Chinese Society – China and MediaLaajuus (5 cr)

Objective

After completion of the course the student is able to
- describe the central role of media in Chinese politics, economy and society
- explain how media-control machine of the Party function
- explicate culturally subtle tactics how netizens attempt to voice their sarcasm and even politically dissent voices within the most efficient online control machine of the world
- dissect means and content of the ongoing “Corona-virus media-war” (propaganda) both within China and globally
- identify how China is conducting global corona disinformation campaign / war.

Content

The Chinese Society – China and Media course offers students insight into the important role of media, social media, emerging new ways of interacting in daily life and the role of censorship in the Chinese society. The course illustrates how media and social media in particular are changing society, reflect social and popular issues, and how the partisan voices are circumventing the censorship machine, and how innovative interplay of language and expressions are utilized in this cat and mouse game with netizens’ desire to express sensitive issues. We will also focus on the world-shaking Corona virus media discussion and how Beijing is carrying out both domestic and global media and information war on the virus.

The internet, online wholesaling, games and social media in general have become an inseparable part of Chinese people’s daily life. This revolutionary development has been paralleled with the rise of global media giants; companies such as Baidu, Tencent and Alibaba and number of other Chinese high-tech companies and restricting Western internet companies, such as Google and YouTube, to operate in China. The course also introduces these global leading companies, their role, strategies and intriguing relationship with the Party and its censorship machine in China.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Fail: Performance is highly deficient or erroneous. The work may be based on serious misunderstandings.

Sufficient and satisfactory (1-2): Performance is lacking in scope, superficial, or corresponds poorly to the assignment. The student is unable to illustrate that he/she has studied the material or/and merely lists things out of context or addresses them one-sidedly. The work contain errors or obscurities.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good and very good (3-4): Performance corresponds to the assignment, manifesting comprehension and a skill of the study material. The author addresses mostly correctly to the assignments and, but the work/tasks may contain some deficiencies.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5): Performance is excellent and the students illustrates deep knowledge of the study material / topic. The answers/analysis of the assignments are mostly or completely flawless and / or illustrates justified thinking or critical contemplation. The work is well written and implemented.

Materials

The study material of the course consists of lecture teaching, online videos, articles, book chapters and documentaries that will be delivered to students during the course.