Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "COM 220-1"
COURSE NAME: "Media, Culture and Society"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2016

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Kwame Phillips
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 6:00 PM 7:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: COM 111
OFFICE HOURS: T/TH 3:30-4:30 PM or 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 is divided in three main parts. The first part will focus on the analysis of the main elements of the media (media technologies, the organization of the media industry, media content and media users). The second part, Media, Power and Control, addresses questions of media power, manipulation, the construction of news, public service broadcasting, censorship, commercialization. The third and final part, Media, Identity and Culture, will focus on issues of media and ethnicity, gender, subcultures, audiences and fans.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The course aims to encourage students to understand the relationship between media representations and society. By the end of the course students are expected to:

• Be competent in the different models of analysis for the study of media organisations, media representations and media audiences

• Understand key theoretical perspectives and research traditions within media studies

• Have acquired advanced competences for the analysis of social and cultural functions of the media

• Have a certain understanding of the media structure (industry and technology)

• Understand the relationship between the mass media, society and culture on a basic theoretical level.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments	Format	Local Bookstore	Online Purchase
Media, Culture and Society. An Introduction	Paul Hodkinson	Sage	978-1412920537		Throughout the semester, several articles will be assigned relevant to class discussions.

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Weekly reflection papers		20
Mid-term Exam		30
Final Exam		30
Attendance and participation	Includes in-class presentations on a self-determined topic	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:

More than 2 unexcused absences will result in an F (Fail) grade for Attendance & Participation. More than 5 unexcused absences will result in failing the course. If unexcused, a tardy of more than 10 minutes will be counted as an absence. Lateness will 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.

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

NB: This is a preliminary schedule.

• 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 1.1        Course Overview and introduction
                        Shaping, mirroring and representing: The Sun and Frank Bruno

Week 1.2        Media Technologies (ch. 2)
                       Tech is good!: You’ve Got Mail (Ephron, 1998); Tech is bad!: War Games (Badham, 1983)

Week 2.1        Media Content (ch. 4)
                        Semiotics: Dexter (Showtime, 2006-13)

Week 2.2        Media Content continued (ch. 4)
                        Narrative, genre, discourse and content analysis: Movie posters; Mantel and Middleton

Week 3.1        Media Industries (ch. 3)
                       Product placement: The Island (Bay, 2005)

Week 3.2        Media Ideology (ch. 6)
                       Kylie Jenner Challenge on Instagram

MEDIA, POWER AND CONTROL

Week 4.1        Media Users (ch. 5)
                       “The Nature of the Audience” Stuart Hall // The (insert devil) made me do it

Week 4.2         Media Users continued (ch. 5)
                        Audiences as cultural producers: Choose Your Own Adventure, Gogglebox

Week 5.1         The Construction of News (ch. 7)
                         Construction, reconstruction, deconstruction: The Wire, The Newsroom, Network

Week 5.2 ‘Bring your own news story’ presentations

Week 6.1 Controlling Media Orientation (ch. 8)
Censorship: Listicle

Week 6.2 Decline of the National Public (ch. 9)
Nation to niche: Alternate news sources

Week 7.1 Review

Week 7.2 Mid-Term presentations

MEDIA, IDENTITY AND CULTURE

Week 8.1 Media and Ethnicity (ch. 10)
Representation: Society and stereotypes

Week 8.2 Media and Ethnicity continued (ch. 10)
Self-representation: Homeland vs Arabian Street Artists

Week 9.1 Media and Gender (ch. 11)
Representation: Male gaze

Week 9.2 Media and Gender continued (ch. 11)
Self-representation: Beyoncé vs bell hooks

Week 10.1 Media and Sexuality (ch. 11)
Representation: Transgressive or best friends

Week 10.2 Media and Sexuality continued (ch. 11)
Self-representation

Week 11.1 Media and Class
Representation: Upstairs vs downstairs

Week 11.2 Media and Class continued
Self-representation

Week 12.1 Media and Intersectionality
Concepts

Week 12.2 Media and Intersectionality
Representations and self-representations: Tangerine (Baker, 2015)

Week 13.1 Media, Identities and Communities (ch. 12)

Week 13.2 Media, Identities and Communities continued (ch. 12)

Week 14.1 Media Saturation, Fluidity and Loss of Meaning (ch. 13)

Week 14.2 Wrap up and Review