124264 KO Critical Media Analysis (2016W)
Terror, precarious masculinities & media (mal-)contents in the global mix: Tracing gender politics in (self)representations of extremist groups
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Th 15.09.2016 00:00 to Th 22.09.2016 23:59
- Deregistration possible until Mo 31.10.2016 23:59
Details
max. 30 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Wednesday 05.10. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
- Wednesday 12.10. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
- Wednesday 19.10. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
- Wednesday 09.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
- Wednesday 16.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
- Wednesday 23.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
- Wednesday 30.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
- Wednesday 07.12. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
- Wednesday 14.12. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
- Wednesday 11.01. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
- Wednesday 18.01. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
- Wednesday 25.01. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Terrorists seek extensive media attention to create an atmosphere of fear, legitimize violent actions, and reach greater audiences for recruitment. To provide students with an understanding of the nexus of extremism and the media from a Cultural Studies perspective, this course mainly refers to the work of Aslam Maleeha, Michael Kimmel and Douglas Kellner, introducing the concepts of male identity politics / crisis of masculinity as key ideological resources for radicalization in a globally mediated world. Both ethnic nationalism and religious fundamentalism have lately seen a dramatic rise. 9/11, the Breivik massacre and the Paris attacks equally inscribed the vision of terror in our collective memory and turned everyday-life into a permanent state of existential uncertainty where civilization may be confronted with destruction at any place and at any time. What these spectacles of violence have in common, so Douglas Kellner, is a case-specific crisis of masculinity fueled by available discourses of hate. As such, it is resolved through male rage exploding into acts of terror that give perpetrators the illusion of a powerful hyper-male identity and the fantasy of being part of a greater cause. From this perspective, masculine resentment of socio-economic and cultural displacement functions as a chief organizing principle of extremist groups of the far right and also of the militant fundamentalist side, effectively and equally framing ideologically conflicting notions of 'white pride' and 'fanatic martyrdom' as supposedly manly and heroic. This course takes these issues as a starting point and investigates how various narratives of masculinity are played out in media (self) representations of extremist groups from around the world. The course is aimed at both BA students and teacher trainees. It is designed to help participants develop both a theoretical understanding and practical skills to critically analyze media contents in terms of the intersection of discourse, power and identity with regard to the given topic.
Assessment and permitted materials
Students will select viable media texts for discussion (e.g. contents from social media, newspapers, websites, magazines, etc.) and investigate the socio-cultural implications of these examples with regard to the negotiation of brutal masculinities as shared ideological resources for extremist (group) identities, their 'enemy others' and the violent practices that are involved. Readings, group activities and presentations will be rounded off by discussions, peer-feedback sessions and written assignments. Learners will apply Critical Discourse Analysis as proposed by Fairclough and Khosravinik.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Participation and a group presentation on an individual case study (counts 30% towards final grade), a group portfolio with a write-up about the same individual case study (counts 40 %), and a written midterm test (counts 30%).Requirements for a positive grade:
- regular attendance (miss max. two sessions)
- presentation, portfolio, test
- regular attendance (miss max. two sessions)
- presentation, portfolio, test
Examination topics
Reading list
A reader will be made available.
Association in the course directory
Studium: UF 344, BA 612, BEd 046
Code/Modul: UF 4.2.5-426, BA07.3; BEd 08a.2, BEd 08b.1
Lehrinhalt: 12-4260
Code/Modul: UF 4.2.5-426, BA07.3; BEd 08a.2, BEd 08b.1
Lehrinhalt: 12-4260
Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33