NMD4901 Media, Diversity and DiscriminationBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs DIGITAL GAME DESIGNGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
DIGITAL GAME DESIGN
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
NMD4901 Media, Diversity and Discrimination Spring 3 0 3 6
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Non-Departmental Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Dr. Öğr. Üyesi TİRŞE ERBAYSAL FİLİBELİ
Course Lecturer(s): Dr. Öğr. Üyesi TİRŞE ERBAYSAL FİLİBELİ
Recommended Optional Program Components: Lind, R. An (2009). Race/Gender/Media: Considering Diversity Across Audiences, Content, and Producers ISBN-10: 0205537359
Course Objectives: Discrimination is one of the main and deepest problems of today’s media as it is also a main problem for all societies. On the other hand, diversity is one of the most popular concepts in media. Focusing on media’s role on creating and distributing stereotypes and cultural images, this course aims to inform students about major theories on media, diversity and discrimination issues, to develop a critical perspective on media coverage and to be an occasion for students to deeply discuss about current media content.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
The students who succeeded in this course;
-will have general knowledge about theories on diversity and discrimination,
-will be able to analyze media content in a more critical and ethical way,
-will be aware of the importance of diversity in media content and the danger of discriminative stereotypes in media,
-will be able to develop a critical understanding towards today’s media environment,
-will be informed about the concept of media literacy ,
-will be aware of real life discrimination and diversity issues since they will be prepared a comprehensive report on those topics for the course.

Course Content

This course will first provide students main theories about concepts of diversity, identity, differences and respect in a social manner. Students will be introduced about current global debates on the relationship between media and diversity and will be stimulated to put on their ideas in the class about same debates. Then the course will be directed towards the issue of discrimination. Students will be introduced the concept and will be motivated to discuss the concept through many examples from the media. In almost all weeks, a fiction or documentary film will be shown about that week’s subject for seeing the subject from different perspectives as well as for analyzing the film from a diversity and discrimination point of view. Students will also finish a semester project the medium of which will be chosen by themselves about diversity and/or discrimination in real life. This can be a TV, radio, internet or newspaper/magazine report.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction to the course
2) Key concepts: stereotypes, discrimination, media pluralism and diversity
3) Cultural diversity and minority groups 1: race and ethnicity
4) Cultural diversity and minority groups 2: religion and ethnicity
5) Discussion: Fact-Checking 101
6) Peace studies: Structural and cultural violence
7) Gender studies part 1: image, role and social conditions of women Gender studies part 2: representation of LGBTQI+ and sexual orientation
8) People with disabilities and age discrimination Media representation of children and young people
9) Media pluralism and diversity
10) Media pluralism 2.0: Digital threats and democracy
11) Discussion: Can an algorithm be racist?
12) Presentations
13) Presentations
14) Review of the term

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: Eugenia Siapera. Cultural Diversity and Global Media: The Mediation of Difference. Sussex: Wiley Blackwell, 2010.

John Fiske & John Hartley. Reading Television. London: Routledge, 2004.

Laura Hurd Clarke. Facing Age: Women Growing Older in Anti-Aging Culture. New York: Rowman & Littlefield, 2011.
References: Eugenia Siapera. Cultural Diversity and Global Media: The Mediation of Difference. Sussex: Wiley Blackwell, 2010.

John Fiske & John Hartley. Reading Television. London: Routledge, 2004.

Laura Hurd Clarke. Facing Age: Women Growing Older in Anti-Aging Culture. New York: Rowman & Littlefield, 2011.

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 14 % 10
Presentation 1 % 15
Midterms 1 % 35
Final 1 % 40
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 60
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 40
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Duration (Hours) Workload
Course Hours 14 3 42
Study Hours Out of Class 14 5 70
Presentations / Seminar 1 6 6
Project 1 30 30
Final 1 3 3
Total Workload 151

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) Comprehend the conceptual importance of the game in the field of communication, ability to implement the player centered application to provide design.
2) Analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information and ideas from various perspectives.
3) Analyze the key elements that make up specific game genres, forms of interactions, mode of narratives and understand how they are employed effectively to create a successful game.
4) Understand game design theories and methods as well as implement them during game development; to make enjoyable, attractive, instructional and immersive according to the target audience.
5) Understand the technology and computational principles involved in developing games and master the use of game engines.
6) Understand the process of creation and use of 2D and 3D assets and animation for video games.
7) Understand and master the theories and methodologies of understanding and measuring player experience and utilize them during game development process.
8) Comprehend and master how ideas, concepts and topics are conveyed via games followed by the utilization of these aspects during the development process.
9) Manage the game design and development process employing complete documentation; following the full game production pipeline via documentation.
10) Understand and employ the structure and work modes of game development teams; comprehend the responsibilities of team members and collaborations between them while utilizing this knowledge in practice.
11) Understand the process of game publishing within industry standards besides development and utilize this knowledge practice.
12) Pitching a video game to developers, publishers, and players; mastering the art of effectively communicating and marketing the features and commercial potential of new ideas, concepts or games.