Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2018 - CMNS 240 E100

The Political Economy of Communication (3)

Class Number: 2629

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 10, 2018: Mon, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 17, 2018
    Tue, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    CMNS 110 and 130.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Examination of the political and economic processes that have generated the policies and structures of mass media, telecommunications and related industries; the relationship between the dichotomies of state and market, citizen and consumer, capitalism and democracy, global and local, and sovereignty and globalization in media industries and policies; overview of influences on State and international policies towards the media.

COURSE DETAILS:

Overview:

This course introduces political economy as a key approach to the study of communication.  The first part of the course surveys the history of political economy and its early application to the study of communication, through the analysis of the culture industries, propaganda, and cultural imperialism.  

The second part of the course focuses on the major shift in forms of economic production, state regulation, and movements of resistance during the late 20th century, introducing key concepts and formations such as: Fordism, post-Fordism, neoliberalism, and the rise of BRICS nation-states.

The third part of the course applies this perspective through a series of political-economic case studies of the contemporary media and communication landscape, including: media convergence and globalization; audience commodity and digital labor exploitation; intellectual property and digital commons; and global production networks in the media and communication industries. Throughout, the course adopts a critical and transcultural approach, expanding upon the tradition’s strengths, but also focusing on processes it has traditionally paid less attention to, including: labour, race, gender, ethnicity, and movements of resistance.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the course students should be:

·      Familiar with a political-economic perspective within communication studies.
·      Understand some of the major political-economic trends affecting communication and media industries.
·      Be equipped with a set of critical political-economic concepts.
·      Have applied a political-economic perspective in their own case study.

Grading

  • Attendance, Participation, and Presentations 20%
  • Mid-Term Exam (In-Class) 25%
  • Case Study Proposal 5%
  • Political-Economic Case Study 25%
  • Final Exam (during exam period on 17 April, 7:00 – 10:00 pm) 25%

NOTES:

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 S10.01 with respect to Academic Integrity, and Policies S10.02, S10.03 and S10.04 as regards Student Discipline.  [Note: as of May 1, 2009, the previous T10 series of policies covering Intellectual Honesty (T10.02), and Academic Discipline (T10.03) have been replaced with the new S10 series of policies.]

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Required readings will be made available on Canvas.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS