Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Examines the core paradox of the political discourse in a democratic society today. Despite rising levels of education and citizen access to 24-hour news, public affairs and contemporary forms of satire, voting turnout in most advanced democracies is declining. We look at how politics is defined and meaning is mediated within the communicative public sphere during and between elections. Students with credit for CMNS 486 under this topic may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

This seminar course examines the core paradox of political discourse in a democratic society today. Despite rising levels of education and citizen interest in 24-hour news and contemporary forms of satire, voter turnout in most advanced democracies is declining, and the majority (two in three) of young voters under the age of 25 choose not to vote. We look at how politics is defined and meaning is mediated within the communicative public sphere during and between elections.  Is politics good entertainment? To what extent are formal political systems increasingly bypassed by social media or by other modes of public assembly?   

 We look at the insider and outsider worlds of the spin doctors, political journalists, strategists and speechwriters, and raise questions of moral ethics. What are “good” politics and “bad” politics? Conversely, what makes “good” political communication that empowers citizens, allows collective decisions, enables sustainable democracies and mediates extremism? And how does one pass judgements about “bad” political communications, that demobilize citizens, deceive political actors, or drive wedges amongst peoples to help the powerful preserve power? What are the principal discourses on trust, fear, social justice, entrepreneurship, and hope in our democratic societies today, and which ones show the most promise for a fundamental political renewal or realignment?

This seminar places a strong emphasis on engaging with political discourse by participating in discussions, analyzing rhetoric and writing opinion pieces, and it is open to students in the Dialogue Minor Program.  

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Course Objectives:  
(1) To enable students to identify the principal institutions, interests and actors in political communication;
(2) To explore rhetoric, political marketing, and the political (dark/light) arts of persuasion;
(3) To produce two short, expressive pieces of political writing: a speech and an op-ed piece;
(4) To write an advanced academic argument; and
(5) To create space for summative self–reflection on the craft of political communication.  

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING: