UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN (UTAR)

FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE (FAS)

JUNE 2016
COURSE OUTLINE AND COURSEWORK
Unit Code

MPU33063/UAPS2013

Unit Title

Culture and Communication

Lead lecturer & tutor

Mr. Chang Yi Chang

ychang@utar.edu.my

Mode of Delivery

Lecture (2 hours) & Tutorial (1 hour)

Total Credit Hours

Course

:
:

3
English Education, Journalism, Psychology,
Microbiology, Public Relations.

Consultation Hours

Room

Tuesday: 2 4 pm
Wednesday: 11 am 1 pm
PF 044

A. OBJECTIVES
1. To demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationship between culture,
communication and society.
2. To develop the ability to capture the components and dynamics of social and
cultural interaction.
3. To provide theoretical framework to examine power relationship of the
communication activities in different social and cultural context.
B. LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Describe major key concepts of cultural studies, such as signifying process,
representation, articulation, power, text, subjectivity and identity.
2. Elaborate cultural communication by relating to the material base of the society.
3. Explain how culture and communication are structured in the social stratification
systems available.
4. Identify areas and contexts where cultural influences and contestations take
place.
5. Elaborate and assess the contestation of culture and communication.

Page 2 of 9
C. LECTURE AND TUTORIAL SCHEDULE
Week
Week
2

Week
3

Week
4

Week
5

Lecture Topic
Tutorial Topics
Introduction - Concepts in
Briefing/Ice breaking.
Cultural Studies
1. Why study culture and
Discussion of assignment topics.
communication?
2. What is cultural studies?
Language-game of cultural
studies
Centre for Contemporary
Cultural Studies (CCCS)
Cultural studies as an interdisciplinary area
3. Key concepts of cultural studies
Culture and Socialization
Classroom discussion:
1.
Modernization is not a temporal
1. Definition of culture
concept. Why?
2. Components of culture
2.
Modernism as a cultural
3. Elements of culture
experience or structure of
4. Characteristic of culture
feeling that is underpinned by
5. The Development of Self
the social processes of
6. Agents of socialization
a) Individualization
b) Differentiation
c) Commodification
d) Urbanization
e) Rationalization
f) Bureaucratization
Define and discuss each of the
term above with relevant
examples.
Social Stratification and Cultural
Classroom discussion:
Communication
1. Why is meaning central to the
1. Economy, Technology and
concept of culture?
Social Class
2. Raymond Williams considered
culture is ordinary and is a
The Bases of Stratification
whole way of life. In what way
Stratification Systems
can culture be considered
New Approaches to
ordinary?
Stratification
3. What are the connections
Globalization and
between culture and
Stratification
communication? By what
2. State and social stratification
methods do we construct
3. Class, Ideology and Culture
meaning?
4. Explain the subjectivity of culture
in relations with the concepts of
nature and nurture.
Social Stratification and Cultural
Classroom discussion:
Communication
5. Why is meaning central to the
4. Economy, Technology and
concept of culture?
Social Class
6. Raymond Williams considered
culture is ordinary and is a
The Bases of Stratification
whole way of life. In what way
Stratification Systems
can culture be considered
New Approaches to
ordinary?
Stratification
7. What are the connections
Globalization and
between culture and
Stratification
communication? By what

Assignments
Formation of
assignment
groups
(written term
paper and
presentation)

Page 3 of 9

Week

Lecture Topic
5. State and social stratification
6. Class, Ideology and Culture

Week
6

Culture, Perceptions and Values

1. Diverse cultural patterns
2. Hofstedes value dimensions

Week
7

Language and communication

1. Function of language
2. Language and culture
3. Language as signifying system
4. Language, knowledge and
power

Week
8

Nonverbal communication
1. The importance of nonverbal
communication
2. Functions of nonverbal
communication
3. Nonverbal communication and
power

Week
9

Deep Structure of Culture I

1. modernization, the rise of
medicine and sexuality

Tutorial Topics
methods do we construct
meaning?
Explain the subjectivity of culture in
relations with the concepts of
nature and nurture.
Classroom discussion:
1.
What is the Deep Structure
of a culture? What are their
functions and impact?
2.
Families are changing
because of globalization,
modernization, and a shift in
traditional values. How do you
think these changes might
influence the following?
a) Gender roles
b) Treatment of the elderly
c) Socialization of young children
d) Family size
Classroom discussion
1.
Cultures differ in their
perception and use of space and
distance, time and silence.
Elaborate with suitable
examples.
2.
What problems could arise
from not understanding
differences in nonverbal behavior
and how can we avoid
misinterpretation?
3.
In trimester end students
survey, lecturers tend to receive
a range of comments, such as
patient, friendly, professional,
emotional, scary,
unapproachable, etc. What
verbal and nonverbal cues might
have been sent by your
lecturer(s) that led your to give
the above-stated (or other)
comments?
Classroom discussion:
1. Explain following concepts:
Language
Text
Signifier and signified
Denotation and connotation
Representation
Mythology
2. Discuss media representations
of the following:
Race / ethnicity
Gender / sex
Class / status
Classroom discussion:
1. How does one class justify
domination over another?
Discuss by providing local

Assignments

Assignment
presentation
Group 1

Page 4 of 9

Week

Lecture Topic

2. family, gender and identity

3. gender and media

Week
10

Week
11

Week
12

Week
13

Week
14

Week
14

Deep Structure of Culture II

1. Religion as culture and
institution
2. Social change and religion
3. Globalization and religious
movement
4. Secularism
Ethnic Identity
1. Modernization and ethno
nationalism
2. Mass media and imagined
community
3. Hybridity of culture
4. Race, ethnicity and
representation
Globalization and Culture I
1. Culture Imperialism
2. Colonialism
3. Orientalism
4. Globalization and Localization
5. Space and place
6. Social construction of place
7. City as cultural place
8. Political economy of city

Tutorial Topics
examples.
2. How do soap operas present
ideology about the family?
3. How does news coverage act
as ideology in relation to the law
and social security?
Tutorial Presentation

Assignments

Assignment
presentation
Group 2
Submission of
assignment
Group 1

Tutorial Presentation

Assignment
presentation
Group 3
Submission of
assignment
Group 2

Tutorial Presentation

Assignment
presentation
Group 4
Submission of
assignment
Group 3

Globalization and Culture II

1. Mass Culture and Mass Society
2. Culture industry
3. popular culture and mass
culture
4. Consumerism
5. Cyber space, class and identity
Youth, Style and Resistance
1. Youth as cultural classification
2. Subculture
3. Counterculture

Tutorial Presentation

Submission of
assignment
Group 5

Past Years Review

Classroom
discussion.

Review

Unit Review

Classroom
discussion.

D. READING LIST
Main References:
1. Samovar, L. A., & Porter, R. E. (2013). Communication between cultures (8th ed.).
California, CA: Wadsworth.
2. Barker, C. (2012). Cultural studies: Theory and practice (4th ed.). London: Sage.

Additional References:

Page 5 of 9
1. Abdul Rahman Embong (Ed.). (2004). Globalization, culture & inequality. Bangi: UKM.
2. Cohen, A. P. (2013). The symbolic construction of community.New York, NY: Routledge.
3. Gudykunst, W., & Young, Y. K. (2002). Communicating with strangers: An approach to
intercultural communication.New Jersey, NJ: McGraw-Hill.
4. Jenks, C. (2005). Culture (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
5. Maznah, Mohamad; & Wong, S. K. (Eds.). (2001). Risking Malaysia: Culture, politics and
identity. Bangi: UKM.
6. Samovar, L. A., & Porter, R. E. (2015). Intercultural communication: A reader (14th ed.).
New York, NY: Wadsworth.
7. Zawawi, Ibrahim (1998). Cultural contestations: Mediating identities in a changing
Malaysian society. London: ASEAN Academic Press.

E. METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
No. Method of Assessment
1.
Coursework
- Mid Term Test 10%
- Group assignment 20%
- Presentation 20%
(Grp. Assessment: 10%,
Ind. Asessment: 10%)
2.
Final Examination

Total
50%

GRAND TOTAL

100%

50%

F. COURSEWORK

Mid Term Test (10%)

A simple mid-term test would be scheduled in week eight (8). The format of test
paper, time, venue, and duration of the test would be confirmed later.

Group Presentation (20%)

The presentation starts in WEEK EIGHT and ends in WEEK TWELVE.

Presentation handout in the form of power point slides MUST be provided to
the tutor, at least 2 working days before the presentation
Presentation handout in the form of power point slides MUST be provided to
fellow students of the same tutorial group on the day of the presentation
One copy of written report MUST be submitted ONE WEEK after the
presentation (i.e. Monday of Week 5, should the presentation falls on Monday
of Week 4, in other words, it means to submit the written report to the tutor
during tutorial of the following week)
Guidelines of the group presentation as follows:
Students should form 5 groups
The duration of each presentation should be between 20-30 minutes

Page 6 of 9

It is pertinent to have every member of the group to present

The group should portray a good image and team spirit

Assessment Criteria
Aspect
Mark allocation
Individual
Appearance, eye contact and
voice
Ability to answer questions
Group
Contents
Slides attractiveness
TOTAL

4%

/10

6%
7%
3%

/10
/20

Group Assignment (20%)

The Iceberg Theory divides culture into three levels: The surface, just below
surface and deep structure, which respectively means the observable behavior,
behavior that takes some times to recognize, and the unrecognized thought
patterns and values. Of the three levels, understand the unrecognized deep
structure is the most important step towards successful intercultural
communication. This is because the deep structure answers questions such as,
what unifies a culture, what makes each culture unique, and what explains the
how and why of a cultures collective action.
In this assignment, you are required to trace how the deep structure of a
particular culture determines the members perception, values, behavior, etc.
toward perspectives listed below.

Group 1
Deep structure of a culture and the members perception, values, behavior,
etc. toward Filial respect for the elderly
Group 2
Deep structure of a culture and the members perception, values, behavior,
etc. toward Money and profits

Group 3
Deep structure of a culture and the members perception, values, behavior,
etc. toward Death and funeral
Group 4
Deep structure of a culture and the members perception, values, behavior,
etc. toward Education and Knowledge

Group 5

Page 7 of 9
Deep structure of a culture and the members perception, values, behavior,
etc. toward Government and Politics
Guidance:
1. Students should form 5 groups (as the presentation group)
2. Each group will be given ONE of the FIVE perspectives regarding Deep
Structure of a Culture as stated above.
3. Students should first decide on a culture to be studied, for example the Malay,
Chinese or Indian (by race); Jawanese, Hokkien or Tamil (by dialect), Northern,
Central or Southern (by region), Urban, Suburban or rural (by area) etc.
4. Next, students should proceed to identify unique cultural practice, behavior,
perception, value or stereotype, etc. of the particular chosen culture, in regards to
the given perspective (either education, government and politics, or death and
funeral).
5. Then, students should figure out a suitable title for the study. For example,
Derhaka and the Malays Filial Piety, A comparative study between Chinese
and Malay attitudes toward education, Death and funeral in the perception of
the Kamparian Hindus.
6. Then, students need to explore the deep structure (family, community history,
religion) of the chosen culture to trace the formation of uniqueness as stated in
item 4 above.
7. For justifications, students should produce a conceptual and historical review of
the chosen culture.
8. Also, students may conduct field study (survey or interview) to gather relevant
data and vivid evidence.
9. Students should then sort and analyse information gathered and write a report.
10. Students are expected to make judgment based on the literature review, data and
information, observation, and appreciation of issue discussed.
11. Each group should produce a written report and submit it within 1 week after the
tutorial presentation is held.
12. Guidelines for the Written Report as follows:
i. Length of text: Between 10 and12 pages (exclude the preliminary pages,
references list and appendix).
ii. There should be at least FIVE NON-ONLINE materials listed as references.
iii. Citation Format: APA referencing. You may refer to:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
iv. Front page should indicate the university, faculty and course title,
assignment topic, lecturers name, tutors name, students name and ID
number, mark box and date of submission (Please use the group
assignment cover provided).
v. Use white A4 paper (cover and content), double spacing, Times New Roman
12 pt. single side printed, page numbering (bottom right), margins of the
text should be1 inch (all sides).
vi. Bind your work with staple(s) only. NO TAPE or COMB BINDING.

Assessment criteria:
Aspect
Mark allocation

Page 8 of 9

Title and Introduction

Elaboration and Literature Review

/ 15
/ 30

Analysis and Justification

/ 25
Conclusion

/ 10

Organization and structure

/ 10

Originality

/5

Referencing Format

/5

TOTAL
/ 100
[The TOTAL will be converted to 20% of total coursework mark]
Deadline of Submission: ONE WEEK after group presentation. Hand in both
softcopy (a CD, includes all pictures, videos and other multimedia visual aids
used for presentation) and hardcopy.
WARNING
Plagiarism is definitely unacceptable. If student is found copying, paraphrasing,
summarizing, or quoting from journal article, chapter of book, book, newspaper or
any form of writing (especially from internet) without citing the source, the whole
assignment will be rejected.
Ethical Integrity: Students are expected to perform in the name ethical integrity as
scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated. You are expected properly cite any
material in your coursework. Failure to cite proper information (i.e., plagiarism will be
consider as an major academic offence)
Communication:
If student have any academic inquiries concern on the subject knowledge and
assignment, they are encourage to communicate with their lecture and tutor
via e mail. Please allow 7 working days for responses.

Students must read certain materials prior meeting the lecturer/ tutor for
assignment discussion

Policy Statement on Students Recording of Lectures:

Recording of Lectures Students will normally have the opportunity to make audio
recordings of course lectures for study purposes only.
Lecturers consent to record will not normally be refused without good reasons.

Page 9 of 9

Any recording is for the students use in relation to their studies but it may be
shared in a similar way that lecture notes are shared, with other students on
the same course. In no circumstances, however, should a recording be made
available to other parties. Once the recording has served its study purpose, it
should be erased.

Once the recording has served its study purpose, it should be erased.

Students may be asked to turn off their recording device when other students
do not want their personal contribution recorded.

Students may be asked to turn off their recording device during parts of a
lecture when deemed appropriate by the lecturer

Acceptable grounds for not allowing student recording of all or part of a

lecture include:

1. Where the lecture is likely to have repeated or substantial student speech or

interactions
2. Where the lecture includes sensitive content
3. Where the lecture is delivered by a visiting lecturer

The making, use or retention of recordings in contravention of this policy statement

for example, where consent to record has not been granted, or a recording
has been uploaded to the internet - will be considered as a breach of the
Code of Student Conduct, and may also be subject to legal action.

Lastly, you may not expose or upload recording of the lecture

elsewhere; the recording is SOLELY for academic usage only.

Policy adopted and amendet from:

http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_359179_en.pdf
Course Evaluation/ Student Survey:
Students are expected to provide feedback on the overall course content, qualities of
the academic (subject knowledge-lectures and material given) and shall provide
constructive and valuable feedbacks for improvement on subject knowledge.
Revision: 17/05/2016
*Guideline subject to be change base of academic decision.