Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CMS 331"
COURSE NAME: "Media in the Mediterranean"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session II 2015

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Ibrahim Al-Marashi
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MTWTH 4:00 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: COM 220
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines the various media systems, both news and entertainment, from the southern Mediterranean all the way to Iran through screenings of films and television programs from the region. 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. Special emphasis will be put on questions of gender as well as the use of the media by social movements and the ways these transform the institutional arrangements between the media, publics and governments, both nationally and transnationally.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

While the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and its use of new media to claim it will conquer Rome generated headlines in Italy and around the globe, this threat occurred within a transformation of the Mediterranean’s media ecosphere, which we will examine in this course. In this course, we focus on the south-eastern Mediterranean: Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Egypt, with a focus on ISIS. 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.

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 and The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria communicates.

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, COMING TO THE FILMS and demonstrating the completion of the readings.	20
4 quizzes x 15%	Each quiz will cover the readings for the previous week.	60
10 page paper on the readings	This double-spaced paper will require an analysis of the readings for each week. The question is how does "Modernity/Postmodernity, and Globalization” emerge in the media ecosystem of ISIS? There is no need for a bibliography or references. Just refer to the author(s) of the article in your paper. The minimum is 10 pages, there is no maximum.	20

-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

WEEK I

July 6 WELCOME SESSION: GLOBALIZATION & THE MEDIA, MODERNITY, POST-MODERNITY

Introduction to Globalization in Southern Mediterranean

Read 1.1

July 7 AL-JAZEERA, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THE MEDITERRANEAN

A pan-Arab satellite channel, new means of communication, and the public sphere in the Southern Mediterranean

Read 2.1 Al-Jazeera and Social Media

July 8 Al-QAIDA AS A SOUTHERN MEDITERRANEAN MEDIA PRODUCER

Non-state actors and transnational Islamist networks

Read 3.1 Al-Qaida

July 9 SYRIA

The Syrian media system before and after the civil war

Read 5.1

WEEK II

July 13 SYRIA

Quiz 1 on the readings including “1.1 Globalization,” “2.1 Al-Jazeera & Social Media,” “3.1 Al-Qaida”

July 14 ISIS & THE ISLAMIC STATE AS A MEDITERRANEAN MEDIA SYSTEM

Non-state actors and transnational Islamist networks in Syria, Iraq, Italy, and the world

Start Reading 6.1 ISIS

July 15 ISIS & THE ISLAMIC STATE AS A MEDITERRANEAN MEDIA SYSTEM

Non-state actors and transnational Islamist networks in Syria, Iraq, Italy, and the world

July 16 ISIS & THE ISLAMIC STATE AS A MEDITERRANEAN MEDIA SYSTEM

WEEK III

July 20 EGYPT

The Egyptian media system before and after the Arab Spring

Quiz 2 on the reading “5.1 Syria”

Read 7.1 Egypt

July 21 LEBANON

The Lebanese Media System & Hizballah’s Media Empire

Attend The Mediation of Muslim Identity in Europe Post-Charlie Hebdo, 600-730pm, Aula Magna Regina (Guarini Campus)

Read 8.1 Lebanon

July 22 LEBANON

Screening of WEST BEIRUT (600pm- Discussion to follow) All films at GKG1 Guarini Campus

July 23 PALESTINE

Media system in a state that has yet to form & Hamas’ Media Empire

Screening of PARADISE NOW (600pm- Discussion to follow)

Read 9.1 Palestine

WEEK IV

July 27 MEDIA PROJECT ON ISIS

July 28 MEDIA PROJECT ON ISIS

July 29 MEDIA PROJECT ON ISIS

July 30 MEDIA PROJECT ON ISIS

WEEK V

Aug 3 ISRAEL

The Israeli media system

Screening of WALTZ WITH BASHIR (600pm- Discussion to follow)

Quiz 3 on “7.1 Egypt,” “8.1 Lebanon,” & “9.1 Palestine”

Read 10.1 Israel

Aug 4 ISRAEL

Screening of VALLEY OF THE WOLVES IRAQ (600pm- Discussion to follow)

Aug 5 TURKEY

The Turkish media system before and after the Gezi Protests

Read 11.1 Turkey

Aug 6 TURKEY

Quiz 4 on “10.1 Israel,” and “11.1 Turkey”

Paper is due on Aug 10 at 5pm

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