SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION
CMNS 334-4

CULTURAL POLICY

Prerequisites:

CMNS 230 and 261

Overview:

Starting from an overview of Canadian cultural policy since the 1940s, this course goes on to examine contemporary cultural policy issues in both local and international settings. The topics that will be covered include policies governing language, citizenship and immigration, the media, cultural industries and the arts. We will look at how the Canadian government has used policy to shape the cultural composition and cultural values of Canada. We will review the strong role of the provinces and growing role of municipalities. We will also see how globalization has shaped recent policy directions in Canada and abroad and compare Canada to other countries. The academic approach of the course is to relate cultural policy studies to current topics and methods in communications and cultural studies. The course is also hands-on: it gives students an opportunity to do their own research into local arts and community organizations, and local artists, and issues of concern to them.
The course will be conducted as a lecture/seminar.

Readings:

Custom Courseware available at Bookstore.

Grading Distribution:

30% Seminar Participation
30% Mid-term Test
40% Research Paper

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 Discipline" (see the current Calendar, General Regulations Section).