Students

MMCC2016 – Media Representations: The Politics of Everyday Life

2026 – Session 1, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Joanne Faulkner
joanne.faulkner@mq.edu.au
Nicole Anderson
nicole.anderson@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit is about the big issues we encounter every day, and how our consumption and use of media shapes understandings of these issues, as well as understandings of ourselves and others. Our opinions and beliefs about climate and the environment, violence and death, sex and gender, children, animals, sport, religion, and AI, to name a few issues, are experienced and made sense of through media representations of them. Drawing on some key thinkers and concepts, this unit interrogates how media persuades and appeals to us, and whose interests media depictions represent. We will explore ethical approaches to interpreting and creating media, and how commonsense understandings of important issues may be analysed, debated, and challenged. How are our behaviours and decisions influenced by politicians and corporations, celebrities and microcelebrities, through their use of media? Who is included and who excluded by these media representations? And how might we engage in inclusive conversations and practices of representation in our own use of media, whether it be social media, gaming, blogging and podcasting, or news and ‘legacy’ media? 

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: analyse, identify, and communicate broad and specific arguments in contemporary media, cultural, political, and ethical debates.
  • ULO2: evaluate various media representations and/or media practices that contribute to cultural, social, and ethical values.
  • ULO3: apply theoretical arguments underpinning contemporary issues and debates to specific ethical decision making in everyday life.
  • ULO4: apply problem solving and enquiry based learning to contemporary social, cultural, and ethical issues and debates.
  • ULO5: reflect critically on the impact and consequence of one's arguments on others, while respecting the difference of counterarguments.

General Assessment Information

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 non-time sensitive assessment (incl. essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special Consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI assisted?
Panel Debate 40% No In class, weeks 10, 11, and 12 Individual No Observed
Position Paper 30% No 05/04/2026 Individual No Open AI
Self-Reflective Essay 30% No 07/06/2026 Individual No Open AI

Panel Debate

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: In class, weeks 10, 11, and 12
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Observed

Students will participate in a panel debate, which will focus on a topic specified in class. Students will submit a short video presentation articulating a position and then participate in a randomly assigned panel to discuss this in class. The panels will take place during class hours (tutorials) where possible. Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse, identify, and communicate broad and specific arguments in contemporary media, cultural, political, and ethical debates.
  • evaluate various media representations and/or media practices that contribute to cultural, social, and ethical values.
  • apply theoretical arguments underpinning contemporary issues and debates to specific ethical decision making in everyday life.
  • apply problem solving and enquiry based learning to contemporary social, cultural, and ethical issues and debates.
  • reflect critically on the impact and consequence of one's arguments on others, while respecting the difference of counterarguments.

Position Paper

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 38 hours
Due: 05/04/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open AI

Students will choose a class topic and write a position paper in the form of an essay that develops a particular argument. The essay needs to respond to a clearly identified case study / media representation of a particular topic and build on course reading, analysis of relations of power and individual research. Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse, identify, and communicate broad and specific arguments in contemporary media, cultural, political, and ethical debates.
  • evaluate various media representations and/or media practices that contribute to cultural, social, and ethical values.
  • apply theoretical arguments underpinning contemporary issues and debates to specific ethical decision making in everyday life.
  • apply problem solving and enquiry based learning to contemporary social, cultural, and ethical issues and debates.

Self-Reflective Essay

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 07/06/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open AI

Students will write a scholarly essay on the nuances and complications that arose when arguing for a specific position before an audience of peers. Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse, identify, and communicate broad and specific arguments in contemporary media, cultural, political, and ethical debates.
  • evaluate various media representations and/or media practices that contribute to cultural, social, and ethical values.
  • apply theoretical arguments underpinning contemporary issues and debates to specific ethical decision making in everyday life.
  • apply problem solving and enquiry based learning to contemporary social, cultural, and ethical issues and debates.
  • reflect critically on the impact and consequence of one's arguments on others, while respecting the difference of counterarguments.

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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Lectures will be delivered in person and streamed and recorded through Echo. They will include interactive components that are not supported online, so students are strongly encouraged to attend in person if possible. Tutorials are in person and online via Zoom, but will not be recorded.

All reading and audiovisual materials are available in the unit Leganto and/or the iLearn page.

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 connect.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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 the Service Connect Portal, 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.

Unit information based on version 2026.04 of the Handbook