Media Theory and Analysis

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/L_AABAMKD219

Course Objective

At the end of this course, students are expected to:Have acquired knowledge of major approaches to media analysis and corresponding methodologies;Have acquired knowledge of both ‘classical’ and contemporary media theories, and the ability to critically reflect on them;Be able to search and find relevant readings in scholarly journals and other academic literature;Be able to apply the gained analytical skills and theoretical insights in an academic essay;

Course Content

Media theory covers a broad field, in which diverse topics such as aesthetics, political economy and "prosumers" have their own place. In this course, students are introduced to the major ways in which media are understood and analyzed. We elaborate on the theoretical foundations of formalism, ideology critique and participatory culture. In close correspondence to these theoretical explorations, we focus on qualitative methods such as visual semiotics, discourse analysis, the analysis of historical sources and user-oriented approaches, although other aspects of media research are touched upon as well. These approaches and their underlying theories are explained in the lectures, while the viewings and seminars are used to train analytical and researching skills, and to write and present media-related research proposals that could form the basis for the BA thesis.

Teaching Methods

Lectures, seminars, and viewings. The lectures and seminars of this course are offered in English only. Students following the Dutch (i.e. bilingual) track can submit written assignments in either English or Dutch. Exceptions are multiple-choice tests, assignments with peer reviewers across language tracks, and group assignments (across language tracks)

Method of Assessment

This course comprises small written assigments (30%) and one written essay (70%). All components have to be passed with a sufficient grade. Connection between learning objectives and assessment: Learning objective 1: written assigments, essay Learning objective 2: written assignments, essay Learning objective 3: written assignments, essay Learning objective 4: essay End terms BA MKDA: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12

Literature

A list of mandatory class literature will be published on Canvas and/or the Study Manual.

Target Audience

This course is compulsory for all BA MKDA students in their second year who chose Media as their specialisation, and for pre-Masters Comparative Arts & Media Studies.

Additional Information

For attendance rules, see Teaching and Examination Regulations. Students should be aware that regular attendance is necessary to pass the course.

Entry Requirements

See the Onderwijs
- en Examenregeling (OER), c.q. Teaching and Exam Regulations (TER) for MKDA.