HCCK03281U COG Cognition and Audiovisual Communication

The module gives students a knowledge and understanding of how audiovisual communication can be seen as tailored to—and analysable in terms of—humans'ʹ innate perceptual–cognitive and emotional faculties. With reference to a range of key concepts in cognitive theory (including, but not limited to; attention, perception, affect, empathy, memory, and emotion), the course will teach students to analyse both the form and content of media across formats and genres. Key competencies are achieved by discussing how different configurations of cognitive and emotional disposition are elicited across media, and how these manifest different audience responses, thereby producing variable outcomes and fulfilling different functions and/or gratifications.

The course can be loosely divided into three parts. In the first batch of sessions, a theoretical framework drawing from the nascent discipline of cognitive media theory is constructed. Early sessions'ʹ adherence to a key work within cognitive film theory ensures structure and coherence, while also introducing foundational ideas about audiences and their responses as fundamentally affectual and emotional. By way of context, this part of the course also enables students to critically contrast and situate cognitive film theory in relation to more traditional forms of screen theory and media analysis.

The second part of the course, looking at exemplary texts that offer entry points into much larger discussions, introduces additional perspectives on different genres, the psychophysiology of emotions, and how these coalesce to produce audiences’ emotional gratifications.

Finally, the third part of the course offers collaborative exam workshops. Students will have the opportunity to produce synopses for their essays, and to present and discuss their ideas in detail with constructive feedback from the course lecturer and peers alike.

There will also be a guest lecture, and potentially a specialised workshop on immersive simulation (VR) media, dependant on student interest. Sessions combine lectures and class teaching, as well as written exercises and occasional oral presentations. The exam is a 20–25 standard pages written home assignment.