COMMUNICATION AND THE ARTS

CULTURE & COMMUNICATION

(ACC 1047)

UNIT GUIDE

UNIT NAME: Culture and Communication UNIT CODE: ACC 1047 YEAR: Fall Semester 2012 Lecturer: Mark Cot UNIT BLOG: http://acc1047blog.wordpress.com/ OFFICE: 7.306 STA CONTACT DETAILS: mark.cote@vu.edu.au PIGEON HOLE LOCATION: FP Building E, 2nd floor; STA Building 8, 2nd floor

We acknowledge the Elders, families and forebears of the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung tribes of the Kulin Nation who were the custodians of University land for many centuries. We acknowledge that the land on which we meet was the place of age old ceremonies of celebration, initiation and renewal and that the Kulin Nation people's living culture had and has a unique role in the life of this region.

CONTENTS Unit Calendar General information Assessments Guidelines for Grades Unit Outline

PAGE NUMBER 3 4 7 9 11

Please note that this unit guide includes Learning in the Workplace and Community as specified in the policy at: http://wcf.vu.edu.au/GovernancePolicy/PDF/POA081119000.PDF (pp5-6, Procedures) Where applicable, this unit of study outline includes a statement specifying the LiWC activities in that unit and its associated assessment tasks. the abbreviation LiWC (LiWC*) is used in this unit guide where applicable to denote a Learning in the Workplace and Community activity and/or assessment task

Unit Calendar
Date Lecture 1 February 27, 2012 Lecture 2 March 5, 2012 Lecture 3 March 12, 2012 Lecture 4 March 19, 2012 Lecture 5 March 26, 2012 Lecture 6 April 2, 2012 Lecture 7 April 16, 2012 Lecture 8 April 23, 2012 Lecture 9 April 30, 2012 Lecture 10, May 7, 2012 Lecture 11 May 14, 2012 Lecture 12 May 21, 2012 Topic What is communication and why study it? Towards an understanding of culture and its relationship with communication Communication in the era of globalization Consumer culture and communication Non-verbal communication (NVG) and communication Language, gender, and communication April 9: No Class School Break The language of clothes: fashion as communication Communication through story-telling: media and myth Dreams and nightmares, stories and symbols: Unconscious dimensions of communication Race, ethnicity and communication Groups, communication and social networks New media, digital culture and learning Hand out final exam (Assessment 3) Assessment 3: Hand out (due on May 28, 2012) Assessment 2: Due at the beginning of Class Assessment 1: Hand Out Assessment 1: Due at the beginning of lecture Notes

Assessment Due Dates Assessment 1: March 26, 2012 at the beginning of lecture Assessment 2: April 30, 2012 at the beginning of lecture Assessment 3: May 28, 2012 by 4pm in my pigeon hole. Assessment 4: To be determined in tutorial

GENERAL INFORMATION
Scholarly Writing An academic course of study requires students to read and rely on the research data, reasoned arguments and insights of others. Part of what it means to be a scholar is to engage with the work of others, either to extend or refine ones own ideas or to critique the work of others. Acceptable practice involves giving credit where credit is due, that is, acknowledging the work of others in your own work. Website The Faculty of Arts, Education and Human Development hosts a website which contains a number of documents which you will find useful. The address for this is: http://www.vu.edu.au/Faculties_and_TAFE/Arts_Education_and_Human_Development On this site you will find: How to select your units and work out your timetable this offers an overview of degree structures. The timetable here you will find the times of classes and the rooms where they are held. It is worth checking these details close to the start of semester in case anything has changed. Useful web addresses this shows you how to access your VU email address. You will find that the faculty, your lecturers and tutors will send you important emails during the semester and it is crucial that you are able to access this information. Assignment cover sheets you can download these sheets here. Students rights and responsibilities this is a list of what you can expect from studying at university, and what the university expects from you. Plagiarism there is a students guide to plagiarism, how to avoid it and the penalties involved in engaging in plagiarism or academic dishonesty available here. Essay guide online here you fill find a guide to the writing and presenting of essays. It contains an overview of structuring essays, of providing comprehensive references (Oxford, Harvard and APA) and of compiling a reference list. Much of this general information, and related information, is directly accessible through your FAEHD USB Tool Kit, and includes links to `First Class Talk where you can direct via internet connection any specific questions and receive an answer within a day. Student Feedback and Complaints VU students are encouraged to provide feedback to help us develop and improve our courses, teaching, facilities and services. If there is something you are not happy with and you have not succeeded in resolving the matter informally, you can make a formal complaint to the University, which will be investigated to find a resolution. You can seek assistance in making a complaint from a Student Advisor. For more information go to www.vu.edu.au/currentstudents/student-essentials/student-feedback-and-complaints or +61 3 9919 4360 (student adviser) or 9919 9562 (equity office)

Educating for Sustainability To reduce our carbon footprint, and in line with the VU Environment Management Plan http://intranet.vu.edu.au/facilities/Environment.asp, the Faculty has adopted Sustainability Guidelines for the Submission of Student Assessment. Please refer to these when considering printing material and submitting assessment. You can find the Guidelines & make suggestions for further actions http://intranet.vu.edu.au/AEHD/Teaching%20and%20Learning.asp Student Evaluation System SES - Data & Reports SES is the Student Evaluation Survey, the name for the combined student evaluation instruments. SES consists of the Student Evaluation of Unit (SEU) and Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET). Students are asked to complete the SEU and SET near the end of this unit of study. You can complete the SES online or on paper at the discretion of your Unit of Study Coordinator.

Other useful information: Teaching and Learning Support (http://tls.vu.edu.au/students.htm) there are a number of academic support services offered to students which include: Study skills workshops Transitional issues for students new to higher education FAQs - the questions often asked by students Skills needed for your studies e.g. oral presentations General study skills - What is a lecture? What is a tutorial? Exam techniques Writing academic essays Information specific to particular units or courses Postgraduate and international students Mentoring Plagiarism Handing in assignments All assignments are to be handed directly to your Tutor at the beginning of your Tutorial on the due date. Learning in the workplace and community is linked to these activities and assessment tasks outlined in the unit calendar and throughout the unit guide marked (*LiWC). Penalties for late assignments See Assessment. Special consideration If you feel that illness or personal difficulties have impaired your performance you may ask for Special Consideration which can facilitate late submission, and alternative arrangements for assignments. This can cover both emotional and physical difficulties. You need to contact a student counsellor to arrange this. Arrangements for Students with a Disability See the unit coordinator INTRODUCTION General overview of the unit: To explore different forms of communication and their cultural contexts

To investigate the ways in which communication works in everyday life To demonstrate how communication is connected to global culture and cross-cultural influences To encourage students to apply theories of communication to real life situations To promote reflection about the way communication is changing in contemporary Australia Format: Students attend a weekly 1.5 hour lecture followed by a 1.5 hour small group tutorial. The lecture will be the place where the topic of the week will be introduced, discussed and developed. The tutorial will provide you with a chance to discuss the weeks reading and to go into more detail on the weeks topic Class Materials: Instead of a set textbook, there is a Book of Readings for the course (a collection of photocopied material from various sources) available for purchase in the Bookshops on the Footscray campus. All students are required to have their own copy of the Book of Readings. You should have bought the Book of Readings by start of Week 2. Staff: Lecturer Unit Coordinator Mark Cot Mark Cote St. Albans/Footscray Park St. Albans/Footscray Park

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge of some key research areas related to the study of communication Enhancement of analytical thinking and conceptualization Development of reading and writing skills Ability to apply analytic ideas to real life situations Deeper appreciation of the role of communication in personal and social life Key Graduate Attributes: Higher Education programs at VU are intended to assist graduates both to find employment and to become lifelong learners. After completing this unit satisfactorily, you should have developed ability, to some degree, in the following generic attributes and skills, all of which are significant for graduates from VU: Solving basic and moderately complex problems selecting from a defined range of given analytical concepts and strategies locating, evaluating, managing and using a range of relevant information synthesizing moderately complex material and write comprehensible approximations in a given genre with guidance following moderately complex instructions and manage time with guidance communicating with peers on moderately complex topics in informal and more formal settings.

ASSESSMENTS ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT 1: Midterm Exam Grade value: 20% Handed out: Monday, March 19, 2012 in lecture Due: Monday, March 26, 2012 in lecture Assessment Criteria: Take home midterm Short and long answer based on Sessions 1-4 ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT 2: NVC Research Report A short research report discussing aspects of interpersonal and social communication found in everyday life (details to follow) Submission: Grade value: Word length: Due date: 25% 1500 words Monday, April 30, 2012 in lecture

Assessment Criteria: Assessment specifications will be handed out Concepts from class reading explained and applied Quality of field observations using examples Appropriateness of conclusion Formatting bibliography correctly Logical development of ideas Touches of creativity/originality in discussion Clarity in writing (expression, grammar, English usage) ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT 3: Final Exam Grade value: 35% Handed out: Monday, May 21, 2012 in lecture Due: Monday May 28, 2012 by 4pm in my pigeon hole Building 8, 2nd floor. Assessment Criteria: Take home final exam Short and long answer based on Sessions 5-12 ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT 4: Tutorial Participation & Presentation Grade value: 20% Break down for Tutorial Assessment: 10% Tutorial Presentation 5% Tutorial Attendance 5% Tutorial Participation

Presentation Assessment Criteria: 3 Marks - Organization of material, including a visual aid to assist you with your presentation (i.e. PowerPoint, Prezi, poster etc) 3 Marks - Covering the key arguments of the reading 4 Marks - Comprehension of the key arguments. To do well in this section students need to provide their own examples to explain the key concepts of the reading. Students need to try and move beyond what the author(s) have written and provide their own interpretation of the text(s). Students also need to prepare one or two questions for the class, based on the readings to start a deeper discussion of the material. Total: 10 Marks Presentation Length: 10 minutes Submission of Assessments: Hard copies only of assignments submitted. No electronic copies will be accepted. Students must attach an assignment cover sheet to work submitted. Always keep a back-up copy of all work submitted dont just leave it on your hard drive. If work goes missing, it is up to students to provide another copy. Extensions and Late Submissions Do not suffer in silence or give up hope if something goes wrong! An extension of time to complete your work is sometimes unavoidable, if medical or personal problems intervene. However, not planning your work schedule in relation to the requirements of other subjects or other activities (eg: paid work hours) will not be regarded as grounds for an extension. Requests for extensions should be submitted in writing before the due date on the form available from the Arts Faculty office at St A and Fts Pk. Normally, this will be accompanied by any appropriate documentation (e.g. medical certificates) and by evidence of assignment work in progress. Requests must be made prior to the due date. If you require an extension of more than two weeks, you will need to apply for Special Consideration on the (different) form available for that purpose. As you would expect, a more substantial case needs to be made and appropriate evidence has to be provided. Late submissions of work without extension may be accepted by tutors under very special circumstances. Penalties for late submission 10 percent a day will be deducted up to 5 days (including weekends). After this, the maximum grade you can achieve is 50%, regardless of the quality of the work (even if your assignment is worth an A, you will be given 50%). If the work is not of a pass standard you will be given a fail grade. No work will be accepted 14 days after the due date without permission for an extension. If work is submitted after 14 days with no prior consultation with appropriate staff, the work will get 0 No comments on any late work, and you will be provided with just a score mark. The golden rule: talk to me early about any specific difficulties you are having with deadlines.

Guidelines for Grades: High Distinction (80-100) A comprehensive and clearly developed response to all aspects of the assignment questions and/or tasks. Solid understanding of key concepts Confident and effective expression and use of appropriate writing conventions Distinction (70-79) A reasonably comprehensive and developed response to most all aspects of the assignment questions and/or tasks. Good grasp of key concepts Effective expression and use of appropriate writing conventions Credit (60-69) Attempts to cover the requirements of the assignment Some significant areas in need of further work Some problems in expression and development of ideas Addresses an acceptable number of areas required by the assignment but has significant problems in expression and/or development of ideas. Significant problems in development of ideas and in clarity of expression. Does not address the assignment adequately or demonstrate understanding of the concepts being discussed.

Pass (50-59) N1 (40-49)

Importance of the class reading each week

To study culture and communication at university level means that you need to understand how researchers and writers have investigated these areas of study over many years. Communication Studies, which is what you are embarking on in this subject is known as a field of research, an area of scholarship. Communication in all its forms has been studied in many ways and much information has been written and published about it. Part of any introduction to culture and communication requires that you familiarize yourself with what has been written and published. Hence, class reading each week is a very important part of this unit of study. You need to do the reading each week. This reading will form the basis for discussion in our small groups At times you will find the reading a challenge. But be patient and persistent. Like all fields of study, the study of communication has its own concepts, ideas and language, which you as a student need to learn. This takes time, effort and patience (just as you might learn the concepts and language of medicine or accounting in order to understand these discipline areas). At times the ideas may sound complicated, but with some translating and some illustrations, the ideas should come to make sense and even prove useful for understanding how you experience the world. This is where lectures and tutorials will help. Also, many times you will find examples in the reading that are not familiar to you - the name of a film, a tv show or an advertised product, etc. Dont get overly concerned with these details. Your reading should be looking for the more general arguments and ideas which you can apply to your own examples of communication. Finally, reading the work of writers in the field of communication is not the same as reading novels, magazines, comics, on-line chat. You need to read the material more than once - three and even four times - to get the full sense of ideas and argument. But dont be discouraged doing this - it is part of the learning process in this field of study.

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UNIT OUTLINE
Lecture 1 (Feb. 27): What is communication and why study it? Essential Reading: Wood, JT 2004, Communication in our lives, Communication Theories in Action: An introduction, 3rd edn, Thomson, Wadsworth, Belmont CA, pp. 1-29. Wood, JT 2006, Communication Mosaics: Introduction to Communication Inquiry Dimbleby, R & Burton, G 1998, More Than Words: An Introduction to Communication Jandt, FE 2004, An Introduction to Intercultural Communication: Identities in a Global Community

Further Reading:

Lecture 2 (March 5): Towards and understanding of culture and its relationship with communication Essential Reading: Williams, R. 1961. The Analysis of Culture. Cultural theory and popular culture, University of Sunderland, London, pp. 32-40. Alan OConnor and John Downing, Culture and Communication in Questioning the Media: A Critical Introduction, John Downing ,Ali Mohammadi, and Annabelle SrebernyMohammadi (eds.) pp. 3-22 John Hartley, Culture, Communication, Cultural and Media Studies: The Key Concepts, pp. 51-53

Lecture 3 (March 12): Communication in the era of globalization Essential Reading: Croteau, D & Hoynes, W 2000. Media in a changing global culture, Media/Society: Industries, Images and Audiences, 2nd edn, Pine Forge Press, Thousand Oaks CA, pp.329-354 & pp.357-362. Grossberg, L, Wartella, E, Whitney, C, & MacGregor, W 2006, Chapter 13: Media globalization, MediaMaking: Mass media in a popular culture, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks CA, pp. 421-455. Bowe, H & Mart, M, Communication across cultures: mutual understanding in a global world Scholte, JA, Globalization: a critical introduction

Further Reading:

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Lecture 4 (March 19): Consumer culture and communication Essential Reading: Ritzer, G & Jurgenson, N 2010, Production, consumption, prosumption: The nature in the age of the digital prosumer, Journal of consumer culture, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 13-36. Nilan, P, Julian, R & Germov, J 2007, Youth, leisure and globalisation, Australian Youth: Social and Cultural Issues, Pearson Education Australia ,Frenchs Forest NSW, pp.226243. Further Reading: Kenway, J & Bullen K, Consuming children: Education-entertainmentadvertising Harold C OurSpace: Resisting the corporate control of culture

Lecture 5 (March 26): Non-verbal communication (NVG) Essential Reading: Alder, G & Rodman, G 2003, Chapter 5: Nonverbal communication, Understanding human communication, 8th edition, Oxford University Press, New York, pp.150-162. Lewis, G & Slade C 2000, Nonverbal communication, Critical communication, Prentice Hall, New York, pp. 75-85. Argyle, M 1988, Gestures and other bodily movements, Bodily Communication. 2nd edition, Methuen, London, Selected sections. Further Reading: Wainwright, G. R. Body Language Beattie, G. Visible Thought: The New Psychology of Body Language [electronic resource]

Lecture 6 (April 2): Language, gender, and communication Essential Reading: Wood, J 2005, Chapter 5: Gendered verbal communication, Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender and Culture. 6th edition, Thomson Wadsworth, Belmont CA, pp. 104-127. Wood, J 2005, Chapter 6: Gendered Non-Verbal Communication, Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender and Culture. 6th edition, Thomson Wadsworth, Belmont CA, pp. 129-147. Storey J 2006, Chapter 7: Gender and Sexuality. Cultural Theory and Popular Culture. Pearson Education Limited, Edinburgh, pp. 140-145.

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Further Reading:

Stewart, LP, Cooper, P, Stewart, AD & Friendley, SA, Communication and Gender. 4th edn. Romaine, S, Communicating Gender Tannen, D, Talking 9 to 5: Women and Men in the Workplace

Lecture 7 (April 16): The language of clothes: fashion as communication Essential Reading: Barnard, M 2002, Chapter 2: Fashion, clothing, communication and culture, Routledge, New York, pp. 27-48. Lurie, A 1992, Clothing as a sign system, The Language of Clothes, Bloombury, London, pp. 3-12, 120-129 & 250-251. Further Reading: Hebdige, D. The Meaning of Style. Cultural Studies Reader. pp.41-53. Bruzzi, S & Church Gibson, P, eds. Fashion Cultures: Theories, Explorations and Analysis. Kawamura , Y. Fashion-ology: an introduction to fashion studies

Lecture 8 (April 23): Communication through story-telling: media and myth Essential Reading: Further Reading: Silverblatt, A, Ferry, J. & Finan, B. 1999. Chapter 4. Mythic analysis, Approaches to Media Literacy: A Handbook. M. E. Sharpe, New York, pp. 143-175. Sunderland. M. Using Storytelling as a Therapeutic Tool with Children Coates, J. Men Talk: Stories in the Making of Masculinities Mattingly, C. and Garro, L.C. eds. Narrative and the Cultural Construction of Illness and Healing

Lecture 9 (April 30): Dreams and nightmares, stories and symbols: unconscious dimensions of communication Essential Reading: Storey, J. 2006: Chapter 5: Psychoanalysis, Cultural Theory and Popular Culture An Introduction, Pearson Education Limited, Essex, pp. 71-85. Pick, D & Roper, L, eds. Dreams and History O'Connor, P, Dreams and the search for meaning

Further Reading:

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Lohmann RI, Ed. Dream Travellers: Sleep Experiences and Culture in the Western Pacific Lecture 10 (May 7): Race, Ethnicity and Communication Essential Reading: Hall S 1996, Minimal selves, Black British Cultural Studies: A reader, Chicago University Press, Chicago, pp. 114-119. Hall S 2004, The Spectacle of the Other, Representations: Cultural Representation and Signifying Practices. pp. 223-248. Further Reading: Storey J. 2008. Chapter 8: Race, Racism, and Representation. Cultural Theory and Popular Culture. Person Education Limited, Edingburgh.

Lecture 11 (May 14): Groups, communication and social networks Essential Reading: Rheingold, H, 2003, Chapter 2: Technologies of cooperation, Smart Mobs: The next social revolution, Perseus Books Groups, Cambridge, pp. 29-62. boyd, d. 2008. Why youth [love] social network sites: the role of networked publics in teenage social life. In D. Buckingham. Ed. Youth, Identity and Digital Media. Cambridge MA. MIT Press Further Reading: Galvin K. M., Bylund, C. L. and Brommel, B. J. Family communication: cohesion and change. Cotterell, J. Social networks in youth and adolescence. Gauntlett, D and Horsley, R. Eds. Web.Studies. 2nd edn. Jenkins, H. Fans, bloggers, and gamers: exploring participatory culture Tapscott. D. Growing Up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation

Lecture 12 (May 21): New media, digital culture and learning Essential Reading: Buckingham, D 2007, Digital Childhoods? New media and childrens culture, Beyond technology: Childrens learning in the age of digital culture, pp.75-98.

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