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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "COM 220-5"
COURSE NAME: "Media, Culture and Society"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2023
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Lesia Kulchynska
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: COM 111
OFFICE HOURS:
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.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course splits in three parts. The first one covers the history of communications, the second discusses the issues and challenges to understand the media before and the popularization of the Internet, as the third part discusses the future of the relationship between media, culture, and society.

 


 
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.

 
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Revolutions in CommunicationsBill KovarikBloomsbury1628924780     
Media, Culture & SocietyPaul HodkinsonSage978-1449330064     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Final group researchA research report will be conducted over the course of 7 weeks. The topic will be chosen by midterm with the professor's supervision. All projects will take the shape of seminars to take place at the end of the course.35
Midterm research projectStudents are expected to propose a research project based on current issues in media and communications. All students should submit the same version of the project. Further orientation on the project format will be given in the classroom.25
Attendance, participation, and weekly exercisesStudents must attend weekly activities, participate in classroom sessions, and join exercises that will prepare them for the creation of the research project and sharpen their skills in critical analysis. 40

-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
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.
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.
SCHEDULE

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. 

 

Week 1: Intro: Media, Culture and Society

 

Week 2: Printing Revolution

 

 Week 3: Visual Revolution

 

Week 4: Electronic Revolution (telegraph, radio, TV)

 

Week 5: Digital Revolution 

 

Week 6: Media representations. Encoding, decoding

 

Week 7:  Research project presentations

 

Week 8:  Media and Ideology,  Political economy of the media

 

Week 9: News and Сonstruction of Objectivity

 

Week 10:  PR and Advertising. Concept of Interpellation 

 

Week 11:  Discourse analysis

 

Week 12: Semiotics. Visual rhetoric of media images

 

Week 13: Media and democracy

 

Week 14:  Final project presentations