2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

COMM3250 Feminism, Identity and Media

20 creditsClass Size: 48

Module manager: Helen Thornham
Email: H.Thornham@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module introduces students to the main theoretical and critical arguments and approaches associated with feminist media studies, exploring both the history of the field as well as contemporary debates. Through a series of ten one-hour lectures, the module aims to cover the key media and communication areas and issues including gender and new media, gender and television, gender and advertising, gender and PR and gender and music. Topics covered include the politics of representation; feminist theories of narrative and identity; the role of women in the media industries and the relationship between feminism and new media.

Objectives

The module aims to provide students with an informed understanding of the main theoretical and critical debates associated with feminist media studies, covering both the history of the field as well as engaging with contemporary debates and issues. Students will explore questions of identity from a feminist perspective, looking at range of media including television, film, advertising, music and new media. The module will enable students to evaluate and contribute to ongoing public and theoretical debates related to feminism and the media as well as assess the strengths and limitations of the main methodologies of the field.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the key feminist theories and critical debates relating to gender and its relationship to both traditional and new media
- analyse and evaluate different theories, definitions and practices of gender and feminism
- relate theories of identity to feminist media analysis
- design, develop, and/or evaluate particular forms or applications of gender construction/representation
- demonstrate familiarity with the key texts from the field of feminist media studies
- critically assess the respective insights and limitations of different conceptual frameworks for feminist media analysis

Syllabus

Lectures will address the history of the field of feminist media studies, as well as contemporary debates. Lectures will draw on the specialisms of staff within the department, such as gender and new media, gender and self-representation, feminist film and television theory. Lecture topics will include representational politics; theories of narrative and identity; the role of women in media industries and the relationship between feminism, women and new media.
Seminars will consist of activities and discussions developed to ensure students’ understanding of lecture material and assigned readings.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.50	16.50
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Private study hours			172.50
Total Contact hours			27.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students will use private study time for independent studying, seminar preparation, reading, researching and preparing for the assessments.
Weekly reading/seminar preparation: 33 hours
Research and planning for assessments: 145 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Attendance will be monitored at lectures and seminars. Office hours will be available for students to come and discuss the module and assessment (e.g. essay plans) throughout the semester. Progress will also be monitored by performance in seminars and assessment preparation material.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation	1 x 3,500 words	60.00
Source Analysis	An analysis of a media artefact informed by a feminist perspective (equivalent of a 1500 - 2000 word essay)	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

To resit the essay component please select an alternative question from the module handbook. For the Source analysis a resubmission of the outlines task will be requested.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 04/06/2024 10:40:42

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