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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "COM 220-3"
COURSE NAME: "Media, Culture and Society"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2025
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Miriam Tola
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 3:00 PM 4:15 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 begins by introducing key elements of media history and then focuses on the media in relation to power and manipulation with a particular focus on political economy, ideology and hegemony. The second part explores of politics of representation in relation gender, race and class through readings and the analysis of media texts including advertising, film and social media. Please note that lectures will often cover materials not included in the readings so attendance is key for this course.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Analyze the role of mass media in shaping and reflecting cultural values, norms, and ideologies.
• Critically evaluate the concept of hegemony and its application to media studies, examining how dominant groups maintain power through media representations.
• Examine how media construct and reinforce social categories such as race, gender, and sexuality, and how these representations impact individuals and communities.
• Investigate how subcultures and marginalized groups negotiate and resist dominant media representations, and how they use media to express their own identities and perspectives.
• Develop a critical understanding of the complex relationship between media, culture, and power, and apply this understanding to the analysis of various media forms.
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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 3nd Edition | Paul Hodkinson | Sage | ISBN: 9781529796537 | | | | | |
| The Media Studies Toolkit | Michael Z. Newman | Routledge, 2022 | ISBN 9780367432522 | | | Ebook | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Midterm Exam | In-class exam with essay questions. | 30% |
| Final Exam | | 30% |
| Attendance and Participation | More than three (3) absences without a reasonable excuse will result in the loss of a letter grade. Lateness will affect your grade. Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions and activities. | 10% |
| Media Research Project + Oral Presentation | | 30% |
-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:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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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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Please note that this schedule is subject to change. Please check Moodle for the detailed version of the syllabus, assignment guidelines and updates.
Week 1: Defining Media, Culture and Society
Week 2: Technology and Communication
Week 3: Media formats: Print
Week 4: Media Formats: Visual
Week 5: The Media Industry
Week 6: Ideology and Hegemony
Week 7: Media Content and Media Users
Week 8: Review and Midterm Exam
Week 9: The Politics of Representation
Week 10: Media, Gender and Sexuality
Week 11: Media, Race and Ethnicity
Week12: Media, Democracy and The Public Sphere
Week 13: News, Infotainment and Entertainment
Week 14: Review
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