Fall 2023 - CMNS 316 D100
Topics in Popular Cultures and Public Communication (4)
Class Number: 4205
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 6 – Dec 5, 2023: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
BurnabyOct 10, 2023: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Chris Jeschelnik
cjeschel@sfu.ca
778-782-6909
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Prerequisites:
17 CMNS units with a minimum grade of C- or 45 units with a minimum CGPA of 2.00.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Topics on public and popular cultures with a focus on social, political, and cultural dynamics. Explores audiences, publics, and institutions at a global, national, and/or local level. Topics vary and may address themes like: news, music, public media, advertising, sports, childhood, youth cultures, art, and everyday life. This course can be repeated once for credit (up to a maximum of two times).
COURSE DETAILS:
Navigating the overwhelming complexity of current information environments made available through networked computing applications and services requires a new approach to literacy. In particular, there is an urgent need for citizens to form coherent perspectives from multiple sources of information that contain conflicting as well as complementary information as part of knowledge building processes. The concepts of media, information and related literacies have long been associated with democratic participation and basic civil rights. Developing data information literacy initiatives in educational environments should now be considered an essential foundation for all democratic institutions given the potential to easily collect data about citizens, and the potential effectiveness of using various forms of data and metadata in election campaigns and many other processes critical for the functioning of basic democratic governance. Designing pedagogical initiatives that leverage the value of the existing practices of students is a pragmatic starting point towards supporting enhanced levels of data information literacy across all levels of our citizenry.
The course will be divided into lecture and lab components. In the lectures, students will be expected to analyze and discuss a wide range of perspectives on literacy in relation to contemporary genres, production paradigms, and conventions, by employing a full range of critical thinking skills and practices. In the labs, students will be expected to gain technical knowledge and skills required for digital media production including: design, production planning, the use of image and sound recording equipment, uploading and formatting for the Internet, creative writing, framing, digitizing, editing, graphics, and presenting final productions. Students must also present and discuss their productions in class.Grading
- Engagement 20%
- Online Discussion Contributions 20%
- Individual Project - Literacy Intervention 10%
- Final Project Treatment 20%
- Final Project 30%
NOTES:
Marks will be deducted for absences and late work.
Attendance in all components of the course is mandatory, and will be reflected in the overall marks for Engagement. There will be no opportunities for making up for missed class components such as attendance in Lecture or Labs. Late penalties will apply automatically with a TEN PERCENT reduction per day applied to any late assignments. This will be applied without exception.
Please do not use Canvas Messages to contact the teaching team, use email only.Students who have taken CMNS 387 with the topic "Digital Literacies in Communication" should not take this course for further credit.
Materials
MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:
Software and Hardware Requirements
To ensure you can access all course materials and complete assigned coursework, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the Internet.Access to Adobe Premiere and Photoshop are required for this class.
REQUIRED READING:
Hobbs, R. (2021). Media literacy in action: Questioning the media. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Hoechsmann, M., & Poyntz, S. R. (2012). Media literacies: A critical introduction. John Wiley & Sons.
Supplementary readings will be posted on the course page on Canvas https://canvas.sfu.ca/
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website 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
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the semester are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.