This course focuses on the relationship between media and globalisation. Its aim is to provide students with a critical understanding of the role of media and communications technologies in the complex processes of globalization. The course will highlight the social, cultural and political implications of media’s dissemination across the globe especially in relations to issues such as the identity-formation and representation, community and belonging. 

The first part of the course will provide students with an introduction to the historical context of global communication and will introduce the key theoretical debates around globalization and culture. The expansion of media and telecommunications corporations within the process of deregulation and liberalization will be studied with particular reference to the impact of such growth on audiences in different cultural contexts and from regional, national and international perspectives. The second part of the course will be dedicated to an exploration of the so-called “counter-flows” of global media, which destabilise the imperialist perspective on globalization. Through a few selected case studies, the analysis will also focus on the local uses of the so-called ‘diasporic media’ that, moving in a counter-flow, offer new ways of understanding the local uses of media in terms of agency and identity formation. 

The course aims to encourage students to understand the central role of the media in shaping contemporary culture and the communicative practices involved in this process. By the end of the course, students should have acquired advanced competence in the field of media and globalization theory in order to be able to critically discuss the main theoretical approaches in the field and how these key approaches relate to one another. Students will also be able to analyse newly emerging forms of culture and identity based on the experience of cosmopolitanism, hybridity and diaspora in relation to media forms such as networked media and films.

Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.

A:  Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensiveknowledge 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.

B:  This 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.

C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

D:  This 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.

F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

Please consider that  frequent unexcused absences will affect your grade. Students who will miss more than three classes without an adequate justification will have the final grade for the course dropped by one letter grade.
Students who arrive in class more than 15 minutes late will be marked as absent. Lateness will of course 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. Students are expected to regularly check the class website for updates to the schedules and handouts. 




Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.

NB:

- Some screenings and readings listed here might be subjected to change

- The use of laptop computers and other electronic devices during class is NOT permitted.

Week 1 (Sept 4-6)

Course Overview and introduction. The historical context of media globalization

Readings: Thussu, ch.1

Week 2 (Sept 11-13)

A world connected. Introduction to media theory

Readings: Thussu, ch. 2; Adorno The Culture Industry

Screening: Goodbye Lenin  

Week 3 (Sept 18-20-21 Make up class)

-Media Theory II

-Introduction to the study of globalization

Readings: Thussu ch.2; Edward Said Orientalism (extract); Dipesh Chakrabarty The Idea of provincializing Europe (3-11); Roland Robertson Mapping the Global Condition, John Tomlinson Globalization and Cultural Identity

Screening: Gods must be crazy excerpts

Week 4 (Sept 25-27)

-Audience theories

-Connecting the World I

Readings: Thussu ch. 3 & 4 (extracts); Ien Ang, The Nature of the Audience

Week 5 (Oct 2-4)

-Connecting the world II

-The Local and the Global in Media Culture

Readings: Frantz Fanon, This is The Voice of Algeria; Thussu ch. 5

Week 6 (Oct 9-11- 12 Make Up Class)

(G)local Cultures:  case-studies

Readings: Thussu, ch. 5; Hetsroni, Globalization and knowledge hierarchy through the eyes of a quiz show; Kraidy, Reality Tv in the Arab World

Screening: Afghan Star

Week 7 (Oct 16-18)

Review and Mid Term Exam

Week 8 (Oct 23-25)

Localization, Globalisation and identity politics I

Readings: Samuel Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations; Edward Said, The clash of ignorance; Barber, Jihad Vs McWorld

Screening: Infinite Justice (1^st half)

Week 9 (Oct 30 Nov1)

Screening: Infinite Justice (2^nd half) & class discussion

Week 10 (Nov 6-8)

-Localization, Globalisation and identity politics II

-Contraflow in Global Media

Readings: Watson “McDonald’s in Hong Kong. Consumerism, Dietary Change and the Rise of a Children's Culture"; Thussu ch. 6

Week 11 (Nov 13-15)

Media from the South: Indian and Nigerian cinema

Screening: Control Room

Readings: Thussu: pp 200-205; Brian Larkin

Week 12 (Nov 20-22)

Screening: Nollywood/Babylon

Week 13 (Nov 27-29) Papers due.

- Cultures of diaspora. Alternative media and diaspora in Europe

 Readings: Sakr, Diversity and Diaspora in Europe; Avtar Brah, Thinking through the concept of diaspora

 Screening: tbd

Week 14 (Dec 4-6)

Class discussion / Review