SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION
CMNS 220-3

UNDERSTANDING TELEVISION

Prerequisites:

CMNS 110 or 130.

This course examines television, both as a medium of communication and as an element of culture. The course combines discussion of the history of television with an examination of competing theories which purport to explain television’s impact in western societies. The course also includes consideration of television genres, codes and conventions as well as a number of selected case studies.

Evaluation:

Mid-term exam 20%
Term paper 40%
Final examination 25%
Tutorial participation and short presentation 15%

Required Tests:

Horace Newcomb, Television: The Critical View (5th edition). Oxford University Press,
1994. ISBN 0-19-508528-0.
Robert Anderson, Richard Gruneau and Paul Heyer (eds), TVTV: The Television
Revolution – The Debate. Published by the Canadian Journal of Communication,
SFU @ Harbour Centre 1996. ISBN 0-9698983-1-2.

Note:

In addition to selections from the required texts, additional course readings will be placed on Library Reserve. A detailed reading list will be distributed in the first week of class.

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practices with respect to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the School will follow Policy T10.02 with respect to “Intellectual Honesty”, and “Academic Disciplines” (see the current Calendar, General Regulations Section).