Public Opinion, Propaganda and Political Communication
I. Course Description
Seminar students engage literature enabling comparison and contrast toward critical evaluation of the positions and arguments of both the “instrumental” or applied dimension of multi-mediated mass communication in political processes, and critical interventions against such applications as dangerous in societies striving to expand political awareness and strengthen democratic processes and institutions. Democracies are based on the legitimating force given them by their citizens who express their approval or disapproval of governance by ballot and opinion. Both are informed by consciousness, and the mass media – in the waning of traditional communities and cultures – perhaps with primary and reference groupings, holds pride of place in working on and with social consciousness. Because of this, the many relationships between democratic political processes, social power and interests, mandated or professionalized political communication, and the mass media raise a host of questions about democracy, and the roles persuasion does, could and/or should play in it.
Our discussion of political communication is grounded in an exploration of propaganda, since the practices, critique and theories of contemporary PR, advertising, as well as political spin doctoring, all emerged from the early modern history of propaganda – both discourses and practices. With a grounding in theory and practice of propaganda, the course focuses on how and why governments, political parties, institutions, NGOs, social and issue movements, communities of interest and intent, as well as peripheral groups, use or seek to manage the Media as a key tactical and strategic resource and agency in their agendas or goals. Wherever persuasion is required, ethical questions lurk; the course involves making such implications explicit and engaging with them.
II. Required texts
McNair, Brian. An Introduction to Political Communication. 2nd ed. London; New York: Routledge, 1999. (ISBN 041541069X)
Perlmutter, David D. The Manship School Guide to Political Communication. Toronto: Scholarly Book Services Inc, 2002.
Pratkanis, Anthony, and Elliot Aronson. Age of Propaganda: The Everyday Use and Abuse of Persuasion. New York: Holt Paperbacks, 2001.
III. Course requirements
- Midterm – In class, closed book. (30%)
- Seminars: briefings; presentation and documentation; attendance (40%: presentation 15%; documentation 15%; attendance and participation, 10%)
- Final paper/critical review (30%)
VI. Course Notes and Guidelines
As a seminar, the course emphasizes participants’ leadership in the presentation and discussion of readings and video materials used in course. Discussion topics from the literature have been provided by the course schedule, URLs for seminar media introduction and discussion will be provided weekly. Seminars consist of screenings and discussion.
The midterm deals with the course literature and consists of essay type questions. The final critical review assignment will be a take-home involving an analytical/critical reading or review of either print, event, or e-media-artefact in the context of course of course literature and/or discussion.
CMNS 432 spring 2010 SYLLABUS