Fall 2024 - CMNS 314 D400
Topics in Media Production and Aesthetics (4)
Class Number: 7712
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Steven Malcic
smalcic@sfu.ca
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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 the cultural production of acoustic, visual, and/or multimodal communication. Explores cultural contexts of media production, media artifacts, media perceptions, and alternative media practices. Topics include: advertising, film, gaming, radio, television, and questions of representation in media professions. This course can be repeated once for credit (up to a maximum of two times).
COURSE DETAILS:
Topic for Fall 2024: The Cultural Production of Popular Music
This course examines the shifting commodification of popular music from the late industrial era through the post-industrial era. Each week focuses on a specific theme or concept related to cultural theory and the study of popular music. The theoretical themes or concepts are supported by scholarly literature and popular music, which exemplifies both the theme/concept and a particular genre. The course will cover themes/concepts including youth culture; political agency; memory; the African diaspora; subcultures; space and place; taste; desire; technology; globalization; and cultural capital. The course will cover genres including rock & roll; protest music; R&B/soul; reggae; punk; hip-hop; country; pop; EDM; Latin music; indie; and K-Pop. The course provides students with a theoretical understanding of contemporary popular music in relation to a variety of historical and cultural contexts. The assignments for the course are designed to improve research, writing, group collaboration, and presentation skills needed for professional communication roles.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
- Apply theoretical concepts to analyze popular music and its cultural significance.
- Contextualize popular music within historical, social and/or cultural contexts.
- Curate and analyze popular music to reflect a specific theme or to communicate an idea.
- Develop skills needed for professional communication roles through the final project.
Grading
- Seminar Presentation 20%
- Short Essay 20%
- Paper Proposal 10%
- Research Paper 40%
- Participation 10%
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
All readings will be available as PDFs on the course Canvas.
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 term 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.