Course content

Drawing on theories of media aesthetics and established approaches to media analysis, this course explores the aesthetic, narrative, and political potential of a range of popular media forms within contemporary culture. Having learned about similarities and differences between media as aesthetic forms as well as about helpful terms and concepts for their analysis, the course also provides you with the opportunity to pursue case study-oriented research on a media form of your choosing.

This course will help you develop a solid methodological foundation for MV2200 Images in Society: Bachelor's Thesis in Media Studies.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

Upon successful completion of this course students will have:

• knowledge about the similarities and differences between media as aesthetic forms.
• broad knowledge about a range of theories of media aesthetics.
• in-depth knowledge about different approaches to the aesthetic analysis of media.

Skills

Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

• apply appropriate terms and concepts in order to analyze different media as aesthetic forms.
• critically and independently evaluate a range of theoretical arguments about media as aesthetic forms.
• independently pursue case study-oriented research that demonstrates the ability to gather, summarize, and put into dialogue material from different sources.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and seminars.

This course may be taught in Norwegian and English, pending staff availability.

The compulsory assignments are issued by the course convenor at the start of term and must be completed to receive a final assessment.

Students are required to use Blackboard actively for updates and information.

Compulsory assignments

• Group presentation
• Individual written assignment

Recommended previous knowledge

MV1100 Introduction to Media Studies.

Required previous knowledge

None.

Course materials

A list of set readings of approx. 1200 pages is provided at the start of term.

Students are expected to read 1 foundational text each week, and 3 additional readings are recommended each week throughout the semester.