Media, Gender and Culture

Program Overview

The Media, Gender and Culture Summer School program at King's College London explores the intricate relationship between media, gender, and culture. Through intensive sessions, participants critically examine the role of media in shaping gender identities, analyze power dynamics in media representations, and investigate the potential of media for cultural politics and activism. The program welcomes students from diverse backgrounds, fostering a vibrant learning environment with international perspectives.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overall:

The Media, Gender and Culture Summer School program delves into the intricate relationship between media, gender, and culture. Through intensive, intellectually stimulating sessions, participants explore the impact of media on the formation of gender identities, the organization of social and cultural life, and the shifting landscape of gender relations in the digital age. The program welcomes students from diverse backgrounds, fostering a vibrant learning environment with international perspectives.

Objectives:

• Critically examine the role of media in shaping gendered subjectivities.
• Analyze the interplay of power, representation, and agency in media and culture.
• Deconstruct the sexualization of culture and its implications for contemporary gender dynamics.
• Investigate the potential of media as a resource for cultural politics and activism.
• Develop critical thinking skills and apply theoretical frameworks to analyze contemporary media culture.

Program Description:

• Duration: 2 weeks
• Dates: July 15th - July 26th, 2024
• Application Deadline: May 10th, 2024
• Structure: Interactive lectures, independent study, group discussions, workshops, and assessments.
• Introduction to Feminist Media Studies
• Gender and Social Change
• Power, Representation and Culture
• Intimacy and Mediation
• The Sexualization of Culture
• Social Critique and Cultural Politics
• Media Analysis Workshops
• Credits: Comparable to a 15-credit King's undergraduate module, potentially awarding 3-4 US credits or 7.5 ECTS.
Many students receive external credit from their home institutions for the program.

Outline:

Content:

• Media representation of gender
• Gender and Power dynamics
• Intersectionality of Gender with race, class, and sexuality
• Social and cultural impact of media
• Feminist media theory
• Critical analysis of contemporary media culture
• Case studies analyzing films, television programs, magazines, and digital media

Structure:

• Taught on-campus Monday-Friday, 9 am - 5 pm
• Combining lectures, discussions, group activities, and individual work

Modules:

• Introduction to Feminist Media Studies - Explores foundational concepts and debates in feminist media studies.
• Gender and Social Change - Examines how media shapes and reflects changes in gender roles and social norms.
• Power, Representation, and Culture - Investigates how power dynamics influence media representations of gender and culture.
• Intimacy and Mediation - Analyzes the role of media in shaping intimate relationships and experiences.
• The Sexualization of Culture - Critically examines the sexualization of culture and its impact on gender equality.
• Social Critique and Cultural Politics - Explores the potential of media to challenge dominant social structures and promote positive social change.
• Media Analysis Workshops - Develops skills for analyzing diverse media texts using critical theoretical frameworks.

Assessment:

• Essay (85%): Analyzing a chosen media text using critical theoretical perspectives.
• Presentation (15%): Presenting and discussing the analysis within the group.

Teaching:

• Experienced King's academics: Experts in media studies, gender studies, and cultural analysis.
• Active learning: Fostering interactive discussions, debates, and collaborative group work.
• Individualized feedback: Providing personalized guidance on assignments and presentations.
• Application of theory: Encouraging the application of theoretical frameworks to real-world examples.

Careers:

• Further study: Pursuing postgraduate studies in media, gender, or cultural studies programs.
• Careers in media and communication: Journalism, public relations, advertising, media production.
• Cultural and creative industries: Film, television, publishing, digital media, arts and cultural organizations.
• Research and academia: Contributing to research in feminist media studies, gender and cultural studies, media and communication.

Other:

• Students learn to think critically about media messages and their impact on individuals and society.
• The program fosters a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment for students passionate about exploring the intersections of media, gender, and culture.