JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY COURSE CODE: "COM 220" COURSE NAME: "Media, Culture and Society" SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2012

SYLLABUS INSTRUCTOR: Biggs Colin EMAIL: [email protected] HOURS: MTWTH 11:00-13:00 TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45 CREDITS: 3 PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: COM 111 OFFICE HOURS: By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides students with a sound knowledge of the major themes and approaches in the literature regarding the relationship between media, culture and society. It analyses a range of topics including: •  The development of media systems from historical, current, & future-oriented perspectives •  The relationship between media and economic forces •  How encoding, decoding, and semiotics apply to media analysis •  How media reinforce stereotypes and cultural myths.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT: The course explores the impact of mass communications on society and culture. This involves examining the relationship between media and democracy, and probing deeply as to how we as audiences and participants negotiate media in our lives. We examine how symbols and communication strategies vary in the context of different media forms, from books to television, and from the Internet to cell phones.  We explore institutional pressures and filters that impact and frame media flows, including the influence of governments, corporations and citizen activists. Some important themes include the difference between information and entertainment (and when they converge as infotainment); the impact of convergence media; the coding of race, gender and others social and cultural groups; the impact (“effects”) of media on audiences; and the relationship between media and globalisation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course combines lecture material with ample discussion, illustration, and practical exercises to provide experiential learning.  Students will therefore have the opportunity to engage fully and meaningfully with the key factors which shape, and continually change the nature of, the relationship between media, culture and society.

TEXTBOOK: Book Title Author Publisher ISBN number Library Call Number Comments Format Local Bookstore Online Purchase Media/Society (Fourth Edition), 2011 David Croteau Sage 9781412974202

REQUIRED RESERVED READING: NONE RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING: NONE

GRADING POLICY -ASSESSMENT METHODS: Assignment Guidelines Weight n/a     Participation Regular attendance and active participation in class discussion 10% Group presentation Small group presentation on a chosen medium 15% Group project Building on group presentation 25% Final examination Conventional course final exam 50% -ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:  Grades: 94-100: A 90-93: A- 87-89: B+ 84-86: B 80-83: B- 75-79: C+ 70-74: C 65-69: C- 60-64: D+ 55-59: D 50-54: D- Below 50: F -ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS: Classes often cover material not in the required readings. More importantly, the class is build around discussion. Students who miss class do poorly on exams and it impacts the final grade, so not only is your attendance grade impacted by absences, but your test grades will be too. Students are allowed up to two unexcused absences. Three or more unexcused absences will result in an F. Additionally you are required to be in class every day on time, just as you would for a job. What is excused is at the instructor's discretion, so you are best served by discussing situations and extraordinary circumstances whenever possible.

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

The following syllabus is highly indicative. It may be revised early in the course - although not radically - to incorporate emerging issues of direct relevance and topicality. Day 1 Introduction to the course, and overview Media and the social world Reading: Course text, Chapter 1 Day 2 Media reporting: impact and bias Reporting of Davis CA pepper-spraying incident Day 3 The economics of the media industry Access and restriction of access to the media Video of level of international news coverage in the US Reading: Course text, Chapters 2 and 3 Day 4 The media by country Using class resources Days 5 and 6 The growth, potential and dangers of the internet Multiple videos Group project - Internet 2020 Reading: Course text, Chapter 9 Day 7 Media professionals, consumers and prosumers: empowerment and changing roles Multiple videos  Reading: Course text, Chapter 4  Days 8 and 9 The influence of media on society: including racial and gender stereotyping Video, Il corpo delle donne, and Dreamworlds 3 Reading: Course text, Chapters 5 and 6 Day 10 Media and politics Videos: Outfoxed and Citizen Berlusconi, Michael Moore Reading: Course text, Chapter 7 Days 11 and 12  Media 2020 presentations Days 13 -15 Construction of meaning: changing roles  Multiple videos Reading: Course text, Chapter 8 Day 16 Media technology - the changing role of the internet Multiple videos Group projects deadline Reading: Course text, Chapter 9 Day 17 Empowerment and control: policing the media Multiple videos Day 18 Globalisation and the media Reading: Course text, Chapter 10 Days 19 and 20 Thematic review of the course  Day 21 Final exam, Friday 22nd June, 11-1.