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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "COM 220-2"
COURSE NAME: "Media, Culture and Society"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2018
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Kwame Phillips
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 1:30-2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: COM 111
OFFICE HOURS:
By appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines the mass media as complex social institutions that exercise multiple roles in society—none more crucial than the circulation and validation of social discourses. Introducing students to a variety of theoretical approaches, the course focuses on media operations and textual analysis.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course is divided in three main parts. The first part will focus on the analysis of the main elements of the media (media technologies, the organization of the media industry, media content and media users). The second part, Media, Power and Control, addresses questions of media power, manipulation, the construction of news, public service broadcasting, censorship, commercialization. The third and final part, Media, Identity and Culture, will focus on issues of media and ethnicity, gender, subcultures, audiences and fans.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The course aims to encourage students to understand the relationship between media representations and society. By the end of the course students are expected to:
• Be competent in the different models of analysis for the study of media organisations, media representations and media audiences
• Understand key theoretical perspectives and research traditions within media studies
• Have acquired advanced competences for the analysis of social and cultural functions of the media
• Have a certain understanding of the media structure (industry and technology)
• Understand the relationship between the mass media, society and culture on a basic theoretical level.
**It is highly recommended that you make use of the Communications Library Study Guide that is found at this link: https://johncabot.libguides.com/communications. It is an introductory guide for communication and media studies, journalism and cinema, and is extraordinarily valuable as a resource.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Media, Culture and Society: An Introduction (2nd Edition) | Paul Hodkinson | Sage | 978-1473902367 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Weekly reflection papers | 2 papers of 500-750 words. 1.5 spacing and 12 point font. The inclusion of images are encouraged where appropriate. It is highly recommended that the topic of the paper should be based on one of the questions or observations the student has come up with in the weekly assignment. | 10 |
| Mid-term Theory Paper | 3000-3500 words. 1.5 spacing and 12 point font. The inclusion of images are encouraged where appropriate. Students are required to write a research paper that is appropriate to the course material. Though the topic is open, it is highly recommended that students expand upon a topic from the weekly questions that they are required to submit for the readings. The paper should focus on some form of media product or products and be analyzed using one or more of the theoretical approaches discussed in the course. Please bear in mind that the paper should discuss media, culture and society. Please note, failure to hand in the midterm paper will result in failing the course. | 25 |
| Final Presentation | This will take the form of 15-20 minute group presentations. The presentations will be judged on the following criteria: critical thinking, quality of information, organization, visual design, oral presentation, grammar and spelling, and teamwork. The topic is open, but the paper should focus on some form of media product or products and be analyzed using one or more of the theoretical approaches discussed in the course. Please bear in mind that the presentation should discuss media, culture and society. Please note, failure to complete this presentation will result in failing the course. | 25 |
| Attendance and participation | Every student will be expected to participate in the class discussions. Failure to do so will severely impact your grade. | 15 |
| Bring your own news story | This will require students selecting and analyzing a news story in a short presentation in class. | 5 |
| Outlines | A one page outline for the midterm paper and the final presentation is required at least one week before they are due. | 10 |
| Weekly questions/observations | Every week students are required to provide via email a question or observation based on the readings that will be due the night before the first class of the week. | 10 |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised. There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material. Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included. In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
More than 2 unexcused absences will result in an F (Fail) grade for Attendance & Participation. More than 5 unexcused absences will result in failing the course. If unexcused, a tardy of more than 10 minutes will be counted as an absence. Lateness will affect the final grade. Every student is expected to do the readings when required and actively participate in class discussion. All the reading materials and course assignments will be posted on the class website.
-GRADING RUBRIC
Papers will be grading using the following criteria (and judged whether excellent, good, fair, needs work or insufficient):
1. Formatting (page numbers, bibliography, quotes, citations)
2. Sources (diverse, academic)
3. Organization (good transitions, definitions, structured argument)
4. Adherence to assignment guidelines (follows instructions, answers questions, covers topic)
5. Clarity (thesis stated and supported with examples, evidence, background, context)
6. Understanding terms and grasp of concepts
7. Originality
8. Style (readable, lucid, flow, makes sense, creative, academic, command of English)
9. Grammar, spelling, typos, sentence structure
10. Effort, passion, interest
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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• Readings listed here might be subject to change.
ELEMENTS OF MEDIA
Week 1
Course Overview and introduction: Shaping, mirroring and representing
Media Technologies
Reading: Chapters 1 and 2
Week 2
Media Content
Reading: Chapter 4
Week 3
Media Industries and Media Ideology
Readings: Chapter 3 and 6
FIRST SHORT PAPER DUE
MEDIA, POWER AND CONTROL
Week 4
Media Users // The Construction of News, Controlling Media Orientation and the Decline of the National Public
Readings: Chapters 5, 7 and 8
Week 5
‘Bring your own news story’ presentations
MEDIA, IDENTITY AND CULTURE
Week 6
Media and the Public Sphere // Media, Identities and Communities
Readings: Chapters 10, 11 and 14 + http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/23/503129818/study-finds-students-have-dismaying-inability-to-tell-fake-news-from-real
Week 7
Media and Intersectionality // Media and Age
Kimberle Crenshaw - "Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex- A Black Feminist" + Julia Twigg - "Fashion, the media and age."
ONE PAGE OUTLINE DUE
Week 8
Media and Gender (including body image)
Readings: Chapter 13 + Julia T. Wood - "Gendered Interaction: Masculine and Feminine Styles of Verbal Communication" + https://dynamicecology.wordpress.com/2017/07/06/guest-post-the-day-i-broke-some-twitter-feeds-insights-into-sexism-in-academia-part-1/
MID-TERM PAPER DUE
Week 9
Media and Sexuality
Readings: Chapter 13 + Diane Raymond - "Popular Culture and Queer Representation" + http://anti-imperialism.org/2014/02/24/on-the-social-construction-of-sex-part-1/
Week 10
Media, Race and Ethnicity (including language and regional background)
Readings: Chapter 12 + http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/may/09/from-apu-to-master-of-none-how-us-pop-culture-tuned-into-the-south-asian-experience + http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-capicola-became-gabagool-the-italian-new-jersey-accent-explained
SECOND SHORT PAPER DUE
Week 11
Media and Socio-Economic Status/Class (including family makeup, academic and social achievement) // Media and Beliefs (Political, Social, Religious)
Readings: http://www.atlantamagazine.com/homeandgarden/the-gentrifier/ + https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/arts/television/what-tv-says-about-race-and-money.html + http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/15/riz-ahmed-typecast-as-a-terrorist + http://fair.org/extra/the-jewish-media-the-lie-that-wont-die/
Week 12
Media and Ability (Mental, Physical, Learning Differences)
Readings: Lingling Zhang & Beth Haller - "Consuming Image: How Mass Media Impact the Identity of People with Disabilities"
ONE PAGE OUTLINE DUE
Week 13
Final presentations
Week 14
Wrap up and Review
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