Media Power: Institutions, Texts & Practices
HU6010: Special Topics in Communication Dr. Sue Collins
Michigan Technological University, Fall 2015 Office hrs by appt: Walker Arts 341
7:05 pm – 9:35 pm Walker Arts, grad conf room 329B ; x73260
Course Description:
This course introduces key theoretical concepts, approaches, and methodologies in studying media power through the intersections among institutions (capital, industry, ideology, representation), texts in popular culture (celebrity, spectacle, reality TV, fake news, etc.) and practices (contexts of media uses in everyday life and in crisis). The course will draw from interdisciplinary work in media studies, cultural studies, and social theory. After engaging foundational theory in the study of media and popular culture, our work will turn to exciting contributions to media research and criticism in three focused areas: consumerism and neoliberalism; politics and war; and media activism.
Reading:
Selections from Williams: Understanding Media Theory (2003)
Couldry: Media, Society, World: Social Theory and Digital Media Practice (2012)
Ouellette & Hay: Better Living through Reality TV: Television and Post-Welfare Citizenship (2008)
Wiser: Authentic: The Politics of Ambivalence in Brand Culture (2012)
Chouliaraki: The Ironic Spectator: Solidarity in the Age of Post-Humanitarianism (2013)
Andrejevic: iSpy: Surveillance and Power in the Interactive Era (2007)
Stahl: Militainment, Inc.: War, Media, and Popular Culture (2009)
Hoskins & O’Loughlin: War and Media: The Emergence of Diffused War (2010)
Bennett & Segerberg: The Logic of Connective Action: Digital Media and the Personalization of Contentious Politics (2013)
Sobieraj: Soundbitten: The Perils of Media-centered Political Activism (2011)
Gerbaudo: Tweets and the Streets: Social Media and Contemporary Activism (2012)
Evaluation:
20%--Attendance and Participation: Please arrive on time, having thoroughly read the week’s assigned reading, and prepared to participate in the class discussions with the reading in hand. Participation involves your relevant observations, insight, questions, and pertinent examples to illustrate your points; in other words, you should provide evidence of the fruits of your labor in carefully reading and thinking about the texts under examination. As this is a graduate seminar and not a lecture course, your participation is critical. You will be required to co-facilitate (with me) the class discussion regarding the week’s reading twice during the semester. More than two absences will adversely affect your grade. If you have five or more absences you will NOT receive a passing grade.
20%--Canvas: You are required to post a response a brief response to the reading (approx. 300-400 words) on Canvas in advance of class meetings (by noon on the day of class) six times of your choosing. More details on posting will be provided.
50%--Research Paper: Students will produce an article-length research paper due at the end of the semester. This paper will reflect your engagement with the course materials in relation to a topic of your choosing for the development of your own research project. Students will also present their work to the class. Paper grades will reflect the insight, originality, and effectiveness of the research and writing. Graduate papers should be of publishable or near-publishable quality.
10%--Research Proposal and Outline: Your research proposal will involve a number of possible steps (e.g., asking a sound question, providing a rationale for study, designing a method, researching source material, outlining a review of literature, etc.). We will work on the proposal in stages.
Evaluation Standards and Policies:
93-100 = A; 88-92 = AB; 82-87 = B; 78-81 = BC; 72-77 = C; 68-71
93-100 = Excellent. This work is outstanding work in all respects. This work demonstrates comprehensive and solid understanding of and engagement with course materials, and presents thoughtful interpretations, well-focused and original insights, and well-reasoned commentary, engagement and analysis of the course’s themes, theories, methods and reading materials. Includes skillful use of source materials, illuminating examples and illustrations, fluent expression, and no grammatical/careless errors.
88-92 = Very good. This work demonstrates a complete and accurate understanding of course materials, presents a reasonable degree of insight and broad levels of research and analysis.
82-87 = Good. Work reflects competence, but stays at a general or predictable level of understanding. Source materials, examples, illustrations are used appropriately and articulation/writing is clear. Papers have been carefully proofread.
78-81 = Fair. This work demonstrates understanding that hits in the ballpark, but source materials, examples, and illustrations are not well developed or indicate errors and omission.
72-77 = Passable. Reflects minimal engagement with materials but remains superficial or incomplete. Writing/articulation may appear vague, hard to follow, or loaded with typos and other technical errors.
68-71 = Inadequate. This work is significantly underdeveloped and weak from a serious lack of understanding and the failure to meet academic expectations to be considered acceptable at the graduate level.
67 and below = Failed. Work not submitted or attempted, or work that is too erroneous or that has been plagiarized.
**LATE PAPERS will result in a drop in a letter grade unless students have conferenced with me over their progress in the course.
**Plagiarism is not tolerated and will result in failing the course. Consult the University rules and guidelines regarding this serious breach of ethics. However, please note that all materials used in the construction of your written work (notes, outlines, rough drafts, etc.) should be saved until you have received a passing grade from me.
University Policies: Academic regulations and procedures are governed by University policy.
Assessment: Student work products (exams, essays, projects, etc.) may be used for purposes of university, program, or course assessment. All work used for assessment purposes will not include any individual student identification.
Academic dishonesty cases will be handled in accordance with the University's policies. For more information on this serious breach of conduct, see:
http://www.studentaffairs.mtu.edu/dean/judicial/policies/academic_integrity.html
Affirmative Action: If you have a disability that could affect your performance in this class or that requires an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please see me as soon as possible so that we can make appropriate arrangements. The Affirmative Action Office asks that you be made aware of the following:
Michigan Tech complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regarding discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for equal access to education or services at Michigan Tech, please call the Dean of Students Office, at 487-2212. For other concerns about discrimination, you may contact your advisor, department head or the Affirmative Action Office, at 487-3310
For more information on these policies, see:
Affirmative Action:
http://www.admin.mtu.edu/aao/
Disability Services:
http://www.admin.mtu.edu/urel/studenthandbook/student_services.html#disability
Equal Opportunity Statement:
http://www.admin.mtu.edu/admin/boc/policy/ch3/ch3p7.htm
Schedule: (subject to change)
Foundations in media theory
Wk 1: 9/2 Foundations I, introduction/course overview
Williams: “Mass Society and Modernity: Early Media Theory”; “Schools of Thought Developing Approaches to Media Theory”
Wk 2: 9/9 Foundations II
Williams: “The Censorship of Money: Theories of Media Ownership and Control”;
“The Audience Strikes Back: New Audience and Reception Theory”
Couldry: Chpts. 1-2
Wk 3: 9/16 Social theory and digital media practice
Couldry: Chpts. 3-8 (April) 906 869 3994
Media criticism in neoliberalism times
Wk 4: 9/23 Reality TV and self-governance
Ouellette and Hay: Better Living Through Reality TV (Shelley)
Wk 5: 9/30 Commodities, branding, and authentic self
Wiser: Authentic: The Politics of Ambivalence in Brand Culture (April)
Wk 6: 10/7 Mediated humanitarianism
Chouliaraki: The Ironic Spectator: Solidarity in the Age of Post-Humanitarianism (Efe)
Wk 7: 10/14 Chouliaraki: The Ironic Spectator (cont.) (Lindsay)
Wk 8: 10/21 Interactive media and control
Andrejevic: iSpy: Surveillance and Power in the Interactive Era (Anna)
Media & War
Wk 9: 10/28 It’s not war, it’s entertainment
Stahl: Militainment, Inc. (Shelley)
Wk 10: 11/4 Mediatization and diffused war
Hoskins & Ben O’Loughlin: War and Media: The Emergence of Diffused War (Efe)
Media & Activism
Wk 11: 11/11 Social media and political organization
Bennett & Segerberg: The Logic of Collective Action: Digital Media and the Personalization of Contentious Politics (Anna)
Wk 12: 11/18 No class
Wk 13: 12/2 Activism 2.0
Gerbaudo: Tweets and the Streets: Social Media and Contemporary Activism (Lindsay)
Wk 14: 12/9 Not so fast…
Sobieraj: Soundbitten: The Perils of Media-centered Political Activism