Spring 2020 - CMNS 221 D100
Media and Popular Cultures (3)
Class Number: 1041
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2020: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Vancouver
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Instructor:
Nicole Stewart
nkstewar@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
CMNS 110 and 130.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Focuses on communication for social change; historical and contemporary perspectives in consumer culture; technology, media and popular culture; media and identity; and communication as public education.
COURSE DETAILS:
This course is an introduction to and survey of the study of popular culture and communication, with a specific focus on the social and cultural dimensions of media and media environments. The course examines media-audience relations in regard to critical issues and controversies in media, society and popular culture. A broad range of themes will structure our investigation, including: communication and social change; citizenship, media and culture; the rise of industrial capitalism and the emergence of consumer cultures; controversies and practices of technology in media cultures; theories of mass culture and society; the nature and role of audiences in contemporary media culture; the dominance of visual/image culture in contemporary life; problems in relation to modernism, postmodernism and popular culture; globalization; media, identities and urban life; and communication as public education. Besides course readings, we will also look closely at various films, examples of popular music, and other forms of visual culture as part of our investigation.
Grading
- Midterm Exam (February 25) 20%
- Term Paper Outline (March 17) 5%
- Final Paper (April 7) 35%
- Final Take-Home Exam (distributed on April 7) 25%
- Tutorial Participation (Presentation and Attendance) 15%
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:
Osgerby, B. Youth Media. Routledge: New York, 2004.
ISBN: 9780415238083
A courseware package will be available online.
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/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