Fall 2020 - CMNS 804 G100

Seminar in Advanced Communication Theory (5)

Class Number: 6985

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

COURSE DETAILS:

This course will take the senses as its main object and instrument of inquiry into cultural issues surrounding media and technology cultures. As the very foundation of our experience of reality, the senses mediate our relationships with the environment, society, objects and all else. In the last few decades, the sensorial turn in anthropology (which has since impacted other disciplines) has shown that the senses, far from being simply cognitive processes or neurological mechanisms, are constructed historically, culturally and politically. This course aims to bridge the broad field of the cultural studies of media and technology with sensory explorations and methodologies, including historiography of the senses and perception, and sensory ethnographies into various aspects of media cultures. Possible areas covered in the course in relation to media cultures and technology include sound studies, smell studies, visual ethnographies, theories of embodiment, haptics and touch. Students will broaden their understanding of the role of senses in media studies, and gain experience designing and implementing research projects in one of these areas. In this course students will undertake a self-directed term project that will employ (in) some form sensory methodologies and engage with theories and concepts discussed in class.

Grading

  • 5 Writing Reports @ 10% each 50%
  • Term Project 30%
  • Seminar Presentation 10%
  • Seminar Participation 10%

NOTES:

Covid-19 Notes:

Your enrollment (in this course) means you acknowledge that remote 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. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class. Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).

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.]

Online seminar on SFU Zoom. Includes experiential activities which will be adapted for virtual learning. Synchronous and asynchronous options will be announced during the term. Contact the instructor if you have further questions.

REQUIREMENTS:

This is a seminar for PhD and MA students.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

The course readings will be listed in the syllabus, and will be made available electronically through SFU Canvas.


Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

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 FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote 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. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).