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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "COM 220-3"
COURSE NAME: "Media, Culture and Society"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2022
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Helton Levy
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 8:30-9:45 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: COM 111
OFFICE HOURS:
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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 splits in two parts. The first one covers the history of communications before the popularization of the Internet, as the second part emphasises the media influence after the Internet.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Learn how to distinguish mass media from other types of media and gain a better understanding of various forms of communication developed by humans over time.
2. Develop an understanding of the origins, forces, and principles that helped shape the media.
3. Learn how to critically evaluate the relationship between media, culture and society.
4. Develop an awareness of legal and ethical issues that media users and practitioners may face.
5. Examine current and future trends in media and how media are changing in the 21st century.
6. Gain a better understanding of media’s effects on themselves, society, culture, religion, politics, and populations.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Group research projects | A research report will be conducted over the course of 7 weeks. The topic will be chosen by midterm and the development will be supervised by the professor. | 30 |
| Individual research report | Students are expected to write a research report about one of the topics seen during weeks 1-7 reflecting on which of these topics mostly impact our media consumption today. | 40 |
| Weekly exercises | Students must attend weekly activities aimed at updating the class about ongoing projects and join exercises that will prepare them for the creation of the research project and sharpen their skills in critical analysis. | 15 |
| Attendance and participation | Students are expected to attend lectures and be responsive to exercises with colleagues or on an individual basis | 15 |
-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 evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference 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:
This module uses an engaged research-led teaching approach. This means that the module is designed as space for collective inquiry around a “real-life” problem or question. Students taking this module engage in “learning by doing” and undertake group projects with guidance from the module convenors
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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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Every student will be writing a research-based critical essay based on a topic related to their future group presentation or other of their interest to be delivered on week 7. This assignment should be a stepping stone for the group research project.
Part 1 - Before the Internet
This part sets the foundations for the understanding of the media as an advent of our time. It focuses on developments that took place before the popularization of the Internet.
Week 1 - Writing and printing
Readings:
Kovarik, B. (2015) Revolutions in Communication. Part 1 – The Printing Revolution
Exercise reading/viewing:
Curran, J. & Seaton, J (2007). The ugly face of reform. In: Power Without Responsibility. Routledge.File
Week 2 - Advertising
Readings:
Kovarik, B. (2015) Revolutions in Communication. Part 2 - The Visual Revolution
Hodkinson, P (2010) Media, Culture and Society: 3 Media Industry, 9 - Advertising - The development of advertising.
Exercise reading/viewing:
The Century of the Self (BBC documentary)URL
Week 3 - Electronic media
Readings:
Kovarik, B. (2015) Revolutions in Communication. Part 3 – The Electronic Revolution
Hodkinson, P. (2010) Media, Culture & Society. Part 1.- Elements of media/media technologies
Exercise reading/viewing:
Postman, N. (1998) 5 Things We Know About Technological Change. File
Lessons from the Luddites
Week 4 - Television and mass media
Readings:
Kovarik, B. (2015) Revolution in Communication. Part 3/9 - Television: A new window on the world.
Hodkinson, P. (2010) Media, Culture & Society. Part 3 -Media Industries
Exercise reading/viewing:
Pew Die Pie excerpt [YouTube]
Week 5 - Journalism
Readings:
Kovarik, B. (2015) Revolutions in Communications. Part 1/3 - Print media in the 19th and 20th century.
Hodkinson, P (2010) Media, Culture and Society: 7- The construction of the news, Public Service or Entertainment?/2 - The Media and the Public Sphere
Exercise reading/viewing:
Pickard - The crisis in journalism
Week 6 - Computer and software
Readings:
Kovarik, B. (2015) Revolutions in Communications. Part 4 - The digital revolution
Hodkinson, P. (2010) Media, Culture & Society - Part 1 - Elements of Media/Into the Digital Age
Week 7 - Review and catch-up
Revisit all highlighted sections above.
Part 2 - After the Internet - This part conjugates knowledge that exposes the foundations of our digital age. Every week explores a phenomenon or institution that has made the media industry after the popularization of the Internet.
Week 8 - Political economy
Readings:
Hodkinson, P. (2010) Media, Culture & Society. Part 1 - Elements of media/media organization & Part 3 - Media, Power & Control - Political Economy & Ideology
Week 9 - Audiences
Readings:
Hodkinson, P. (2010) Media, Culture & Society. Part 1 Elements of Media - Media Users
Exercise reading/viewing:
Live-streaming industry in China [YouTube]
Week 10 - Media representations
Readings
Hodkinson, P. (2010). Media, Culture & Society. Part 3 - Media, Identity, and Culture - Media, Community & Difference
Kovarik, B. (2015) Revolutions in Communication. Part 2 - The Visual Revolution - Photography
Week 11 - Digital advertising
Readings
Hodkinson, P. (2010) Media, Culture & Society. Part 2 - Media, Power, Control/9 Advertising
Week 12 - Media and identity
Readings
Hodkinson, P. (2010). Media, Culture & Society. Part 3- Media, Identity & Culture.
Week 13 - Technology and simulacra
Read before lecture:
Hodkinson, P. (2010). Media, Culture & Society. Part 3/ 14 - Saturation, Fluidity, and Loss of Meaning
Exercise reading/viewing:
Facebook and the new metaverseURL
Baudrillard, J. (1980) Simulation and simulacrum.File
Week 14 - Alternative media
Readings
Hodkinson, P. (2010). Media, Culture & Society. Part 2 / 10 - Media and the Public Sphere. A Digital Public Sphere?
Exercise reading/viewing:
Atton, C. (2002) Alternative media.
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