Onderzoekswerkgroep Media, prm

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/L_ZAPMKCW001

Course Objective

This is an extended variant of the Research Seminar Media, specifically for pre-master's students. Pre-master's students follow this course in period 4 together with bachelor's students, but then continue on to period 5, where they receive additional assignments and a separate grade. The learning goals are: Analytical skills: performing a close reading of scientific texts and applying theoretical concepts to practical academic work.Research skills: finding, identifying and analyzing historical and contemporary primary and secondary sources and preparing a research proposal.Presentation skills: preparing and presenting a convincing and clear presentation of a research project.Writing skills: writing a scientific article of 3000 words.Advanced analytical and writing skills: conducting semi-independent research on academic problems in the history, theory and analysis of audiovisual media and culture.Advanced writing skills: writing a scientific article of 4500 words that demonstrates research skills and specialist knowledge sufficient to follow a master's programme.

Course Content

In this research seminar, students investigate audiovisual media from the perspective of a specific theoretical concept. Students learn to view media culture from various comparative positions, examine the role of media technologies in various historical contexts, examine the connections between material practices, social dynamics and sensory histories, and explore and apply a range of concepts related to media, such as materiality and aesthetics. Students will develop a research proposal focused on a case study, present their project orally and write a 3,000-word paper.

Teaching Methods

Workgroup seminars with active participation and discussion. Research Seminar Media is a small workgroup seminar that gives you the opportunity to discuss the most recent topics in media studies in detail and receive focused feedback from the instructor and your peers. The course is centered around the close reading and critique of scientific texts, the analysis of case studies and the subsequent preparation and writing of a research paper. The instructor will provide brief introductions to the weekly topics, but the primary emphasis during contact hours is on direct and focused group debates. Your active participation is essential to the success of this class. The small group size leaves plenty of room for discussion, and you are encouraged and expected to ask questions and actively contribute to the class with ideas, texts, case studies and other relevant and interesting material. Regular attendance is mandatory. Attendance rules follow the Faculty Teaching and Examination Regulations. Unexcused or repeated absences will lead to expulsion from the course.

Method of Assessment

Assessment in period 4 takes place on the basis of a written seminar paper (70%; learning objectives 1, 2, 4), an oral presentation (10%; learning objectives 1, 2, 3) and other assignments (20%, learning objectives 1-2). Assessment in period 5 consists of 25% for an oral report and 75% for another academic paper of 4500 words. The total grade for the entire pre-master's course, as a single unit spanning periods 4 and 5, is then calculated from the grade for period 4 in a proportion of two thirds (6 EC) and the grade for period 5 in a proportion of one third (3 EC). All partial assignments have to be complete before the final assignment can be submitted. Students themselves are responsible for monitoring their learning process and checking that all assignments have been completed. The minimum passing grade for the seminar paper is 6,0. One resit is possible; the last grade is the final grade. Papers graded lower than 6,0 may be resat on the same topic. Students who wish to resit a paper graded 6,0 or higher must choose a new subject.

Literature

Required readings: Jancovic, Marek, Axel Volmar, and Alexandra Schneider, eds. Format Matters: Standards, Practices, and Politics in Media Cultures. Lüneburg: meson press, 2020. Additional required readings for pre-master's students:Stella Cottrell
- Critical Thinking Skills: Effective Analysis, Argument and ReflectionJane Stokes
- How to do Media and Cultural Studies

Target Audience

The course is mandatory for students following the pre-master's programme in Arts & Culture and preparing for the MA Comparative Arts and Media Studies.

Custom Course Registration

Pre-master's students at the Faculty of Humanities do not need to sign up for this course themselves. They will be enrolled by the Education Office.

Additional Information

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