This module explores key concepts in critical theory, including the origins of the Frankfurt School, the influence of Marx and Weber, and the impact of industrialization on culture and consciousness. Learners will analyze how mass culture and technology affect human society and develop an understanding of theoretical perspectives on modernity and social change.

This module explores foundational theories in mass communication and sociology, focusing on the evolution of media influence during the 1940s and 1950s. It covers key contributions from sociologists like Merton, Lazarsfeld, and Riesman, analyzing how media shaped public behavior and individual choices. Learners will gain insights into early research methodologies and the development of media effects theories.

This module explores the development of cultural and social analysis in post-war Britain, focusing on the works of key scholars like Hoggart, Williams, and Leavis. It examines how working-class culture was perceived and represented, and how these perspectives influenced broader societal and political discourse. Learners will gain insight into the historical and intellectual context of cultural studies in the 1930s-1950s.

This module explores the historical evolution of communication technologies and their transformative impact on society. It delves into the theories of Harold Innis and Marshall McLuhan, focusing on how media shapes human interaction and cultural development. Learners will gain insight into the relationship between technology, information, and social change.

This module explores the evolution of sociological thought from macrostructures to everyday interactions, focusing on the works of Erving Goffman and Harold Garfinkel. It examines how communication, social behavior, and the 'sociology of the self' shape our understanding of daily life. Learners will gain insights into key theories that reveal the hidden rules and practices of social interaction.

This module explores the evolution of pragmatics and communication theories in the 1950s-1970s, focusing on key concepts like speech acts, politeness, and deixis. It examines how language functions in social interaction and how these theories have shaped modern linguistic analysis.

This module explores the intersection of communication, media, and ideology through the work of Stuart Hall, focusing on how media shapes cultural meanings and social realities. Learners will analyze theoretical frameworks like the encoding/decoding model and examine the role of media in constructing ideology. The module also highlights historical developments in media studies and audience research.

This module explores the development of public discourse in modern Europe, focusing on Jürgen Habermas's theories of communicative action and the influence of his seminal work, *The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere*. It examines the historical and philosophical contexts of public life, the impact of media, and evolving debates around modernity and postmodernity.

This module explores the evolution of media events and their impact on public perception, focusing on how historical narratives are constructed and interpreted. Learners will analyze key studies in media and communication, including the iconic 'MacArthur Day' event, and understand the role of television in shaping collective memory. The module also examines the theoretical frameworks used to study media and its influence on society.