Media Convergence and Digital Culture (MECM90007)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 1
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This subject offers an advanced critical examination of the impact of digital technology on contemporary media industries and cultural practices. We will examine the way the internet and new modes of collaborative production in the Web 2.0 environment are driving the transformation of all media sectors, including cinema, music, video, gaming and television. Through case studies in these sectors and close analysis of contemporary internet practices, students will engage with key debates about digital culture, including the transformation of audiences, the emergence of new media platforms, the role of peer to peer networks and social media and the changing nature of power in the digital era.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Research and synthesize diverse sources of information about the process of media convergence in different settings.
  • Critically analyse the complex forces underlying technological changes in contemporary media industries.
  • Identify and reflect on political and ethical issues associated with the growing automation of media through machine learning and automated decision making.
  • Assess the social, cultural, economic and political impacts of the digitization of culture in the twenty-first century.

Generic skills

At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:

  • Identify and apply appropriate research methods and theoretical frameworks for independent study of media industries and digital culture
  • Demonstrate an advanced capacity for critical analysis of the theoretical and practical contexts relevant to this area
  • Demonstrate high-level capacity to communicate research relating to media industries and digital culture in written and oral presentations.

Last updated: 4 March 2025