Programme Description
This two-week interdisciplinary course addresses the intersection of gender and media through developing a critical understanding of how ‘gender’ helps shape media texts and institutions and how media (understood to include all forms and genres of communication) structure our understandings of gender. The term ‘gender’ refers to constructed ideologies of femininity and masculinity in the public sphere as well as to the intersection of gender with other social identities – including cultural categories such as religion, race, class, and sexuality. Focusing on studies and examples from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, we will examine the ways in which gender is represented, reproduced, targeted and normalized in a variety of media outlets, and address how textual, visual and aural images mediate, challenge and also reproduce gender ideologies and gender identities that intersect with other social identities, class and race. At the same time, we will address how the social construction of gender is continuously challenged in different media genres and forms and by whom, thus acknowledging individual and collective agency and lived experiences in different socio-historical contexts.
For more information, please see the course handbook:
Media and Gender: Representations, Subjectivities and Power (pdf; 119kb)
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, a student should be able to demonstrate the ability to:
- Understand key theories and methods of studying media, power, and social identities
- Examine the role of media in constructing gender and its intersections with race, ethnicity, class, and sexuality
- Address and recognize the persistence of gendered media industries
- Address the role of new media technologies in challenging and/or reaffirming traditional constructs of gender
Credit
This course is worth 15 credits in the UK system. 15 credits is equivalent to 4 credits in the US system and 7.5 ECTS in the European system. If you intend to transfer credit to your home institution, please check the requirements with them before you apply. We will be happy to assist you in any way we can, however please be aware that the decision to transfer credit rests with your home institution.
Current SOAS students selecting this course as an open option module will not be charged the tuition-fee. For further information and assistance, please contact summerschool@soas.ac.uk.
Enquiries
For more information, please fill out our enquiries form.
Start of programme: 20 July – 31 July 2020
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
Entry requirements
- You will have completed one year of undergraduate study at the time of joining the Academic Summer School. Professional experience can be acknowledged as equivalent to a university qualification.
- duration:
- 2 weeks
Tuition Fees
£1,200
Programme Schedule
A full programme schedule and updated handbook are being developed and will be available soon.
Sample Reading list:
- Feminist Principles of the Internet (2016). Available at: https://feministinternet.org/en/download
- Hall, Stuart (1997). The Work of Representation. In Stuart Hall, ed.,. Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices. London: Sage.
- Haraway, Donna (1988). Situated Knowledges: The Science Question in Feminism and the Privilege of Partial Perspective. Feminist Studies, 14(3), 575–599
hooks, bell (1992). The Oppositional Gaze: Black Female Spectators. In Black Looks: Race and Representation. Boston: South End Press. pp. 115-131
- Mulvey, Laura (1975). Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. Screen, 16(3), pp. 6–18
- Rush, Peter and Elander, Maria (2018). Working through the cinematography of international criminal justice: procedures of law and images of atrocity. London Review of International Law, 6(1), 17–43.
- Tan, Jia (2017). Digital Masquerading: Feminist Media Activism in China. Crime, Media, Culture, 13(2), 171–186.
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department. Please read the important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.
Teaching & Learning
The programme is delivered online through a Virtual Learning Environment (intranet page) that sets out the readings for each week, the guiding questions for discussion and hosts the discussion boards. This page provides a platform to share other material such as videos, internet links, quizzes and feedback on assignments. Students also have access to a vast amount of academic and policy-related material through the SOAS library.
Time Commitment
Courses are taught intensively over two weeks between Monday - Friday. Students should expect to spend between 4-6 hours per day completing course related activities including video lectures, live tutorials, readings, forum discussion and assignments. Students studying for credit will submit a 2000-2500 word written assignment one week after the course finishes.
Assessment
Each course is assessed by two online assessments (‘e-tivities’*) comprising of 30%, the remaining 70% is formed of a 2,500 word essay. The e-tivities provide formative and summative feedback to students as a means of monitoring their progress and encouraging areas in which they can improve. E-tivities will vary in format but will include article reviews, quizzes, blog posts, essay plans and more. On successful completion of the assessments, students will receive a transcript confirming the credit awarded. Students that do not require credit are strongly encouraged to take part in the e-tivities, but are not required to complete the assessments.
* An 'e-tivity' is a framework for online, active and interactive learning following a format that states clearly to the students its 'Purpose'; the 'Task' at hand; the contribution or 'Response' type; and the 'Outcome' (Salmon, G. (2002) E-tivities: The Key to Active Online Learning, New York and London: Routledge Falmer.)
Requirements
Students will require regular access to a computer with a good internet connection, and the following applications installed:
- A word processor that accepts Microsoft Word formats (.doc and .docx)
- A PDF reader
Navigating Time Zones
Courses have been designed with varying time zones in mind. All lectures will be recorded for access at any time and the discussion forum is open to posts from students at all times. The limited 'live' sessions will be scheduled between 13:00 - 15:00 BST and will be recorded for any students unable to attend.
Accreditation
Students that successfully complete all course assessments will be awarded 15 SOAS credits. This is normally equivalent to 7.5 ECTS or 4 US credits. If you intend to transfer credit to your home institution, please check the requirements with them before you apply.
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Tuition Fees
£1,200
Application fee
A one-off, non-refundable application fee of £40 will be charged to cover administration costs. Please visit the SOAS online store to make your application fee payment.
Discounts
10% discount if you apply by 31st March
10% discount if you apply for two courses over 6 weeks
15% discount for SOAS alumni (including Academic Summer School alumni)
20% discount for our partner institutions
Other discounts are available for groups. Please contact us for more information.
Accommodation
For more information, please see our accommodation page.
Scholarships
For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section
How to Apply
Apply now to secure your place.
Once you have paid the £40 application fee and submitted the online application form, you will be informed as to whether you have a place on the course within 5 working days. Please do not pay your tuition fee prior to having received your offer letter.
Application Deadline
We are accepting applications on a rolling basis. Apply now to secure your place.
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