Media and Identity (COMU2150)

Course overview

This course builds on the concepts of power and media that were introduced in COMU1120, offering focused analyses of the ways that various media forms recreate and represent intersections between individual, social and cultural identity.

This course analyses the ways that gender, race, dis/ability, class and other aspects of individual, social and cultural identity intersect with each other and with various media.

Course requirements

Assumed background

It is preferable that students are in the second year of their degree. Students should bring a respectful attitude and a willingness to challenge their pre-existing ways of understanding identity.

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

COMU2015

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

This course consists of a weekly one-hour lecture and a weekly two-hour tutorial. Lectures will either be delivered live via Zoom with lecture recordings posted to Zoom when available, or lectures will be pre-recorded and available on Blackboard at the scheduled lecture time. Participation in tutorials is expected.

Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with: 

• Your name 
• Your student ID 
• The course code 
• A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference) 
• Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP 

Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team. 

Aims and outcomes

This course explores the multiple ways in which identities are continually produced and reproduced via various media and in media representations.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

In-Class Quizzes

• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

30% Weekly

Due date

25/08/2025 - 20/10/2025

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Because the assessment counts only 5 of 8 attempts, the ability to miss 3 instances is already built in.

Late submission

No late submissions permitted

Media Analysis

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

25% 1200 words

Due date

12/09/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L02, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.

TurnItIn Receipts: 

Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial. 

When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can: 

• View the name of the submitted file 
• View date and time of the upload 
• Resubmit your paper (if necessary) 
• Download your submitted paper 
• Download digital receipt. 

If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work). 

If the submission was not successful: 

• Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).  
• Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again. 
• If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached. 

Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment. 

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Final Paper Proposal

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Notebook/ Logbook

Weight

15% Formative

Due date

26/09/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.

TurnItIn Receipts: 

Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial. 

When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can: 

• View the name of the submitted file 
• View date and time of the upload 
• Resubmit your paper (if necessary) 
• Download your submitted paper 
• Download digital receipt. 

If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work). 

If the submission was not successful: 

• Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).  
• Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again. 
• If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached. 

Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment. 

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Students seeking extensions may not receive feedback before the final project is due.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Final Paper

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique

Weight

30% 2000-2300 words

Due date

31/10/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.

TurnItIn Receipts: 

Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial. 

When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can: 

• View the name of the submitted file 
• View date and time of the upload 
• Resubmit your paper (if necessary) 
• Download your submitted paper 
• Download digital receipt. 

If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work). 

If the submission was not successful: 

• Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).  
• Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again. 
• If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached. 

Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment. 

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

• Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%. 
• Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply. ﾠ 

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

• Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available under ‘Assessment’ in Blackboard learn.uq.edu.au. 
• Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator. 
• Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request. 
• Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university. 
• Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released. 

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Other course materials

Additional learning resources information

All required and recommended learning resources are linked from Blackboard, where they are organised by date and topic. Please use Blackboard as your point of access to ALL course materials.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

Course guidelines

Students are advised to pay special attention to course-specific instructions for the appropriate use and documentation of generative AI, paraphrasing tools, and machine translation. These instructions are outlined in the assessment descriptions on Blackboard.

Communication Expectations  

While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.   

• Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.   
• You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.    
• You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.   
• You can send email at any time, however, please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).   
• Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.