Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - CMNS 230 B100

The Cultural Industries in Canada: Global Context (3)

Class Number: 1685

Delivery Method: Blended

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: TBA, TBA
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Nine CMNS units with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

What do we mean when we talk about the 'cultural industries' today? This course explores the business structure and economics of the cultural sectors, the regulatory and policy frameworks, and their social and cultural contexts. Students are encouraged to develop, compare and contrast at least two sectors from the audio, print or visual industries. While the primary focus is on the Canadian case, students will be encouraged to look at other countries. Overriding themes explore the following: relationships between public and private sectors; independent and commercial creators; rights of creators versus distributors; specialty and general media; indigenous and global contents.

COURSE DETAILS:

Note for Spring 2025:  CMNS 230 B100 is a Blended learning course.  All Lectures will be taught Online.  All tutorials will be taught in-person, beginning in Week #2 -- Friday 17 January 2025.

This course will focus on how recent developments such as the rise of digital platforms, artificial intelligence,  virtual reality, and the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted, challenged, and changed cultural industries, with their organizations, cultural workers, audiences and governmental frameworks. We will study the industry from an introductory perspective focusing on understanding the core principles of society and the role of organizations, individuals and governmental actions in shaping cultural content, creative processes, distribution of content and content consumption. Students will be able to learn about various realms within the sector, including film, publishing, gaming, music, journalism and the arts.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Understand and apply key concepts and theoretical approaches to the study of media and cultural industries.
  • Provide a conceptual framework that can be applied to selected cultural industries, the international context, and extrapolated to other sectors.
  • Provide an overview of the organizational ecology for the cultural industries in Canada.
  • Enable students to begin career-focused research into the cultural industries, while identifying the relevant problematics in political economy and cultural studies for future learning.
  • Establish connections between local and global contexts.

Grading

  • Tutorial participation 5%
  • Critical summary of three course readings 15%
  • Self-reflective essay 20%
  • Tutorial presentation and its discussion 20%
  • Case study 40%

NOTES:

CMNS 230 B100 is a Blended learning course.  All Lectures will be taught Online.  All tutorials will be taught in-person, beginning in Week #2 -- Friday 17 January 2025.

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relationship to established university-wide practices. In addition, the School will follow Policy S10.01 with respect to Academic Integrity, and Policies S10.02, S10.03 and S10.04 with regard to Student Discipline. For further information visit: www.sfu.ca/policies/Students/index.html

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Chrétien-Ichikawa, S. & Pawlik, K. (Eds.) (2022). Creative Industries and Digital Transformation in China. Palgrave Macmillan. [Digital download available via SFU library]

Thompson, C. & Campbell, M. (Eds.) (2022). Creative Industries in Canada. Canadian Scholars. [Digital download available via SFU library]

Nielsen, RK. & Ganter, S.A. (2022). The Power of Platforms: Shaping Media and Society. Oxford University Press. [Accessible online via SFU library]

McDonald, P. (2021). The Routledge Companion to Media Industries. London: Routledge. [Digital download available via SFU library]

Havens, Timothy and Amanda D. Lotz (2017). Understanding Media Industries (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. [Accessible at the SFU library, and SFU bookstore]

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.