100-107 Asia-Pacific Media Systems

This subject is only available to students enrolled in the BA (Media and Communications), BA (Media and Communications)/Bachelor of Commerce, and BA (Media and Communications)/Bachelor of Laws.

100 points of arts subjects including 25 points of core Media and Communications subjects at first year.

This subject provides a cultural and political map of forms of media systems and practices in a range of countries across the Asia-Pacific region such as Singapore, China, India and Indonesia with a focus on Malaysia. The state-centric nature of media institutions in most of the region and their diversely changing form in the face of new communication technologies are examined. The course explores the rise of alternative media, the networking of dissent and its impact on mainstream systems in the region. Students will examine various notions of democracy, forms of political control and cultural regulation including religious influence on media institutions, practices and discourses across a number of countries in the region. Students will critically consider the debate over 'Asian values' and 'Asian theories' in relation to media organisations and closely examine media ownership and policies as well as the political economy of media convergence in the region. Students will compare different media systems and gain insights into the cultural and political mechanisms of media in different countries through an empirically focused investigation. The subject will help students to gain a comparative understanding of differences between media environments across the region.

Class participation and written work totalling 4000 words. Students must have attended at least 80% of classes to be eligible for assessment.

A subject reader will be available.