Course Title: Global Environmental Representations

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Global Environmental Representations

Credit Points: 12

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
ENVI1137	City Campus	Undergraduate	330H Social Science & Planning	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006
ENVI1137	City Campus	Undergraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 1 2014, Sem 1 2015, Sem 1 2016, Sem 1 2017, Sem 1 2018

Course Coordinator: Dr Melissa Neave

Course Coordinator Phone: +(61 3) 9925 2512

Course Coordinator Email: melissa.neave@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 8.7

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

This course provides an overview of the representation, framing and expression of the environment and nature in various cultural forms and across a range of media within different global contexts. You will examine ways in which worldviews, beliefs and practices are manifested in public policy, legislative responses and the solutions pursued. You will analyse contemporary environmental issues and primary documents/texts and representations of environmental futures. In light of cultural insights gained from this analysis we will develop media strategies designed to frame and represent environmental concerns and influence target audiences.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

At the end of this course you will be able to:

* Describe several discourses on environment and nature that are currently in global circulation

* Link worldviews, beliefs and pratices to such underlying discourses on environment and nature

* Analyse a policy or representation of the environment in terms of underlying worldviews, beliefs and practices

* Use contemporary media strategies to promote a representation environment/or nature

At the completion of this course students will:

* Examine the social and political ideologies which underpin historic and contemporary representations of environmental concerns

* Demonstrate how cultural forms are used for social and political ends in relation to environmental issues

* Describe how cultural dialogues of environment can lead to change in environmental sustainability

* Describe and apply strategies for effective media engagement in the communication of environmental social and political action

Overview of Learning Activities

This course will be delivered in a multi-modal form, initially consisting of weekly lectures and workshops to build knowledge of historical and culturally specific forms of environmental representation. There will also be dedicated workshops for the development of media analysis and strategic planning skills, with a focus on the communication needs of clients. You will be required to critically analyse primary and secondary materials and develop media communication modules on contemporary environmental issues.

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.You will be provided with a course reading pack and will be given access to a course online learning site.

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course learning outcomes.

The assessment tasks may include essay writing, analysis of primary sources/visuals and the development of media and project communication strategies.

Feedback will be provided throught the semester by your teachers and peers in class and/or online discussions and through individual and/or group feedback on practical exercises.

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate variations to assessment methods and requirements. You can discuss this with your course co-ordinator and register with the RMIT Disability Liaison Unit to find out more.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions which are available for online review: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment