme. Whilst students will be introduced to the principle relevant theories, students will be required to conduct extensive reading and background research in order to expand and develop an individual body of knowledge applicable to their own unique design interests.
Two project presentation sessions have been timetabled which facilitates the development of project planning.
• Library search, selection of brief: 20 hours
• Identification and critical review of background literature, research methods and other sources: 20 hours
• Preparation of project plan: 20 hours
• Research: 60 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Interim project planning presentations are scheduled at key strategic points within the module i.e at 4 and 8 weeks. The purpose of these sessions is to provide both formative and diagnostic feedback in order that students can reflect and review their current work and consider amendment or review based on the feedback provided. These sessions are viewed as essential for the development of relevant and informed project plans, presentation methods, critical thinking, advocacy skills, judgement and leadership qualities.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	1250-1500 word written brief and projext planning report	40.00
Literature Review	1250-1500 word literature review	40.00
Reflective log	Accurate recording and documentation of the research and projext planning proposal (approximate word length 2000-3000 words, though there will be no outer limit)	20.00
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 website

Last updated: 24/01/2019

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