Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2022 - CMNS 240 D100

The Political Economy of Communication (3)

Class Number: 1724

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 10 – Aug 8, 2022: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Aug 12, 2022
    Fri, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    Nine CMNS units with a minimum grade of C-.

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:

This course will introduce the scholarly field of political economy and how this framework can be applied to the study of media, communication industries, and cultural production. Some of the fundamental questions we will address are: How should we understand the relationship between media and information technologies and capitalism and neoliberal globalization? What have been the political-economic and socio-cultural implications and consequences of the current trend toward digitalization and platformization? Students will be introduced to key concepts, including political economy, digital capitalism, the audience commodity, feminist political economy, sharing economy, gig economy, outsourcing, precarious labor, and others. The course is focused on broad sociohistorical processes and macro-structural issues. It also relates political economic analysis to our daily experiences and our roles as consumers, citizens and workers in a media and commoditysaturated capitalist society.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Course Format

LECTURES:

Course lectures will be held in person in HCC 1700. Please plan to arrive on time and having read all assigned materials for the week.

OFFICE HOURS:

The instructor will hold office hours from 12:30-1:30 each Monday in the Harbour Centre lobby (specific location TBA in Week 1). The instructor will also be available on BB Collaborate Ultra on Canvas during this same window. These are drop in sessions, so no need to book ahead of time. If you need to meet outside of these times, please e-mail the instructor to book an appointment. Your TA will provide their office hours to you in tutorial.

TUTORIALS:

In-person tutorials will begin on Monday, May 30. Tutorials serve as opportunities to ask questions, engage readings, and discuss concepts. Come prepared having read all assigned materials. Each week you should also prepare a discussion question for the class. Further instructions will be given in lecture in Week 1. There will be no tutorials on the day of the mid-term exam.

Course Policies

E-MAIL:

Your tutorial or your TA’s office hours are the best time to deal with questions and requests, especially in cases where you would like to engage in discussion of the course material, get help with understanding the readings, feedback on your assignments, etc. Please email your teaching assistant before emailing the instructor, as your teaching assistant will have a better idea of what your specific situation is since they are in regular contact with you. When you email your teaching assistant or the instructor, please allow 48 hours for a response, and please do not expect a response over the weekend. When you email, please identify yourself as a CMNS 240 student by including “CMNS 240” in the subject line of the email.

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSIONS:

Unless otherwise instructed, all assignments will be submitted on Canvas by 11:59pm on the day indicated on the syllabus. Late submissions will be penalized 10% per calendar day. Assignments will not be accepted after 3 days past the due date. If you need an extension on an assignment, consult with your TA at least a week before the original due date. Extensions will be granted on a case by case basis. Tutorial participation cannot be made up.

Grading

  • Tutorial Attendance and Participation 15%
  • Midterm Exam - Due July 4 35%
  • Final Paper Proposal - Due July 15 15%
  • Final Paper - Due August 5 35%

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). For further information see:www.sfu.ca/policies/Students/index.html.

REQUIREMENTS:

TUTORIAL ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION (15%):

Attending and participating in tutorials is an essential part of CMNS 240. Tutorials will include discussions of the course material and help prepare you for exams and assignments. Attendance alone is not enough however: you will be evaluated on the basis of your contributions to class discussions, not your presence in tutorial. You are expected to have read the week’s readings before tutorial, to have attended the weekly lecture, and to be prepared to participate in tutorial discussion every week.

MIDTERM EXAM (35%)

The mid-term will be held during regular lecture time on June 4. This 1-hour-50-minute exam will cover all course materials (readings, videos, lectures, and tutorials) for weeks 1-6. The exam will consist of short answer and essay questions. The purpose of this exams is to give you an indication both of how you are doing so far and what to expect as far as the final paper is concerned.

FINAL PAPER PROPOSAL (15%)

The best way to write a good paper is to plan ahead and to have someone look at your ideas and your writing ahead of time. As such, in Week 8 students will submit a short (250-350 word) proposal and outline for their final research paper. These proposals should include a proposed focus in political economy of communication, a brief overview of the communication context to be analyzed (as you understand it), a theoretical/conceptual foundation for your analysis, 3-5 key points that will be addressed, and at least 3 proposed sources that will be used to research the topic: 1 from the course readings and two from your own research. To prepare for this assignment, students should familiarize themselves with the Final Paper requirements.

FINAL PAPER (35%)

The semester will culminate in a research-based application of course concepts to a critical examination of a popular culture text/artifact of your choice. This 2500-3000-word paper should conform to APA style and citation guidelines and will be submitted via Canvas in the last week of class. In addition to whatever external sources you need to research your topic, it should include at least 3 sources from the course readings. It will be graded based on argumentation, composition, thoroughness of research, and application of course concepts. More details will be made available in class.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

All readings will be available digitally in the ‘files’ section on Canvas.


Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

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

TEACHING AT SFU IN SUMMER 2022

Teaching at SFU in summer 2022 will involve primarily in-person instruction.  Some courses may be offered through alternative methods (remote, online, blended), and if so, this will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes. 

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote, online, or blended courses study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the summer 2022 term.