CU2033 - Communication Revolutions

Credit points:	03
Year:	2011
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	School of Arts & Social Sciences

This subject surveys the history of communication and information technologies from the ancient era of world history to the present day. Topics to be explored include information creation; management and transmission in the ancient and medieval world; the origins and cultural meanings of print in early modern Europe; authorship, book consumption and political change in the eighteenth century; western information technologies in nineteenth-century colonial contexts; the evolution of the popular press; the social uses of telegraphy; radio broadcasting; the early history of television; and the social history of the computer.

Learning Outcomes

• an appropriate understanding the history of communication, particularly in Western technological societies;
• a fair understanding of the relation of change in the sphere of communication to change in society at large;
• an appreciation of the relation of communication to political power.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to speak and write logically, clearly and creatively;
• The ability to use and interpret different media;
• A coherent and disciplined body of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to learn independently and in a self-directed manner.

Assumed Knowledge:	To undertake this subject, students must have successfully completed 12 credit points (four subjects) of level 1 study at tertiary level
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	CU2013 CU3033 HI2013 HI3013

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 25-Aug-2011
Coord/Lect:	Dr Mervyn Bendle.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 11 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (40%); tutorial attendance and participation (20%); assignments (40%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.