Major Essay
Students are required to submit a 2000-word essay on a topic of their choosing, exploring a specific new media technology/platform/practice.
Students should select a new media technology/platform/practice and construct an academic argument around it. It needs to be a specific argument that tells the reader something about the relationship between this new media technology/platform/practice and society more generally. Don’t just give a technological description or history.
For example, the argument “Facebook has facilitated new forms of protest” would be a good topic, whereas a broad history of Facebook’s technological development would fail.
The Essay Should Do the Following (It Does Not Have to Be in This Order)
- Briefly describe the historical development of your new media technology/platform/practice concerning your overall argument (Do not go into unnecessary detail, 1 paragraph should be enough for most technologies)
- Critically analyse the cultures that surround the technology/platform/practice and explain why they are significant
- Examine any conflicts and tensions that surround the technology/platform/practice
- State why it is important to understand this new media technology/platform/practice in this way
Essays must use at least one article from the readings and at least two from your research.
Essays must use media studies and/or cultural studies academic texts, and develop an argument in line with these approaches. If you are unsure what this means, please ask your tutor.
- Engagement with appropriate academic material: Do you present a sophisticated integration and use of appropriate resources beyond those provided in the unit readings? (You must use your own research)
- Referencing: Do you correctly reference appropriate academic sources with no formatting errors?
- Style and presentation: Is your essay written and presented?
On Successful Completion, You Will Be Able To
- Understand cybercultures in a contemporary and historical context
- Develop and convey theoretical understandings of cybercultures
- Develop and apply critical analysis to contemporary cybercultures
- Develop academic research skills
