Students

MMCC1000 – Visual Media and Communications

2024 – Session 1, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Co-convenor
Jillian Kramer
jillian.kramer@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
10 HA 191 F
Please see ilearn
Co-convenor
Rachael Gunn
rachael.gunn@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Please see ilearn
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit brings together theories, practices and texts that explore the relationship between visual media and the way people act in their everyday lives. This unit introduces critical concepts to analyse visual texts, technologies, and communication practices. From film, television, photography and advertising, to social media applications and sites, we look at the ways media and communication shape (and are shaped by) our social worlds, our bodies and identities, changing technologies and online communities. We focus on visual communication and normalising practices, contemporary politics, events, embodiment, digital cultures, globalisation and social networking. Within these frameworks, we explore the (re)production, performance and use of identity and subjectivity, and canvass notions of genre, discourse, power and textuality through the application and testing of methods of visual analysis. Finally, we place visual communication within the personal, the sensory and the everyday through the practical exploration of social media use.

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: recognise and define different areas of visual culture studies and communication theory, and apply them through a variety of activities.
  • ULO2: explain the politicised aspects of visual media and concepts in terms of both production and content (as discourses, texts, lived realities).
  • ULO3: critically review, analyse and synthesise findings.
  • ULO4: present work in a manner conforming to accepted academic standards in both written and spoken form.
  • ULO5: appraise issues and debates specific to cultural and social communication practices and their associated philosophical and political underpinnings.

General Assessment Information

Late Penalty:

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.

Special Consideration:

If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties when assessment tasks are due, you can consider applying for Special Consideration. Please read the information available here and, if you are eligible, apply via ask.mq.edu.au.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Quiz 25% No 10/03/24 11:55pm, 31/03/24 11:55pm
Presentation 35% No 08/04/24 11:55pm
Visual Analysis 40% No 23/05/24 11:55pm

Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 22.5 hours
Due: 10/03/24 11:55pm, 31/03/24 11:55pm
Weighting: 25%

 

Students will complete quizzes throughout the semester based on the unit readings and lectures. Please see iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • recognise and define different areas of visual culture studies and communication theory, and apply them through a variety of activities.
  • explain the politicised aspects of visual media and concepts in terms of both production and content (as discourses, texts, lived realities).
  • appraise issues and debates specific to cultural and social communication practices and their associated philosophical and political underpinnings.

Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 31.5 hours
Due: 08/04/24 11:55pm
Weighting: 35%

 

Students are required to develop a short video oral presentation and transcript for submission. Please see iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • recognise and define different areas of visual culture studies and communication theory, and apply them through a variety of activities.
  • explain the politicised aspects of visual media and concepts in terms of both production and content (as discourses, texts, lived realities).
  • critically review, analyse and synthesise findings.
  • present work in a manner conforming to accepted academic standards in both written and spoken form.

Visual Analysis

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 36 hours
Due: 23/05/24 11:55pm
Weighting: 40%

 

Students will draw on the course material and their own research to develop a written visual analysis. Please see iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • recognise and define different areas of visual culture studies and communication theory, and apply them through a variety of activities.
  • explain the politicised aspects of visual media and concepts in terms of both production and content (as discourses, texts, lived realities).
  • critically review, analyse and synthesise findings.
  • present work in a manner conforming to accepted academic standards in both written and spoken form.
  • appraise issues and debates specific to cultural and social communication practices and their associated philosophical and political underpinnings.

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

Unit Delivery:

  • Lectures: lectures will take place in person and be streamed via echo. Please check ilearn for the schedule. Lectures start in week one.
  • Tutorials: tutorials will be offered both in-person and via zoom. It is strongly recommended that students attend all tutorials in order to engage with unit concepts, discuss upcoming assessments and share questions. Tutorials start in week one.

Unit Resources:

  • Readings: students are required to complete the weekly readings. The readings will be available via Leganto links in ilearn.
  • Assessments: students will be required to complete assessments using their own equipment (including phones and/or computers).

Unit Schedule

Please see ilearn for the unit schedule. 

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:

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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 since First Published

Date Description
30/01/2024 This guide has been modified to extend the due dates for Quiz One and Two for an additional day.

Unit information based on version 2024.02 of the Handbook