Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2017 - CMNS 220 D100

Understanding Television (3)

Class Number: 3574

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 7, 2017: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 19, 2017
    Wed, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    CMNS 110 and 130.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

This course examines television, both as a medium of communication and an element of culture.

COURSE DETAILS:

Overview:

Considered by many to be one of the defining social, political and cultural features of post-war mass consumer culture, television today is undergoing a radical transformation. No less central to cultural life, it is fragmenting and morphing into something more expansive and diverse than ever before. In this course, we will focus on developing critical, analytic tools with which to approach TV today as a complex set of institutions, technologies, texts, and viewer practices. By any measure, TV continues to play a central role in politics, culture, and society, even as we move into a post-broadcast era. Over the course of the semester, we will explore the origins and development of television as a mass medium; its characteristic modes and genres; and the publics and audiences it engages. By the end of the course, students will be familiar with the basic debates and critical frameworks that structure television studies, and should be able to apply those concepts to their assigned work.

Lectures, readings, and tutorials are complementary aspects of the course. Students are expected to do the readings each week, in advance; and come to lectures and tutorials prepared to participate.

Grading

  • Tutorial Attendance and Participation 10%
  • Mid-Term Exam 25%
  • Essay Proposal 10%
  • Essay 25%
  • Final Exam (During Exam Period) 30%

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:

Readings will be available as PDF's on the Course 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