Information Package / Course Catalogue
Communication and Cultural Heritage
Course Code: İLT315
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 3
Prt.: 0
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 5
Objectives of the Course

The objective of this course is to examine the concepts of tangible and intangible cultural heritage from the perspective of communication sciences, to analyze the role of media in the construction and preservation of cultural memory, and to enable students to develop a critical approach towards the processes of transmitting, documenting, and presenting cultural heritage to the public.

Course Content

The course covers the relationships between cultural heritage, social memory, representation, and identity politics. It addresses how media tools (cinema, television, digital publishing) represent cultural heritage, the role of communication in cultural diplomacy processes, and the digitization of heritage sites. The preservation of local cultures in the face of globalization and their reproduction through mass media define the boundaries of the course.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.Explains the concepts of tangible and intangible cultural heritage within the framework of communication studies.
2.Identifies how cultural heritage is represented in media texts using critical perspective.
3.Evaluates the functions of mass media in the construction and transmission of cultural memory.
4.Understands communication strategies for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.
5.Identifies potential of digital archiving, virtual museology, and new media applications in cultural heritage communication.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Chiapparini, A., “Communication and Culture - Why and How Communication Should Become a Support Instrument in Heritage Conservation Process”, in DROCHYTKA, R., BOHUS, S., Building Materials and Building Technology to Preserve Built Heritage, 2nd WTA-International PhD Symposium, October 6-7, 2011, Brno, Czech Republic, WTA Publications, vol.2, part-1, pp.146-156, 2011.
2.Ott, M., Pozzi, F., “Towards a new era for Cultural Heritage Education: Discussing the role of ICT”, in Computers in Human Behavior, n.27, 2011, pp.1365–1371.
3.Schuster, J.M., “Choosing the Right Tool(s) for the Task”, in SHUSTER J.M., Preserving the Built Heritage. Tools for Implementation, , Hanover, (New Hampshire – USA), University Press of New England, 1997, pp.124- 153.
4.Assmann, J. (2011). Cultural memory and early civilization: Writing, remembrance, and political imagination. Cambridge University Press.
5.Öksüz Kuşçuoğlu, G., & Taş, M. (2017). Sürdürülebilir kültürel miras yönetimi. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Yalvaç Akademi Dergisi, 2(1), 58-67.
6.https://www.kulturelmiras.org/
7.https://dijitalkulturelmiras.com/
8.https://unesco.org.tr/
9.https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Introduction to the concepts of culture, heritage, and communication; fundamental definitions and interdisciplinary approaches.
Week 2 - Theoretical
Tangible and intangible cultural heritage; UNESCO criteria and international communication networks.
Week 3 - Theoretical
Social memory and communication; the reconstruction of the past through media and cultural tools.
Week 4 - Theoretical
Representations of cultural heritage in mass media; analysis of television documentaries and cultural programs.
Week 5 - Theoretical
Cinema and cultural heritage; visual representation of space and tradition in national and international cinema.
Week 6 - Theoretical
Cultural diplomacy and mass communication; the strategic use of heritage in international image construction.
Week 7 - Theoretical
Globalization, homogenization, and local heritage; preservation of local identities and media resistance against mass culture.
Week 8 - Theoretical
Museum communication and exhibition practices; structuring museums as communication spaces and analyzing visitor experience.
Week 9 - Theoretical
Digital cultural heritage and virtual museology; examination of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications.
Week 10 - Theoretical
Cultural heritage journalism; rights-based and protective broadcasting principles regarding cultural assets in print and digital media.
Week 11 - Theoretical
Cultural heritage and tourism communication; destination management, public relations campaigns, and the involvement of local communities.
Week 12 - Theoretical
Popular culture and the commodification of heritage; transformation of cultural elements in the context of advertisements and consumer culture.
Week 13 - Theoretical
Participatory archiving and community media; practices of local communities documenting their own heritage on digital platforms.
Week 14 - Theoretical
Current issues and ethics in cultural heritage communication; property rights, cultural appropriation, and media manipulations.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Attending Lectures5%5
Quiz1%10
Midterm Examination1%25
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory142370
Reading5015
Quiz1000
Midterm Examination117118
Final Examination125126
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)119
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
PÇ-13
OÇ-1
4
5
4
OÇ-2
4
4
5
4
OÇ-3
5
5
4
4
4
OÇ-4
4
5
4
4
OÇ-5
4
5
5
4
5
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026