Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CMS 399"
COURSE NAME: "Special Topics in Media Studies: Media in the Mediterranean"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session II 2014

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Ibrahim Al-Marashi
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MTWTH 11:00 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: COM 220
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course examines the various media systems, both news and entertainment, in the southern Mediterranean, including film.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This is a visual course: We will be watching films and video clips films from the region (translated into English of course). The topics to be covered include the motion picture industry, news and entertainment media, including satellite TV, magazines, newspapers, internet, and alternative media and their role in the perception and practice of Middle Eastern politics and culture. A significant portion of the course will deal media and gender in the region, as well as the events following “the Arab Spring” and how they transformed the institutional arrangements between the media, publics, and governments, both nationally and transnationally. This course also examines the interplay between Middle Eastern terrorism, the media, publics, and the political process. We will look at how the media shapes and is shaped by terrorism, and the concepts and theories relating to terrorism and the news production process, the agenda-setting nature of the news media, the interrelationship between journalists and public officials, media and terrorism.

No previous background of Middle Eastern states is necessary.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

In terms of mass media, particularly political communication, students will learn:

1. The interplay of media, publics, Islam, and the political process.

2. The roles of media systems in national identity formation.

3. Regional and national media’s responses and adaptations to globalization.

4. The role of gender and pop culture in political communication in the region.

5. How the mass media affect the perception and practice of regional politics.

6. How different media sources provide political information in the Middle East.

7. The institutional arrangements between the Middle East governments and the media.

8. Critically analyze mass mediated terrorism, and how terrorism and the media were transformed by the rise of internet, satellite television, and the 24-hour news cycle.

9. Analyze how new media technologies also provide a means for diasporas outside of the Islamic world to engage in the narratives employed by transnational terrorist groups.

10. Analyze terrorism and the internet -based discourse of terrorist groups and the visual iconography and imagery displayed on websites.

11. Internalize how Al-Qaida communicates, particularly its branch Al-Qaida in Iraq.

12. Conceptualize groups like Hizbullah & Hamas and the Media and how they created their own satellite channels that can broadcast globally? What kind of messages do these two groups send and who are their audiences?

In terms of understanding Mediterranean Film:

1. Learn how films communicate historical and political ideas, themes and symbols.

2. Understand film mechanics, Protagonist/Antagonist, Climax, Resolution, Themes, and Thesis, and how they communicate historical and political and meaning

3. How do film characters, symbols, and cinematography represent greater historical and political movements, trends or themes

4. Understand how film forms popular historical memory of key events in Middle Eastern political development

5. Understand how the “Hollywood system” functions and its relation to films produced in Middle Eastern films produced in national settings

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Class Participation	Class participation includes attending class (attendance will be taken), participating in classroom discussions, and demonstrating their completion of the readings.	10
4 short quizzes on the readings	4, 10 minutes quizzes will be assigned on Monday of every week based on the readings.	20
Final Research Paper	The 5 page (double spaced) paper can cover any subject of this class, but I recommend you discuss it with me before beginning. The paper must demonstrate research from reputable primary and secondary sources (not a list of websites like Wikipedia), and if possible, sources in Italian. Further information on the paper assignment will be given in class.	30
Final Exam	A final based on the course material and all of the readings	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:

Preparation for, attendance at, and participation in lectures and site visits are all required and will count toward the student’s final grade. Students are allowed only two absences; each additional absence will result in a significant reduction in the final grade for the course. Students with more than five absences will fail the course. Students arriving in class after attendance has been taken will be counted as absent. Students who miss class are responsible for getting class notes from another student.

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

I. June 30 WELCOME SESSION

Topics

Introduction to Globalization in Southern Mediterranean

______________________________________________________________________________

II. July 1 GLOBALIZATION AND THE MEDIA

Topics

Examples of how globalization affects the media in the Southern Mediterranean

______________________________________________________________________________

III. July 2 AL-JAZEERA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN

Topics

How a pan-Arab satellite channel affects media in the Southern Mediterranean

______________________________________________________________________________

IV. July 3 LEBANON

Topics

The Lebanese Media System

Hizballah’s Media Empire

How to Analyze Film

Screening of Where Do We Go

500pm- Discussion to follow

______________________________________________________________________________

V. July 7 LEBANON (Con’t)

Screening of Paradise Now

500pm- Discussion to follow

______________________________________________________________________________

VI. July 8 PALESTINE

Topics

Media system in a state that has yet to form

Hamas’ Media Empire

______________________________________________________________________________

VII. July 9-10 EGYPT

Topics

The Egyptian media system before and after the Arab Spring

______________________________________________________________________________

VIII. July 14 ISRAEL

Topics

The Israeli media system

Screening of Waltz with Bashir

500pm- Discussion to follow

______________________________________________________________________________

XI. July 15-17 SYRIA

Topics

The Syrian media system before and after the civil war

______________________________________________________________________________

VIII. July 21 TURKEY

Topics

The Turkish media system before and after the Gezi Protests

Screening of Fetih 1453

500pm- Discussion to follow

______________________________________________________________________________

IX. July 22 TURKEY (con’t)

Topics

______________________________________________________________________________

X. July 23-24 TERRORISM AND THE MEDIA

Topics

How Non-state actors and transnational Islamist networks communicate in the Southern Mediterranean

______________________________________________________________________________

XI. July 28-31 GROUP MEDIA PROJECT

Topics

To be discussed in class