COMM 245
Mass Communication and Culture
Elizabeth M. Perse
Summer 2003
Office: 250 Pearson Hall
M-F 10:10 - 11:45
Phone: 831-8041
Gore 102
email: eperse@udel.edu
Office Hours: M-F 12:00 - 12:30 & by appointment
Course Objective/Description: The course provides an overview of print and electronic
media, film and advertising. We will consider history, structure, functions,
and effects of the various media. The course material is designed to give
students a comprehensive understanding of mass communication and its various
applications in contemporary society.
Course Web
Site: http://www.udel.edu/comm245/comm245.html
Texts:
Campbell, R. (2003). Media and
Culture. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s. [M]
Course Readings. [R]
Grading: Grading will be based on five elements: exams,
presentations, projects, New technology assignment, class participation,
and final paper.
Exams.
Students will complete two exams, each covering half the course material (readings,
lectures, and presentations). Each exam will have multiple-choice questions
and short essays. Make-up exams will be given only (a) when arrangements have
been made with the instructor in advance and (b) in case of illness verified
by a physician's note. Each exam will count 50 points.
Presentations. Students will be organized into five teams that
will make class presentations on five mass communication issues.
1. Mass Media and the Courtroom. Has media coverage
changed our judicial system? Can defendants get a fair trial? Cameras in
the court? How can we balance media coverage and defendants’ rights?
2. Book banning: in libraries and in
schools. Any economic influences?
3. What is the history of music censorship? What
is the state of current music? Are the lyrics too graphic? Should recorded
music be labeled? What are the economic implications of labeling?
4. Images of alcohol in the media – advertising,
movies, and TV. What are the possible socialization effects on children and
adolescents? Should these images be regulated? How?
5. Indecency on the Web. Is this a problem?
How to regulate? Children using the Web?
Each team will draw
on information from class readings and library research (academic research
and evidence from popular periodicals). Teams are encouraged to use audio-visual
materials in their presentations. Check with the instructor to make sure
that we have any equipment you need available the day of the presentation.
The instructor will be available to help teams get leads and ideas.
Grading will be based on content and presentation (this is a communication
class!), so comprehensiveness and creativity both count. Teams will be given
the entire class period for their presentation. The presentation should involve
the class in discussion.
The presentation
is worth 15 points.
Projects. Teams will also work together to complete five
projects through the course. Each project will relate to course material
and be the basis for class discussion. The instructor will help students
locate resources. Each project is worth five points. Projects are:
1. Detail the corporate activities/division of a media conglomerate.
2. Listen to 2 different radio stations for 1 hour. List everything that
you hear – music, commercials, news, promotional messages. What is the stations’
formats? Who are the intended audience? How do you know? How do the stations
differ?
3. The music of your generation: What are its roots?
From what older forms of music have the various genres evolved? (I will assign music
genres in class.)
4. Using magazine ads, create the image of the ideal
man and the ideal woman.
5. Find advertisements (print or electronic) that
illustrate five propaganda devices (there will be a handout).
New Technology Assignment. Each
Team will be responsible for teaching the class what the newest technologies
are for some specific mass media. What’s current? How do they work? Is it
good? Will the public adopt it? Each team will take about 10 minutes. The
presentation will be worth 10 points.
Class Participation. I hope that
we can have a lively class with a lot of discussion of ideas and issues.
Class participation will earn 10 points.
Issue Paper. Each student will
compete a 4-page paper that takes a stand on one of the following mass communication-related
issues.
Should government funding continue for PBS?
Should television violence be regulated?
Is there a significant liberal or conservative bias
in the media?
Is advertising’s impact on U.S. society more positive
or more negative?
Should all tobacco advertising be prohibited?
Are media messages about women improving?
Is the World wide Web a threat to traditional media?
Will Internet-based technologies increase citizen
participation in politics?
Students may use the course textbooks for background material, but should
based most of their arguments on evidence drawn from academic research and
current media reports. I expect the typical paper to reference about 8 works.
The paper is due on July 28 and is worth 20 points.
There will be a total of 200 possible course points. Grades will be assigned
as follows:
186 points = A |
140 = C |
174 = A- |
134 = C- |
166 = B+ |
126 = D+ |
160 = B |
120 = D |
154 = B- |
114 = D- |
146 = C+ |
below 100 = F |
Extra Credit: Because the Department of Communication is committed
to advancing knowledge in our field, extra credit will be given only for
participating in communication research. Research opportunities will be announced
as they arise.
Course Schedule
Date |
Topic |
Readings |
June 23 |
Intro to course |
|
24 |
Mass and other communication |
M1, M2, R1- 13 |
25 |
Media systems |
M13, R 14-18 |
26 |
Economic and political constraints |
M16, R 19-32, |
27 |
Media monopolies
Project #1 due |
|
June 30 |
Presentation: Media and the Courts |
|
July 1 |
Newspapers and Magazines
Ungraded assignment: Bring a copy of Tuesday’s paper
to class
Bring a magazine to class
Books-New
Tech |
M8, M9 |
2 |
Presentation: Book banning |
M10 |
3 |
Movies |
M7 |
4 |
NO CLASS |
|
July 7 |
EXAM 1 |
|
8 |
Radio |
M4, R 33-44 |
9 |
More Radio
Project #2 due
Radio-New
Tech |
|
10 |
Popular Music
Project #3 due
Music-New
Tech |
M3 |
11 |
Presentation: Music Censorship |
|
July 14 |
Television
TV-New
Tech |
M5, M6, R 45-57, |
15 |
Ratings |
R (pp. 58-71) |
16 |
Effects of mass media
Project #4 due |
M15 |
17 |
Effects of violence |
|
18 |
Presentation: Alcohol |
|
July 21 |
Journalism |
M14 |
22 |
Advertising
Project #5 due
Adv-New
Tech |
M11, R (72-76) |
23 |
Politics |
|
24 |
Presentation: Indecency on the Web |
|
25 |
EXAM 2 |
|
Note: The
dates on this course outline are approximate. You are responsible for any
changes made in the schedule.