Overview
Introduction to cultural and social theory of film and other media as it relates to the tension between citizenship and consumerism. Examines roles, functions, and impact of mass media technologies, institutions, and practices in both scholarly and practical forms.
Please note: This course is typically offered in the winter term
The televisual events of the Gulf War, September 11, Abu Ghraib; the televised ‘town halls’ and shirtless Prime Ministers; Obama-effect; the role social media in the Trump era; the ‘information’ economy and the “global financial crisis”; reality TV; the sublime destruction of the planet and the promises of its pleasures through tourism, etc. These are just a few aspects of our contemporary social and cultural world that indicate the degree to which everyday life is permeated and ‘framed’ by mass media. Mass media -- film, television, music, and, the internet -- does much more than mediate events or distribute entertainment.
Learning Outcomes
Course level learning outcomes:
- Evaluate media and cultural texts (advertising, television genres, cultural spectacle, etc.) in relation to social power and identity
- Discuss the history of media and social action from poster to hashtag
- Demonstrate fluency in theoretical foundations of media studies and cultural studies;
- Analyze the circuits of production, distribution and consumption of media texts;
- Demonstrate knowledge of key developments of cultural technologies and their political, social and economic contexts of emergence
Terms
Evaluation
10% - Short Reflection Essay
20% - Media Theory Essay
10% - Project Proposal
5% - Proposal Peer Editing
15% - Annotated Bibliography
25% - Final Project
15% - Participation (includes Discussion forums and course surveys)
**Evaluation subject to change**
Live Sessions
This course has optional live sessions (e.g. webinars, synchronous activities).
Textbook and Materials
ASO reserves the right to make changes to the required material list as received by the instructor before the course starts. Please refer to the Campus Bookstore website at http://www.campusbookstore.com/Textbooks/Search-Engine to obtain the most up-to-date list of required materials for this course before purchasing them.
All texts and materials for this course will be provided in onQ.
Time Commitment
Students can expect to spend approximately 10 hours a week (120 hours per term) on study/practice and online activity for this course.