Critical Media and Cultural Studies

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The degree considers critical issues in media and cultural studies in their full global complexity. Most media studies' degrees concentrate on work in English on media production, distribution and reception in North America, Britain and Australia. They ignore the contemporary mass media in Asia, Africa and Latin America, despite the emergence of many of the world's largest film, television, music and print industries. For instance, in Asia terrestrial and satellite television has become politically and culturally crucial from Japan and China to Indonesia, India and through the Middle East. However the preoccupation with the domestic concerns of the British and American media industries disguises the realities of our now living in a multi-centred world, in ways which conventional media and cultural theory fails to study.

The MA in Critical Media and Cultural Studies addresses this double lack. It offers frames of analysis critical of this theoretical and geographical closure, designed for studying non-Western media production, distribution, reception and commentary.

The degree aims to introduce students to the key contemporary issues discussed in Asian and African media. It also provides opportunities to engage directly in research on an aspect of these media. The degree has a strong theoretical element, especially in the first term core course, which provides students with new ways of approaching non-Western media that help avoid Eurocentrism and Ethnocentrism more broadly.

The optional courses offer access to a range of approaches to the critical study of Asian and African discourses, ranging from cinema to music, comparative literature, gender and religion to art & archaeology; from the cultures and societies of Asia and Africa to African & Asian diaspora and the study of language. The degree is distinctive in providing a depth of theoretical and cultural background to contemporary media processes absent in most other media and cultural studies' degrees.

Each student takes 4 units in total: the Compulsory Course (1 unit), the Dissertation (1 unit), two half units from list 3 and one unit of options of their choice.

In choosing their courses, MA students are advised to pay careful attention to the balance of coursework across the two terms. In particular it is important to ensure that each term you have three taught courses. However much you might wish to take a mixture of courses that requires more coursework in one term than the other, it is most unwise to attempt to take four courses in one term and two in the other. Experience has shown that students simply cannot manage the load during the heavy term with the result that they either do very badly, fail or are unable to complete the courses in question. As a result Directors of Studies for the degrees and the Faculty staff will not approve a selection of courses which results in an imbalanced workload. An imbalance of courses between terms is only possible with the written permission of the convenor of the degree .

1. Compulsory Course * Theoretical and Contemporary Issues in Media and Cultural Studies

2. Dissertation in Critical Media and Cultural Studies * Dissertation in Media Studies

(supervisor to be allocated according to the dissertation topic)

3. Courses in Media Studies Students are required to take TWO half unit courses from List 3.

* Emerging digital cultures in Asia and Africa - Theory and Practice - 15PMSH018 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* The Transnational News Environment: Production, Representation and Use - 15PMSH006 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Transnational Communities and Diasporic Media:Networking, Connectivity, Identity - 15PMSH004 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Mediated Culture in the Middle East: Politics and Communications - 15PMSH003 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* International Political Communication - 15PMSH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Rethinking Audiences - 15PMSH011 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Studies in Global Media and Post-National Communication - 15PMSH007 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Studies in Media, Information Communication Technologies and Development - 15PMSH019 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Media Production Skills - 15PANH050 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Critical Approaches to the Study of Regional Cinemas - 15PMSH008 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

4. Optional Courses: Students may take a course or courses to the value of one full unit from the following lists:

Courses in Cinemas of Asia and Africa * Japanese Transnational Cinema: From Kurosawa to Asia Extreme and Studio Ghibli - 15PMSH017 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Japanese Post-War Film Genres and the Avant-Garde - 15PMSH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Japanese Television since 1953 - 15PJKC006 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Post-crisis Thai Cinema (1997-2007) - 15PSEH008 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
* (Post) Colonialism and Otherness in South East Asia on Screen - 15PSEH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Genders and Sexualities in South East Asian Film - 15PSEH011 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Indian Cinema: Its History and Social Context - 15PSAH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Indian Cinema: Key Issues - 15PSAH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Iranian Cinema - 15PMSH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Arab Cinemas - 15PMSH013 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Aspects of African film and video 1 - 15PAFH006 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Aspects of African film and video 2 - 15PAFH007 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Approaches to the Other in Horror and Science Fiction Films - 15PANH043 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Modern Chinese Film and Theatre (MA) - 15PCHH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Modern Film from Taiwan and the Chinese Diaspora - 15PCHH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Issues in the Anthropology of Film - 15PANH022 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

One option from among the following courses in Comparative Literature and Gender * Theory And Techniques Of Comparative Literature - 15PCLC279 (1 unit Unit)
* Postcolonial Theory and Practice - 15PSAC019 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Literatures in African languages - 15PAFC124 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Modern Arabic Literature and the West - 15PNMC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Literatures of South Asia - 15PSAC284 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Popular and Fusion Music in South East Asia (PG) - 15PMUH018 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

One option from among the following courses in Music * Music in South Asian Culture (Masters) - 15PMUC005 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Music of the Near and Middle East and North Africa - 15PMUC033 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Pop and Politics in East Asia (Masters) - 15PMUH014 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Music in Selected Regions of Africa: Contexts and Structures - 15PMUC006 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013

One Option from courses in Art & Archaeology and Anthropology * Media Production Skills - 15PANH050 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Culture and Society of China - 15PANC089 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of East Africa - 15PANC084 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of Japan - 15PANC086 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of South Asia - 15PANC087 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of South East Asia - 15PANC088 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of West Africa - 15PANC083 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of the Near & Middle East - 15PANC097 (1 Unit) - Full Year

One Option from courses in the Study of Religions and Centre for Gender Studies * Buddhist Arts in Context - 15PSRH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Central Concepts and Tenets of Indian Buddhism - 15PSRH010 (0.5 Unit) - Not Running 2012/13
* Christianity and Social Change in Sub Saharan Africa - 15PSRC157 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
* Contemporary Themes in Media and Religion - (0.5 Unit) - Not Running 2012/13
* Critical Theory and the Study of Religions - 15PSRC037 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Jewishness on Screen - 15PSRH044 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Readings in Derrida on Religion - 15PSRH024 (0.5 Unit) - Not Running 2012/13
* Readings in French Feminism and Religion - 15PSRH023 (0.5 Unit) - Not Running 2012/13
* Theory and Method in the Study of Religion - 15PSRC010 (1 Unit) - Full Year

One option from courses in South Asia * Modern Bengal: the Evolution of Bengali Culture and Society from 1690 to the Present Day (MA) - 15PSAC289 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013

A Language course (subject to availability) One Language Acquisition course taught at SOAS (list available from the Faculty of Languages and Cultures)

Minimum Entry Requirements: Minimum good second class honours degree (or equivalent)English language requirementsIn order to ensure that SOAS students have a sufficient standard of English to study effectively, we require overseas students to submit evidence, during the application process, of their current level of proficiency.Score for Unconditional Entry * IELTS: Overall 7+ with at least 7 in all sub scores * TOEFL: iBT105+ with at least 25 in all sub scores * Pearson Test of English - Academic: Score of 75 or above with at least 70 in all sub scores English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 TOEFL iBT® test: 105 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

Scholarships and Bursaries

There are some scholarships and bursaries available for postgraduate students. These are very competitive and early application is advised.

* The Ahmad Mustafa Abu-Hakima Bursary (programme must include studying the history of the modern Arab world)
* AKS Postgraduate Bursary (in Korean Studies)
* Bernard Buckman Scholarship (MA Chinese Studies, for UK/EU fee paying students)
* The Canon Collins Scholarships at SOAS. There are two scholarships available available in 2013-14 for study at SOAS. These scholarships are for Masters study in any subject field. Open a national of and resident in one of the following countries:
Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe. The application process normally opens in December and closes in February, for study commencing in September the following year. Please go to the Canon Collins website and click "Apply for A Scholarship" and then "Canon Collins Scholarship for Masters Study in the UK" for further information on how to apply.
* Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (for students from African Commonwealth countries)
* D.G.Hall Scholarship (Taught Masters programmes at SOAS, for applicants holding a Burma/Myanmar passport)
* Felix Scholarships (for Indian students)
* Ferguson Scholarships (for African nationals from an African Country)
* HSBC SOAS Scholarships (MA Sinology & MA Chinese Literature, for UK/EU fee paying students)
* Kamran Djam Scholarships (MA Iranian Studies)
* Professor Stuart Wilson Scholarship (MA South East Asian Studies)
* Standard Chartered Scholarships (for a range of full-time Taught Masters programmes. The programmes relate to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East/NorthAfrica)
* Tibawi Trust Awards (for Palestinian students currently enrolled in a programme at SOAS)
* SOAS Master's Scholarships - Faculty of Arts & Humanities - (for any full-time taught masters programme in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities)
* SOAS Master's Scholarships - Faculty of Language & Cultures (for the full-time MA Gender Studies, MA Postcolonial Studies, MA Linguistics, MA Applied Linguistics & Language Pedagogy, MA Language, Documentation and Description, MA Translation Theory and Practice (Asian and African Languages)
* SOAS Master's Scholarships- Faculty of Law and Social Sciences (for any full-time master's programmes in the Department of Development Studies, Economics, Law, Politics & International Studies and Financial & Management Studies)
* Tallow Chandlers and M. W Beer scholarship (MA) (MA Anthropology of Food, for UK/EU fee paying students)
* William Ross Murray Scholarship (LLM, for students from a developing country)