AS/A2 Communication & Culture

What is Communication & Culture?
Whether we are aware of it or not, we spend every moment communicating. We depend on this activity in our personal, social and working lives. So it makes sense to find out what, how and why we're communicating. Communication takes many forms, from personal conversation to global cultural messages. Communication & Culture offers an opportunity to analyse these forms in terms of how meanings are created between the senders and receivers of messages and how these messages affect our view of the culture we live in.
What Subjects go well with Communication & Culture?
Communication & Culture can be taken alongside English, Media Studies, Film Studies or Art based subjects if you wish. It also complements many of the other humanities and social science subjects.
What exactly will I study?
During the first year you will:

· Study body language, verbal language, how we develop our sense of self/identity and how communication is used within groups

· Study different definitions of culture and how these definitions affect our experience of the world

· Study different forms of visual communication such as adverts, leaflets, cartoon strips, etc

· Analyse your own communication by considering how you have become the person that you are

· Analyse a cultural context and the way that you perceive it. Examples of possible contexts are; popular music, shopping, graffiti, your bedroom etc

· Create a presentation piece composed of images and commentary based on your perceptions of the relationship between who you think you are and the culture you live in

During the second year you will:

· Learn how to target a specific audience through the creation of a web-based presentation such as a website, a multimedia presentation, a podcast, a short DVD film or Vlog

· Investigate a cultural practice/product such as cinema going/cinemas, body modification, celebrity etc

· Look at topics such as feminism, Marxism, post-colonialism and postmodernism in order to analyse how society's values and beliefs help to define our identities and sense of self

· Focus on issues such as censorship and how new communication technology affects our sense of self and the way we view the world
Will all my work be in the classroom?
No. In the second year, you will be expected to do practical work as well. You will get the chance to develop your skills on Apple Mac computers and video editing equipment.
Progression?
The course will help to prepare and qualify students for a wide range of higher education courses. Many of our students go on to study courses in subjects such as media, communication, cultural studies, American studies and public relations.