SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION

CMNS 220-3

 

Professor Zoë Druick	Burnaby, Day
RCB 6228; 604-291-5398	Summer 2002
druick@sfu.ca

UNDERSTANDING TELEVISION

Prerequisite:

CMNS 110 or 130


Course Description:

The phenomenon of television is considered by many to be one of the defining social, political and cultural features of the 20th century. Television has had a profound effect on domestic and public spheres as well as on our personal and collective senses of time; it has contributed in fundamental ways to experiences of ourselves and our society. Many consider television to be the ultimate machine of post-war mass consumer culture. In this course, we will explore the origins and development of television as a mass medium; the variety of critical responses it has generated; and the use viewers have made of it.


Required readings:

TBA


Evaluation:

Mid-term test (in class)	20%
Term paper (due week 11)	25%
Final exam (during exam period)	35%
Tutorial participation and short presentation	10%
Short response papers (4)	10%

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).