Universität Wien
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124266 KO Critical Media Analysis (2014W)

Tracing the fit and healthy body?

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

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).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 08.10. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 15.10. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 22.10. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 29.10. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 05.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 12.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 19.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 26.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 03.12. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 10.12. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 17.12. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 07.01. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 14.01. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 21.01. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Wednesday 28.01. 18:00 - 20:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Scholars of Cultural Studies have come to accept the body as a “contested” site within an increasingly reflexive and media-dominated age. The upsurge of interest in the human body within the sciences, its incorporation into media-(sub)cultures and the deployment of technologies designed to discipline and mediate the ways people self-fashion their corporal selves have cast serious doubt on what the body is and what it might become. This discursive conundrum has coincided with a proliferation of media representations that perpetuate narrowly defined notions of the supposedly ideal and healthy human physique. To that effect, particular body shapes and corporal performances are culturally legitimized as appropriate, whereas others are excluded. Those who fail to embody these ideals are frequently precluded from the “right” enactment of beauty, good moral and health. This course takes this as a point of departure and investigates the relationship between the body, discourse and identity within the nexus of media culture, focusing on popular men’s and women's health magazines.

Assessment and permitted materials

Participation in class, a group presentation, a group portfolio, and a midterm test.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

This course is aimed at teacher trainees and BA students. It is designed to help participants develop both a theoretical understanding and practical skills to critically analyse media contents that relate to the human body, fitness and health. At the end of the course, student shall have developed a portfolio with a write up of their analysis (mini paper), a summary of selected readings and a reflection on how the insights they have gained might be used in an awareness raising and/or educational context.

Examination topics

Students will be familiarized with concepts that help them deconstruct and denaturalize various forms of bodily fictions represented in the popular media. Students will select viable examples for discussion (e.g. contents from life-style and fitness magazines) and investigate the social implications of these examples with regard to the inclusion and exclusion of particular subject-positions in terms of gender, sexual orientation, social class and ethnicity. Readings, group activities and presentations will be rounded off by discussions, peer-feedback sessions and written assignments. Participants are furthermore encouraged to consider how they might contextualize the insights gained from their analysis in a productive context that challenges common sense assumption about the body, fitness and health (e.g. production of alternative media representations, teaching activities, etc.).

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

Last modified: We 09.09.2020 00:22