MDIA 2335EX - Japanese Media Industries and Cultures

External - Winter - 2015

This course is an in-country Winter School intensive media course and cultural study tour in Japan. The course is offered through collaboration between the Department of Media at the University of Adelaide and the College of Image Arts and Sciences at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. The Japanese film, television and popular culture industries are important players in the construction of the Japanese identity (Nihonjinron) both at home and abroad, and play a vital role in the economy of the country. The intensive media course is held at the Ritsumeikan campus a short way to the centre of Kyoto, allowing students to immerse themselves in the rich culture of this historically significant city in a unique nation. The course includes lecture and workshop activities (with English instruction) and visits to key sites in media production in the region including film and television studios and relevant cultural and historical sites related to the development of Japan?s pop culture industries such as anime and manga. This course will greatly enhance the global awareness of Media students. Students will be required to attend all sessions in this 2-week intensive course. Pre-departure sessions will be held two weeks prior to the study abroad component.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MDIA 2335EX
    Course Japanese Media Industries and Cultures
    Coordinating Unit Media
    Term Winter
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s External
    Units 3
    Contact In 2014 the pre-departure sessions will be held during the week 30 June ? 04 July. The Study Abroad classes at Ritsumeikan will take place from 14 July ? 25 July, 2014.
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites At least 12 units of Level I Media courses or equivalent
    Incompatible JAPN 2214EX
    Restrictions Available to BMedia students only
    Quota 15
    Course Description This course is an in-country Winter School intensive media course and cultural study tour in Japan. The course is offered through collaboration between the Department of Media at the University of Adelaide and the College of Image Arts and Sciences at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. The Japanese film, television and popular culture industries are important players in the construction of the Japanese identity (Nihonjinron) both at home and abroad, and play a vital role in the economy of the country. The intensive media course is held at the Ritsumeikan campus a short way to the centre of Kyoto, allowing students to immerse themselves in the rich culture of this historically significant city in a unique nation. The course includes lecture and workshop activities (with English instruction) and visits to key sites in media production in the region including film and television studios and relevant cultural and historical sites related to the development of Japan?s pop culture industries such as anime and manga. This course will greatly enhance the global awareness of Media students.

    Students will be required to attend all sessions in this 2-week intensive course. Pre-departure sessions will be held two weeks prior to the study abroad component.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Peter Pugsley

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    CLO 1: Contextualise the role of Japan’s popular media industries in a global environment.
    CLO 2. Reflect familiarity with traditions of media studies including the key academic literature and language used.
    CLO 3. Develop a historical and critical orientation to studies of contemporary Japanese media and its key institutions – providing understandings of the origins and legacies of antecedents like manga and photography.
    CLO 4. Further develop core study skills (critical reading and research) and knowledge of key concepts such as mass media technologies, sound and vision, national regulations, and global format trades.
    CLO 5. Develop scholarly research and writing skills (including essay writing), problem solving and cultural analysis techniques for media in a foreign context.
    CLO 6. Demonstrate competence in reading relevant academic literature and in reflecting critically on that body of literature.
    CLO 7. Demonstrate conformity to appropriate forms of written presentation in academic work.
    CLO 8. Demonstrate a general awareness of the role of popular media in understanding social life.
    CLO 9. Manage individual and collaborative work, especially through effective use of time and communication (both face-to-face and via different media).
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1,2,6
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 2,3,4,6
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1,3,5,6
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 5,7,8,9
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 5,7,9
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1 - 7
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 4,5,6,8,9
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1,3,4,5,8,9
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Not applicable
    Recommended Resources
    Not applicable
    Online Learning
    MyUni will be utilised for course management, assessment tasks and course communication
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures and workshops will be delivered by experienced staff at Ritsumeikan University supported by the University of Adelaide course coordinator who will be present during activities. Students will work in small workshop groups under direct supervision of the lecturers and the course coordinator, with a selection of relevant fieldwork activities to reinforce lecture and workshop materials and online tasks.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    60 hours of structured learning activities; expected total student workload 156 hours.
    Learning Activities Summary
    The scheduled learning activities for this course include short answer tasks (including pre-departure tasks) and designated workshop and fieldwork activities such as individual and group presentations to reflect the development of skills and knowledge specific to the key focus of the course: Japan’s popular media industries. Cultural activities such as the production of anime cells or manga drawing will also reflect students understandings of the important and recognisable cultural motifs found in these forms of pop culture media. Assessment will take place during the course and at the conclusion of the in-country section of the course, a photo essay and exegesis on each student’s experience will be submitted.
    Specific Course Requirements
    This is an in-country intensive course (with some pre-departure activities) supported by the Office of International Student Services at Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Lectures, workshops and field trips held in conjunction with Ritsumeikan University form an integral part of learning in this course. Students will work in a combination of whole class and smaller groups to debate key questions raised by each topic and complete assignments. Each assignment requires students to conduct group or independent research about the media industry in Japan and prepare reports on their findings using a variety of online platforms, including a photo-essay, as well as more conventional essay-style writing. Classes provide an opportunity for students to receive advice and support in the completion of this work from the academic staff who coordinate the course.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    To prepare students for a media industry that increasingly requires an understanding of international environments and the production of media content that resonates with both local and global audiences. Assessment tasks will allow students to not only view first-hand the dynamics of Japan’s media industries, but to immerse themselves in the production experience through workshop tasks and fieldtrips. The assessment extends concepts taught in first year Media courses, especially MDIA 1004 Broadcast TV & Radio and MDIA 1002 Introduction to Media. This course also complements the Media-based TAFE Electives in CGI and Visual Effects/Game Art.

    Pre-departure tasks (20%), in-class assessments at Ritsumeikan University (40%) and one 1,000 word (equivalent) photo essay (30%), attendance and participation (10%)

    Attendance at all teaching sessions conducted at Ritsumeikan is a compulsory requirement of the course.
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Attendance at all teaching sessions conducted at Ritsumeikan is a compulsory requirement of the course.
    Assessment Detail
    Pre-departure tasks (20%), in-class assessments at Ritsumeikan University (60%) and one 1,000 word (equivalent) photo essay (20%)

    ASSESSMENT TASKS Weightings Due CLOs
    Pre-departure, short-answer tasks on Japanese media in a global context (individual, summative)  20% pre-departure 1,2,3

    Manga/anime proposal (formative)

    Production of manga/anime images (individual, summative) [hurdle requirement] 

    Nil

    20%
    Week 2 3,4,5,6,7,
    Presentation on Japanese film, TV or pop culture media (group, summative) [hurdle requirement]  20% Week 3 1 - 7
    Photo Essay & exegesis (individual, summative) [hurdle requirement]  30% Week after in-country classes 3,4,5,6,7
    Attendance and participation (individual) 10% Weeks 1-4 5,6


    Submission
    Information available on enrolment.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

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  • Policies & Guidelines
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