Admission requirements
This course is exclusively for students of the Minor Disinformation and Strategic Communication in Global Media. For this course, no language skills other than English are required to work with the study materials.
Description
The regional electives in block 1 and 2 focus on information dissemination and power structures in local media landscapes.
This regional elective introduces students to the role that disinformation, misinformation, propaganda, and soft power play in Chinese-language media ecologies, specifically how strategic communication functions in and related to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The course also examines the influence of China in disinformation and misinformation in other contexts, including how the spectre of China and Chineseness is implicated in both pro- and anti-PRC communication campaigns.
In the Chinese-language sphere, the PRC maintains a carefully managed media environment, in which corporations, state agencies, and party institutions control content and push propaganda statements. At the same time, diverse actors including fan groups and activists carve out their own spaces within that environment. The course explores how these groups both challenge dominant state narratives and collide with each other in the construction of their own personal and communal truths.
The party and state attempt to ‘tell China’s stories well,’ both at home and abroad. Exploring this, the course examines a range of communication strategies, from overt ‘white’ propaganda that informs foreign audiences of official positions to ‘black’ campaigns meant to obfuscate, distract, and seed doubt in other contexts.
Outside of the PRC the idea of China and Chineseness is used by a range of actors and institutions in strategic communications. In examining this, the course examines textual and visual anti-China rhetoric from politicians, religious organisations, and media organisations outside of China to understand how China is used during strategic communication campaigns.
Please be reminded that this is not an introduction to contemporary China course, students are expected to have a basic knowledge of contemporary Chinese affairs and should be regularly reading about Chinese affairs. Students should attempt to independently develop a deeper knowledge of Chinese affairs.
Course objectives
Participants in this course will acquire the following:
An understanding of theories that help analyse and research political communication processes.
An in depth understanding of disinformation and misinformation in the Chinese context.
The ability to relate media content and its information to production, distribution, and reception processes in the Chinese-speaking world.
The ability to produce reports, present dossiers, and engage in group-work related to case studies from contemporary China.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
- Seminar.
Assessment method
Assessment
Regular course assignments and oral participation
Final paper
Regular, punctual attendance, thorough preparation of the reading materials, and continuous participation in plenary discussions are also expected.
Attendance is compulsory. Missing more than one tutorial means that students will be excluded from the tutorials. Unauthorized absence also applies to being unprepared, not participating and/or not bringing the relevant course materials to class.
Weighing
Regular course assignments and oral participation: 40%
Final paper: 60%; minimum grade required: 5,5
The final mark for the course is established by determination of the weighted average combined with additional requirements. The additional requirement is a minimum of a 5,5 for the final paper. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Resit
A resit is only possible for a failed final paper.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
The general required reading will be announced throughout the course via Brightspace.
Before the course begins and to help you develop a basic knowledge of China please read:
- Wasserstrom, J.N. 2016. The Oxford illustrated history of modern China. Oxford University Press.
For an awareness of current affairs, please follow the following mailing lists and websites:
Trivium China
Politico China Watcher
Sinocism
China Report MIT Technology Review
Chartbook by Adam Tooze
Pekingnology
China Digital Times
China Global South Project
Please listen to this podcast:
- Sinica
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal.
Remarks
Not applicable.