Module Information

Module Identifier
TFM0220
Module Title
Digital Culture
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Mrs Heledd Wyn Hardy
Semester
Distance Learning
Reading List
View example reading list on Aspire
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Essay 1  (3000 words)  50%
Semester Assessment Essay 2  (3000 words)  50%
Supplementary Assessment Essay 1  (3000 words)  50%
Supplementary Assessment Essay 2  (3000 words)  50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Locate the nature of technological developments within a broader socio-historical framework.

2. Evaluate and reflect upon the impact of digital technologies on socio-cultural activities and contexts.

3. Explain and analyse the interaction between digital cultures, digital technologies and contemporary media production.

Brief description

This module acknowledges digital culture has a substantial impact on contemporary media production, recognising digital culture as a culmination of broad social forces, historical developments, interactivity and creativity. Digital Culture investigates the changing socio-cultural landscape in the digital age by providing an overview of the ‘digital’ as a theoretical, philosophical and practical entity. Students involved or employed in any aspect of online media content will benefit from this module by gaining an in-depth understanding of how digital culture is used to influence and construct identity, democracy, entertainment and communication in contemporary media production.

Aims

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Content

In a series of lectures and tutorials the following topics and concepts will be explored throughout the module:

 Digi-context: Technologies in history
 Digi-context: Digital citizenship & democracy
 Digi-context: Branding & marketing
 Cyber-culture: Community & social networking
 Cyber-culture: Second lives & online gaming
 Cyber-culture: Hacking, subcultures & hacktivism
 Production & Consumption: Digital storytelling & art
 Production & Consumption: Digital cinema & music
 Production & Consumption: Digital TV, platforms & convergence

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Students will be given the opportunity to reflect upon basic statistical data (primarily presented in percentages), through encountering key research studies in the field.
Communication Students’ written communication skills will be developed (e.g. appropriate language and style, accuracy, precision and ability to be concise). Opportunities will be given, through interactive lecture-workshop sessions, for students to develop confidence in using their speaking and listening skills when communicating their ideas.
Improving own Learning and Performance Students will be able to develop their skills of information location and retrieval. Students will be given opportunities to develop effective note-taking skills. Students will develop their critical thinking skills. Through group and whole class discussion students will be given opportunities to develop an awareness of the opinions of others and reconsider initial ideas if necessary.
Information Technology Students will be given the opportunity to develop their authorial and note-taking skills when planning and preparing for the written assignments, and will be encouraged to develop their note-taking skills in lectures. Students will be given opportunities to develop their skills using electronic search and retrieval of sources both on the web and on the AU LIS. Students will develop their skills when referencing from the web and related sources, and will focus on the selection of materials appropriate to the task. E-mail and Blackboard will be the main forms of communication and information-sharing in this module, so students will be encouraged to actively engage in these processes.
Personal Development and Career planning Students will be given the opportunity to evaluate current knowledge and skills and set targets for self-improvement. Students will be encouraged to take increasing responsibility for managing their own learning. Students will be encouraged to build upon the knowledge gained from lectures through developing skills in self-study (supported by the general and specific reading lists and other resources distributed throughout the module).
Problem solving Students should be able to identify tensions and debates in the field, and will be encouraged to critically reflect. Students should gain experience in applying different approaches and materials to understand data and other patterns in research.
Research skills Students will be able to develop their skills of information location and retrieval. Students will be given opportunities to develop effective note-taking skills. Students will be encouraged to evaluate, interpret and reflect upon a variety of sources, and to make links to accommodate new ideas.
Subject Specific Skills Students will demonstrate an ability to: • Engage critically with major thinkers, debates and intellectual paradigms within the field. • Understand forms of communication, media and culture as they have emerged historically. • Examine such forms critically with appropriate reference to the social and cultural contexts. • Analyse closely, interpret and show the exercise of critical judgement in the understanding of these forms. • Develop substantive and detailed knowledge and understanding in one or more designated areas of the field. • Consider and evaluate their own work in a reflexive manner, with reference to debates and conventions. • Carry out various forms of research for essays, projects, creative productions or dissertations. • Evaluate and draw upon the range of sources and the conceptual frameworks. • Draw on the strengths and understand the limits of the major quantitative and/or qualitative research methods. More information available.
Team work n/a

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7