The University of Hong Kong Capstone project in media and cultural studies
Offer semester
1st semester
Course description
The Capstone Project is a six-credit compulsory course for major students to be offered in the final year of study. It aims to provide students with the opportunity to integrate their knowledge and skills in the study of media and culture in modern societies through a series of workshop, class discussion, student presentations, portfolio work and experiential learning.
The Capstone Project should normally be undertaken in a small group of two or three students. Students will be allocated a Supervisor who will help them identify a topic of interest that is relevant to the core discipline. All projects should contain an element of public engagement.
Capstone fair
Our students showcase their research findings at a regular sociology capstone fair, punctuated by performance, games, interactive displays and film screening.
Past capstone fairs:
Related courses
Course learning outcomes
By the end of the course, you are expected to have the ability to:
- Demonstrate their knowledge of the key concepts in media and cultural studies;
- Analyse a topic of study with critical and reflexive perspectives;
- Articulate their learning experience into a written paper, other forms of creative output or community activities;
- Communicate the outcome of their study and their conceptually informed views to a public audience;
- Participate in group environment as well as in a larger community.
Assessment
| Tasks | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Project proposal | 10% |
| Process Records/Portfolios | 35% |
| Final work | 20% |
| Public Engagement | 35% |
Required reading
Becker, Howard S. 1986. Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article, with a chapter by Pamela Richards. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Becker, Howard S. 2007. Telling About Society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Harper, Douglas. 1988. “Visual Sociology: Expanding Sociological Vision.” The American Sociologist, Volume 19, Issue 1, pp.54-70.
Turner, Victor W., and Edward M. Bruner. 1986. The Anthropology of Experience. Urbana : University of Illinois Press.
Course co-ordinator and teachers
Sylvia J Martin
Assistant ProfessorResearch interests: Cultural anthropology, Media industries, Performance, Globalization and transnationalism, Participatory culture, Anthropology of work, Gender, Race and ethnicity, EthnographySee full profileTom McDonald
Assistant ProfessorResearch interests: Anthropology, Consumption, China, Religion, Internet, Economics, Social relationships, Material culture, MediaSee full profileVictor Shin
Assistant ProfessorResearch interests: Economic sociology, Organizations and institutions, Sociology of media and culture, Development and globalizationSee full profileWang Liping
Assistant ProfessorResearch interests: Political sociology, Social theory, Comparative historical sociology, Ethnic studies, Sociology of knowledge and culture, Modern and contemporary ChinaSee full profileCarmen K M Tong
LecturerResearch interests: Education and schooling, Gender and sexualities, Self and identity, Media and cultural studies, Human-animal relationshipsSee full profileAu-Yeung Shing
LecturerResearch interests: Cultural policy, Production of culture, Sociology of art, New mediaSee full profileJulie Ham
Assistant ProfessorResearch interests: Gender and migration, Sex work, Trafficking, Intersectionality, Domestic work, Civil society, Social justiceSee full profilePaul Joosse
Assistant ProfessorResearch interests: Social theory, Criminology, Cultural sociology, Religion, Social movements, Terrorism studiesSee full profile