module specification

Arts, Culture and Lifestyle Journalism delves into the intricacies of arts and culture reporting, exploring the interplay between traditional and digital formats. The module encompasses diverse artistic domains, including music, film, literature, art, architecture, dance, and theatre, also tailoring content to align with individual student interests and career aspirations. Beyond technical skills, the module thoroughly explores arts and culture journalism in its cultural, historical, global, and lifestyle aspects. This broader perspective encourages students to adopt self-reflective and critical viewpoints, fostering a nuanced understanding of the industry beyond conventional mediums and viewpoints.

The module aims to:

1. foster a nuanced understanding of the history, nature, and meaning of art, culture, and performance across diverse areas.
2. develop a critical knowledge of arts, culture, and lifestyle journalism routines.
3. delve into issues and debates within the arts and culture journalism landscape, including funding, criticism, and representation.
4. explore reporting and publishing trends illuminating current arts and culture movements.
5. ensure professional ethics and professional commitment to marginalised publics.

This module splits into three interdependent parts: foundations of arts and culture journalism, practising art and culture journalism, and working with arts and culture journalism. Each part advances an essential component of theory and practice, while students will build up a piece or project with a view to publishing it. Topics seen in the classroom may include:

Definitions of arts, culture, and lifestyle journalism
Formats, styles, and language of art and culture journalism
Sources in the art and culture sector
Site visits or case study analysis
Art writing and advertising
Formats, contents, and subject-matters
Conversations and politics
Technology and research-based art
Writing artists’ profiles
Writing, pitching, and dissemination
Building an artistic and culture repertoire and contact network

By the end of the semester, students will be able to gather sufficient repertoire to build their set of interests that will converge to an individual and collective project.

Teaching methods include formal lectures, seminar discussion, screenings, library sessions and tutorials.  Students are expected to attend lectures and seminars: in the seminars they will at times work in small groups and be given practice in listening to each other’s contributions and offering constructive criticism, and in chairing and reporting discussion to the plenary seminar group. The module booklet will be available online, as will lecture outlines and some readings. Weblearn or its equivalent will also be used for communication with students individually and as a cohort. In addition to guided reading, students are expected to read and to use variety of sources (primary and secondary) and use seminars and tutorials to raise issues, questions and seek feedback.

A blended learning strategy will be employed to enhance the learning experience, facilitate communication between students and tutors and develop collaboration among students. The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) will be used as a platform to support online activities including on-line discussions, evaluation of online resources, and access to electronic reading packs. The VLE will also be used to facilitate formative assessment and related feedback, as well as a tool to integrate useful online learning materials provided by research institutions, academic publications, professional organisations and other relevant sources.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. master a diverse set of art and culture journalism techniques, including critical reviews, profiles, and interviews.
2. demonstrate versatility by identifying and employing preferred styles of arts and culture journalism, building a comprehensive writing portfolio.
3. showcase critical analysis skills and the ability to independently research artistic subjects.
4. understand the symbiotic relationship between journalism and cultural promotion.
5. adeptly pitch arts, culture, and lifestyle media pieces and projects catering to multiple audiences.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/BCF0E9E1-9450-E7FC-794E-4F82BDACFD44.html?lang=en&login=1