Students
MMCC3031 – Forensic Media
2021 – Session 2, Special circumstances
Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update
The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.
This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.
Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Joseph Pugliese
Contact via Via email
10HA Room 255
Thursdays 2-5pm & by appointment via email request.
Jillian Kramer
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines the crucial roles that forensic media play in news media organisation. It offers a brief history of the emergence of forensic media, tracking the development of the police mug shot, forensic photography and the establishment of criminal archives. It then examines the broad spectrum of contemporary technologies that are shaping the field of forensic media, including: forensic typical body charts, biometrics and other border technologies, satellite imaging, CCTV, interoperable networks and megadata surveillance, drones, Twitter, Instagram, thermal imaging and emergent technologies. Forensic technologies have now become foundational for news organisations in order for them to illustrate and evidence their news stories - from mobile phone apps such as Metadata news feed to record and communicate secretive drone strikes to satellite imaging to evidence unfolding humanitarian crises. This unit places forensic media within news media contexts in order to address the ethical, geopolitical and social questions that the use of such media raises. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: research and evaluative the historical, political and technological forces that have been constitutive in the emergence of forensic media.
- ULO2: apply critical and analytical skills in the examination and evaluation of the key concepts and arguments that underpin the use of forensic media across different platforms and news organisations.
- ULO3: analyse local and international perspectives on forensic media.
- ULO4: apply critical argumentation skills in order to articulate and evidence different viewpoints on the social, geopolitical and ethical uses of forensic media.
- ULO5: communication the key ideas, issues and disciplinary debates on the use of forensic media across diverse platforms and contexts.
- ULO6: apply ethical and socially responsible skills that demonstrate the ability to analyse and reflect on the ethical implications generated by the uses of forensic media in their respective geopolitical contexts.
General Assessment Information
Final essay to be electronically submitted via Turnitin.
NB: In your final essay, do not write on the same topic that you used for your tutorial presentation.
Please note that the University and the Faculty of Arts have launched a new assessment policy effective as of 1 July 2021. This new policy particularly affects LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS.
The Faculty policy in relation to late assessment submissions is as follows:
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests, etc.
To be very clear:
- Unless you have applied for special consideration and had your application approved, for each day your assignment is late, 10 marks will be deducted. For example, if you submit your assignment 7 days late, 70 marks will be deducted, which means you will fail that assignment.
- If your assignment is more than 7 days late (including weekends), you will get 0 for your assignment.
These are serious penalties that will substantially alter your final grade and even determine whether you pass or fail this unit. Please make every effort to submit your assignment by the due date.
If you find you cannot submit your assignment on time, please apply for Special Consideration through AskMQ. Make sure you read Macquarie University's policy regarding Special Consideration requests before you apply: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Essay | 60% | No | 11.59 04/11/2021 |
| Tutorial Presentation | 40% | No | On day of scheduled presentation |
Final Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 54 hours
Due: 11.59 04/11/2021
Weighting: 60%
A formal essay that fulfils the conventions of the academic genre, including critical address of key issues, analytical argumentation and buttressing of all assertions with relevant evidence. Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- research and evaluative the historical, political and technological forces that have been constitutive in the emergence of forensic media.
- apply critical and analytical skills in the examination and evaluation of the key concepts and arguments that underpin the use of forensic media across different platforms and news organisations.
- analyse local and international perspectives on forensic media.
- apply critical argumentation skills in order to articulate and evidence different viewpoints on the social, geopolitical and ethical uses of forensic media.
- communication the key ideas, issues and disciplinary debates on the use of forensic media across diverse platforms and contexts.
- apply ethical and socially responsible skills that demonstrate the ability to analyse and reflect on the ethical implications generated by the uses of forensic media in their respective geopolitical contexts.
Tutorial Presentation
Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 44 hours
Due: On day of scheduled presentation
Weighting: 40%
A task that demonstrates a student’s disciplinary knowledge and skills through verbal communication to the class. Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- research and evaluative the historical, political and technological forces that have been constitutive in the emergence of forensic media.
- apply critical and analytical skills in the examination and evaluation of the key concepts and arguments that underpin the use of forensic media across different platforms and news organisations.
- analyse local and international perspectives on forensic media.
- apply critical argumentation skills in order to articulate and evidence different viewpoints on the social, geopolitical and ethical uses of forensic media.
- communication the key ideas, issues and disciplinary debates on the use of forensic media across diverse platforms and contexts.
- apply ethical and socially responsible skills that demonstrate the ability to analyse and reflect on the ethical implications generated by the uses of forensic media in their respective geopolitical contexts.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
All lectures and tutorials commence in Week 1 of semester.
An MMCC3031 Forensic Media Reader will be available online from the MQ Library. All required reading list titles
will be available via ‘Unit Readings’ in MultiSearch:http://multisearch.mq.edu.au/?course and via the Leganto link on the MMCC3031 iLearn site.
Unit Schedule
MMCC3031 FORENSIC MEDIA 2021
Lecture Schedule
Week One: 29 July: Introduction to Forensics and Forensic Media
Week Two: 5 August: Forensic Art and Illustration
Week Three: 12 August: Forensic Drone Media
Week Four: 19 August: Forensic CCTV
Week Five: 26 August: Crime Scenes: Using Forensic Evidence in Nonfiction Writing
Week Six: 2 September: Deathscapes 1: Indigenous Deaths in Custody
Week Seven: 9 September: Deathscapes 2: Asylum Seeker and Refugee Deaths at the Border
RECESS: 13 September to 26 September
Week Eight: 27 September to 3 October: READING WEEK: NO CLASSES
Week Nine: 7 October: Forensic Genetics and the ‘CSI Effect’
Week Ten: 14 October: Geopolitics of Forensic Geospatial Technologies
Week Eleven: 21 October: Forensic Uses of Social Media
Week Twelve: 28 October: Forensic Biometrics
Tutorial Schedule and Readings
Week One: 29 July: Introduction to Forensics and Forensic Media
Readings:
Simon A. Cole 2013, ‘Forensic Culture as Epistemic Culture: The Sociology of Forensic Science,’ Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological Biomedical Sciences, vol. 44, pp. 36-46.
Greg Siegel 2014, ‘Accidents and Forensics,’ in Greg Siegel, Forensic Media, Durham and London: Duke University Press, pp. 1-30.
Week Two: 5 August: Forensic Art and Illustration
Readings:
Joseph Pugliese 2005, ‘”Demonstrative Evidence”: A Genealogy of the Racial Iconography of Forensic Art and Illustration,’ Law and Critique, vol. 15, pp. 287-320.
Joseph Pugliese 2002, ‘”Super Visum Corporis”: Visuality, Race, Narrativity and the Body of Forensic Pathology,’ Law and Literature, vol. 14, pp. 376-396.
Shaila Dewan, “With George Floyd, a Raging Debate Over Bias in the Science of Death,” New York Times, April 14, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/us/george-floyd-death-forensic-science.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=US%20News.
Week Three: 12 August: Forensic Drone Media
Readings:
James H. Hamilton, ‘Drone Journalism as Visual Aggregation: Toward a Critical History,’ Media and Communications, vol. 8, no. 3 (2020): 64-74.
John V. Pavlik, ‘Drones, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Journalism: Mapping Their Role in Immersive News Content,’ Media and Communications, vol. 8, no. 3 (2020): 137-146.
Week Four: 19 August: Forensic CCTV
Readings:
Gary Edmond 2012, ‘Just Truth? Carefully Applying History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science to the Forensic Use of CCTV Images,’ Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, vol. 44, pp. 80-91.
Katherine Biber 2006, ‘The Spectre of Crime: Photography, Law and Ethics,’ Social Semiotics, vol. 16, pp. 133-149.
Week Five: 26 August: Crime Scenes: Using Forensic Evidence in Nonfiction Writing
Readings:
Katherine Biber, Peter Doyle and Kate Rossmanith 2014, ‘Perving at Crime Scenes: Authenticity, Ethics, Aesthetics: A Conversation’, Griffith Law Review, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 804-814.
Dominick Dunne 1984, 'Justice', Vanity Fair, March,
http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/archive/1984/03/dunne198403
Week Six: 2 September: Deathscapes 1: Indigenous Deaths in Custody
Readings: Read two or more cases on Indigenous deaths in custody from the cases available at: https://www.deathscapes.org/
Maria Giannacopoulos 2019, ‘Debtscapes: Australia’s Constitutional Monopoly,’ borderlands e-journal, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 1-16.
Week Seven: 9 September: Deathscapes 2: Asylum Seeker and Refugee Deaths at the Border
Readings: Read two or more cases on asylum seeker and refugee deaths at the border from the cases available at: https://www.deathscapes.org/
Perera, Suvendrini and Joseph Pugliese, ‘Repetitions of Violence: On David Dungay’s and Fazel Chegeni Nejad’s Inquests,’ Overland, 28 August 2018, https://overland.org.au/2018/08/repetitions-of-violence-the-inquests-for-david-dungay-and-fazel-chegeni-nejad/
RECESS: 13 September to 26 September
Week Eight: 27 September to 3 October: READING WEEK: NO CLASSES
Week Nine: 7 October: Forensic Genetics and the ‘CSI Effect’
Readings:
Barbara L. Ley, Natalie Jankowski and Paul R. Brewer 2012, ‘Investigating CSI: Portrayals of DNA Testing on a Forensic Crime Show and Their Potential Effect,’ Public Understanding of Science, vol. 21, pp. 51-67.
Simon A. Cole 2013, ‘A Surfeit of Science: The “CSI Effect” and the Media Appropriation of the Public Understanding of Science,’ Public Understanding of Science, vol. 0, pp. 1-17.
Week Ten: 14 October: Geopolitics of Forensic Geospatial Technologies
Readings:
Joseph Pugliese 2013, ‘Technologies of Extraterritorialisation, Statist Visuality and Irregular Migrants and Refugees,’ Griffith Law Review, vol. 22, pp. 571-597.
David Campbell 2007, ‘Geopolitics and Visuality: Sighting the Darfur Conflict,’ Political Geography, vol. 26, pp. 357-382.
Lisa Parks 2009, ‘Digging Into Google Earth: An Analysis of “Crisis in Darfur,”’ Geoforum, vol. 40, pp. 535-545.
Week Eleven: 21 October: Forensic Uses of Social Media
Readings:
Stuart Middleton, Lee Middleton and Stefano Modaferi 2014, ‘Real-Time Crisis Mapping of Natural Disasters Using Social Media,’ Social Intelligence and Technology, March/April, pp. 9-17.
Patrick Meier 2011, ‘New Information Technologies and Their Impact on the Humanitarian Sector,’ International Review of the Red Cross, vol. 93, pp. 1239-1263.
Mathew Ingram 2014, ‘Social Media has Changed the Way that War Reporting Works – and That’s a Good Thing,’ Gigacom, 28 July, https://gigaom.com/2014/07/28/social-media-has-changed-the-way-that-war-reporting-works-and-thats-a-good-thing/.
Week Twelve: 28 October: Forensic Biometrics
Readings:
Joseph Pugliese 2005, ‘In Silico Race and the Heteronomy of Biometric Proxies: Biometrics in the Context of Civilian Life, Border Security and Counter-Terrorism Laws,’ Australian Feminist Law Journal, vol. 23, pp. 1-32.
Kelly Gates 2006, ‘Identifying the 9/11 “Faces of Terror,”’ Cultural Studies, vol. 20, pp. 417-440.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Changes from Previous Offering
I have included a new lecture and readings on forensic drone media.
Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook