Summer 2022 - CMNS 221 D100

Media and Popular Cultures (3)

Class Number: 1642

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 10 – Aug 8, 2022: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Aug 10, 2022
    Wed, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Nine CMNS units with a minimum grade of C-.

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 texts, industries, and audiences. The course examines theoretical approaches to understanding 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, television shows, popular music, memes, and other forms of visual culture as part of our investigation.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Course Format

LECTURES:

Course lectures will be held in person in SWH 10041. Please plan to arrive on time and having read and viewed all assigned materials for the week.

OFFICE HOURS:

The instructor will hold office hours from 1:20-2:20 each Tuesday outside of SWH 10041. 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 Wednesday, May 18. Tutorials serve as opportunities to ask questions, engage readings, and discuss viewables. Come prepared having read and viewed all assigned materials. Each week you should also prepare a discussion question for the class. Further instructions will be given in lecture

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 221 student by including “CMNS 221” 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 #1 - Due June 7 20%
  • Pop Culture Analysis Outline - Due June 17 10%
  • Midterm #2 - Due July 5 20%
  • Pop Culture Analysis 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 221. 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 EXAMS (2x20%)

There are two midterms in this course. They will be held during regular lecture time on June 7 and July 5. These 1-hour-50-minute exams will cover all course materials (readings, videos, lectures, and tutorials) for weeks 1-4 (Midterm 1) and weeks 6-8 (Midterm 2). They will consist of short answer and essay questions. The purpose of these exams is to give you an indication both of how you are doing so far and what to expect as far as the final exam is concerned.

POP CULTURE ANALYSIS OUTLINE (10%)

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 6 students will submit a short (250-350 word) proposal and outline for their final Pop Culture Analysis paper. These proposals should include a proposed theoretical framework drawn from course materials, a central thesis or argument, a brief overview of the popular culture text/artifact to be analyzed, 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 Research Paper requirements.

POP CULTURE ANALYSIS 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 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. Videos and audio resources are available online. Links will be provided on Canvas. Where a link is not directly available for a viewing, the instructor will provide instructions for access.


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.