Sport, Leisure and the Media

The aims for this module are set into the context of the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and they relate to the SEEC level descriptors for level 2 study.

• To develop understanding of the various theoretical and conceptual frameworks used across media and cultural studies
• To explore the work of  different key theorists in media and cultural studies alongside current issues in media sport
• To examine different approaches to textual and audience analysis
• To consider how sport is represented through the media, and the cultural and ideological issues that operate through these representations.

In relation to the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and the SEEC level descriptors for level 2 study, by the end of the module students should be able to:

1. Critically apply media studies terminology, key concepts and theoretical perspectives to aspects of media and media sport
2. Evaluate the work of key theorists in media and cultural studies and apply it to current issues in media sport
3. Compare and evaluate the strengths and limitations of qualitative and quantitative forms of textual and audience analysis and demonstrate their use across a range of media
4. Discuss ways in which sport is represented through the media, and critically evaluate the cultural and ideological issues that operate through these representations

Theoretical frameworks for analysis - sociological and cultural studies perspectives of mass communication

Power, sport culture and accelerated culture

Postmodernity, accelerated culture and sport media

Introduction to content and semiotic analysis

Sports reporting in the quality and popular press

Fiction, reality and sport media

Gender, sport and media  representations

Sport, television and production practices

Sports films – representation and ideological themes e.g. class, masculinity and femininity, race and ethnicity, national identity

Sport stars- construction, function and audience interpretations

Media sport audiences -  different approaches to audience analysis, consumption, meanings and pleasures of media sport

Contact time:

• Key note lectures
• Workshops
• Student discussion and debates
• Film and image analysis
• Tutor research led sessions
• Student led seminar for feedback on ‘work in progress’ topic for assessment
• Essay tutorials

Non-contact time:

• Guided reading
• Tasks
• Additional reading, drafting and research for written assignment

Books:

Bignell, J. (2002), Media Semiotics. An Introduction (2^nd ed.) Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Boyle, R. and Haynes, R. (2000), Power Play: Sport, the Media & Popular Culture. Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd.

Flew, T. (2005), New Media: An Introduction. (2^nd ed.). Sydney: University Press.

Gillespie, M. and Toynbee, J. (eds.) (2006) Analysing media Texts. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Redhead, S. (2004), The Paul Virilio: Theorist for an Accelerated Culture. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Rowe, D (2004) Sport, Culture and the Media (2^nd ed.). Buckingham: Open University Press.

Turner, G. (2003) British Cultural Studies (3^rd ed.). London: Routledge.

Wenner, L (1998) MediaSport. London: Routledge.

Whannel, G. (1992) Fields in Vision .Television Sport and Cultural Transformation.  London: Routledge.

Journals:

International Review for the Sociology of Sport

Media, Culture and Society

Electronic sources:

The LA84 foundation website: www.la84foundation.org/ (accessed 28^th October 2008) 

Other: