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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "COM 220-1"
COURSE NAME: "Media, Culture and Society"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2015
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Emanuele D'Onofrio
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: COM 111
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
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.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course investigates the structure of the media industries as well as the manner in which the economic, social and political forces influence their operation and, conversely, how the mass media structure and influence those same forces. The content of entertainment and news media will be analyzed (the very categories of “entertainment” and “information” will be critically engaged), considering the underlying ideas and values presented in this media content, as well as the portrayal of various groups. The role of media reception will be explored by examining how media organizations seek out and measure the audiences for their products, and to what extent audiences are served by these media. The potential influence of media on people’s attitudes, cultural beliefs and behavior is discussed. The course also focuses on emerging media based on new information technologies and issues in international communication such as the globalization of popular culture.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This is a lecture and discussion course. We will shift back and forth between discussing theoretical and practical issues in relation to the mass media and their relation to society. Lectures and discussions will be supported with screenings and presentation of films, televisions programs, recorded music and other media content. Students are encouraged to propose their own choice of media material for the class.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Media and Cultural Studies: KeyworksMeenakshi Gigi Durham, Douglas M. KellnerBlackwell1-4051-3258-2     
Media, Culture and Society: An IntroductionPaul HodkinsonSage9781412920537     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Quiz I 5%
Mid-Term Exam 25%
Final Exam 25%
Participation (to class discussion) 15%
Fieldwork Research: Team Presentation & Individual ReportResearch on a topic related to the course, group presentation (20%), individual report on the teamwork (1,500 words, 5%)25%
   
Quiz II 5%

-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
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:
Please note that frequent absences automatically lower your participation grade.

Also consider that three unexcused absences (those not justified by a medical certificate or a note from the administration) will result in your final grade for the course to be dropped by one letter grade. Anything above five unexcused absences will result in failure.

Lateness: Students more than 10 minutes late are marked as absent. Late arrival (less than 10 minutes) is marked as such, and 3 late arrivals are counted as one absence.

Class procedure: Students are requested to make sure their cell phones are turned off (and not just muted) at the start of class. Food consumption in class is also forbidden.
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 1 Introduction to the Course: Ideologies and discourses, media as business.

Media, Culture And Society, Chapter 1

Benjamin, Walter, “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”, Durham & Kellner (2006), Media and Cultural Studies Malden, Oxford: Blackwell, pp.18-40.

 

Week 2: Media Technologies

Media, Culture And Society, Chapter 2

McLuhan, Marshall, “The Medium is the Message”, in Durham & Kellner (2006), Media and Cultural Studies Malden, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 107-116

 

Week 3: Media as an Industry

Media, Culture And Society, Chapter 3

Horkheimer, M. & Adorno, T.W. “The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception”, in Durham & Kellner (2006), Media and Cultural Studies Malden, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 41-72.

 

Week 4: Media content: Sign, Narrative and Genre.

Media, Culture And Society, Chapter 4

Barthes, Roland “(i) Operation Margarine; (ii) Myth Today”, in Durham & Kellner (2006), Media and Cultural Studies Malden, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 99-106.

 QUIZ I

Week 5: From Audience to Users

Media, Culture And Society, Chapter 5.

Hall, Stuart, “Encoding/Decoding”, Durham & Kellner (2006), Media and Cultural Studies Malden, Oxford: Blackwell, pp.163-172.

 

Week 6 Media as Form of Manipulation: Ideology and Apparatus

Media, Culture And Society, Chapter 6.

Althusser, Louis, “Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses (Notes Towards an Investigation)”, in Durham & Kellner (2006), Media and Cultural Studies Malden, Oxford: Blackwell, pp.79-88.

 

Week 7 Review and Midterm

 

Week 8 The Construction of News

Media, Culture And Society, Chapter 7

Study Case: The Environmental Discourse, reading made available online.

 

Week 9  Public or personal? Media Orientation and Globalization

Media, Culture And Society,  Chapters 8 & 9

Straubhaar, Joseph “(Re)Asserting National Television And National Identity Against the Global, Regional, and Local Levels of World Television”, in Durham & Kellner (2006), Media and Cultural Studies Malden, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 681-702.

 

Week 10: Media, Ethnicity and Diaspora

Media, Culture And Society, Chapter 10

Dyer, Richard “Stereotyping”, in Durham & Kellner (2006), Media and Cultural Studies Malden, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 353-365.

QUIZ II
 

Week 11 Media Gender and Sexuality

Media, Culture And Society, Chapter 11

Mulvey, Laura “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema”, in Durham & Kellner (2006), Media and Cultural Studies Malden, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 342-352.Media, Culture And Society,

 

Week 12 Postmodern Communities and Virtuality

Media, Culture And Society, Chapter 12

Poster, Mark “Postmodern Virtualities”, in Durham & Kellner (2006), Media and Cultural Studies Malden, Oxford: Blackwell, 533-548.

 

Week 13 – The Loss of Meaning: Simulacra and reality

Media, Culture And Society, Chapter 13

Baudrillard, Jean “The Process of Simulacra”, in Durham & Kellner (2006), Media and Cultural Studies Malden, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 453-481.

 

Week 14   Fieldwork Presentations and Wrap-Up  

 

Week 15   Final Exam