CCB106 Popular Culture


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Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Unit code:CCB106
Credit points:12
Equivalent:CWB112
Coordinator:David Richard | david.richard@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

The products, practices, and pleasures of popular culture are frequently dismissed as being superficial, unserious, or unimportant. This unit, however, celebrates popular culture as a contested and shifting phenomenon that permeates everyday life. Far from mundane, popular culture is charged with a political valence that reflects—and shapes—our lives. This unit further develops conceptual framework(s) and analytic tools to critically evaluate the texts, artefacts, and/or practices of popular culture. In completing this unit, students will understand how the communication industries produce and circulate popular culture, and will be able to critique the politics of pleasure that frame the consumption of mass culture.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Understand the key issues and debates that inform the production, circulation, and consumption of popular culture.
  2. Effectively and convincingly analyse the texts, mediums, and/or practices of popular culture to reveal the political, social, and/or economic significance of popular culture
  3. Demonstrate effective critical research skills and develop evidence-based arguments
  4. Demonstrate effective and persuasive communication skills

Content

This unit may:

  • Contrast and debate core disciplinary, theoretical, and analytic approaches to understanding popular culture
  • Consider how taste cultures are formed and negotiated through the production and consumption of popular culture
  • Analyse a variety of texts, mediums, and practices of popular culture (such as film, television, digital cultural practices, celebrities, and branded products)
  • Evaluate the porous relationship between entertainment, media, and promotional industries.

Learning Approaches

You will learn through lectures and tutorials. Tutorials will give you the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of foundational knowledges and conceptual/theoretical approaches in discussions and other collaborative activities. You are required to prepare for tutorials by engaging with the lecture content and completing any prescribed reading/materials before class.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive feedback on your progress across learning activities and assessment items. You will be given regular feedback on your developing knowledge by both academics and peers in tutorial discussions and activities; you will receive written feedback on your A2 assignment that will directly relate to and inform your A3 assignment.

Assessment

Overview

There are three assessment items in this unit. Your developing professional identity will be evaluated in the A1, while the A2 will sharpen your analytic skills. The skills you develop in the A2 assignment will be helpful to complete the A3 task.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue

This task requires you to demonstrate your developing critical communication skills and capacity for professional dialogue through a series of formal peer group exercises within your tutorial sessions.

Exercises will relate to unit content, readings and key concepts and expectations for how you contribute will be clearly outlined in the assessment criteria sheet.

Weight: 10
Length: This activity is conducted within the normal tutorial duration.
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Progressive across the semester
Designated assessment weeks will be communicated by the unit coordinator at the start of the unit.
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 4

Assessment: Popular Culture Analysis

You will apply your skills in understanding and evaluating the texts and/or practices of popular culture through the analysis of a case study. You will draw on unit materials and independent desk research to complete the assessment.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 40
Length: 1500 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 6
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4

Assessment: Research Essay

You will complete a scholarly research essay that answers a key issue or debate in understanding popular culture. You will draw on unit materials, independent research, and the primary analysis of a popular culture medium, text, or practice. Further details will be made available on the unit’s Canvas site.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 50
Length: 2500 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 13
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

All students are requested to visit and review the Health and Safety information on the HiQ web pages.

You will be advised if a unit requires additional mandatory health and safety inductions.  

Resources

Students will be given online access to all essential unit materials via the unit's canvas site. This includes essential readings.

Resource Materials

Other

To enable your full participation in units that utilise virtual learning environments, for example participating in online activities and engaging with online learning materials, you will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection, webcam, headset and microphone, as well as a learning environment where you are able to fully participate undisturbed when required. 

Risk Assessment Statement

For risks associated with using campus buildings or QUT facilities, refer to the HiQ Health and Safety information.

You are advised to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.

Please be advised that this unit may include the presentation and scholarly analysis of material and subject matters that may be considered confronting, such as certain representations of race, class, gender and violence. QUT counselling support is available should you feel the need to avail yourself of these services.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

KC40 Bachelor of Communication

  1. Demonstrate capacity to understand and critique the historical, cultural, technological, and regulatory implications of digital media, entertainment, communication, and news industries.
    Relates to: ULO1, Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue, Popular Culture Analysis, Research Essay
  2. Demonstrate capacity to engage with and apply specialised knowledge of one or more areas of digital media, entertainment, communication, and news industries, including the relationship between disciplinary theory, research methodologies, and professional practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue, Popular Culture Analysis, Research Essay
  3. Demonstrate capacity to engage with and apply diverse ways of knowing the world in local and global contexts, including Indigenous Knowledge and Perspectives.
    Relates to: ULO1, Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue, Popular Culture Analysis, Research Essay
  4. Demonstrate effective communication skills with the ability to adapt strategies across different media and professional settings and for diverse audiences.
    Relates to: ULO4, Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue, Popular Culture Analysis, Research Essay
  5. Critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise complex forms of information and evidence to inform decision-making, problem solving and argumentation.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue, Popular Culture Analysis, Research Essay
  6. Critically interrogate the economic and cultural power of digital media, communication, entertainment, and news to make ethical, sustainable, and inclusive contributions to diverse workplaces, communities, and audiences.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue, Popular Culture Analysis, Research Essay
  7. Demonstrate critical digital literacy skills across diverse platforms and technologies, including familiarity with analytic tools to effectively and responsibly interpret data in the media, communication, and news industries.
    Relates to: ULO2, Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue, Popular Culture Analysis, Research Essay
  8. Create authentic and professional-quality communication outputs that reflect an application of academic content, critical thinking skills, and social awareness.
    Relates to: ULO4, Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue, Popular Culture Analysis, Research Essay