Course Description:
What is mass communication? This course theorizes mass communication as symbolic exchanges in the context of cultural, social, political, and economic changes. Key concepts in mass communication will be examined historically and then applied to contemporary formations of technology, media, and culture. This course provides an overview of the field of mass communication for the lay student and prepares future majors for coursework in the discipline.
Course Objectives:
Student Conduct and Evaluation:
This course will introduce you to the basic themes and topics in the study of mass communication. You are expected to be in class every meeting. If you miss three classes in a row or six classes total, you will be warned through a report submitted to your Dean’s office. If there are any unexcused absences after the report, I will recommend to your Dean that you receive a “WF.” The only acceptable absences in this course are for a documented illness, funeral, religious holiday, team sports, or another event that you need to corroborate with your Dean. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you have missed first from your peers, get notes, refer to Blackboard, and then ask me if you have more questions. If you come to class late or leave early, I would appreciate knowing why you need to interrupt the class.
The course readings are the necessary background that you need in order to participate effectively in this class. The Communication in History days will introduce major themes in communication history, while the Xan-Edu readings will adapt these themes to current communication trends. For classes with assigned readings in the Xan-Edu course reading packet, you will bring a one-page, single-spaced, typed response paper that explains what you see as a common thread that links those readings with the readings in the Communication in History book. These will be graded on a scale of 1-10, with the lowest grade dropped. This paper will provide you with some speaking points to raise during the class. Participation grades will be based on each student’s ability to make these connections between course readings, active contribution to class discussions, and debate evaluations.
Exams are to ensure that you can recall the main issues in the readings and their application in class. There are NO make-ups or alternative days for these exams except in cases of extreme emergency (a documented illness or death in the family). Please note the day/time of the final exam as this is a firm date.
In addition, you will be working on your public speaking skills in the form of a series of debates on mass media and society. Debate topics will be assigned at the beginning of the course and each student will participate in two debates. There are no make-up days for debates. Each student is expected to attend the debate and should be prepared to evaluate the speakers based on the readings in the Taking Sides book. Grades for the debates will be partially assessed by your peers.
Finally, this course values and adheres strictly to the Tulane Honor Code. All forms of academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, turning in previous work, unauthorized collaboration, etc.) will be reported and punished to the full extent of the Code. Those not familiar with the Code can find it located at http://www.tulane.edu/~uc/honorcode.htm. I can also answer questions on the policies.
Grades will be assigned according to the following criteria:
My Conduct:
I will try to make Powerpoint slides or lecture notes available on Blackboard so that students may refer to them after class. Grades for exams are usually posted within a week. Reading response grades will be posted four times during the semester and will be based on the aggregate of papers due during that period.
Any questions about these standards or other course issues are welcomed before or after class as well as during my office hours. I am happy to meet with students other hours by appointment. I am located in 219 Newcomb Hall. The phone number there is 865-3035 and my e-mail address is vmayer@tulane.edu. E-mail is the best way to contact me for the quickest response, generally within 48 hours.
Course Readings:
Course packet available through Xan-Edu
Alexander, Alison and Jarice Hanson, Eds. Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Mass Media and Society, 7 th Ed., Guilford, CT: Duskin/McGraw Hill, 2003.
Crowley, David and Paul Heyer. Communication and History: An Introduction, 4 th Edition. Pearson, 2002.
DeLillo, Don. White Noise. New York: Penguin, 1991.
Course Schedule:
(Subject to Minor Modification)
8/25 W Introduction
8/27 F Communication and Symbols: Tokens
Read: Marshack, Alexander. “The Art and Symbols of Ice Age Man.” CH. 5-13.
Rudgley, Richard. “A New Rosetta Stone.” CH. 14-20.
Logan, Robert. “Writing and the Alphabet Effect.” CH. 59-63.
8/30 M Communication and Symbols: The Swoosh
Read: Xan-Edu Packet Articles
9/1 W Technology as Medium and Practice: Writing
Read: Innis, Harold. “Media in Ancient Empires.” CH. 21-27.
Ascher, Marcia and Robert Ascher. “Civilizations without Writing—the Incas and the Quipu.” CH. 28-33.
Robinson, Andrew. “The Origins of Writing.” CH. 34-40.
9/3 F Technology as Medium and Practice: Video
Read: Xan-Edu Packet Articles
9/6 M Labor Day Holiday
9/8 W Communication and Community: Literacy
Read: Eco, Umberto. “A Medieval Library.” CH. 71-73.
Eisenstein, Elizabeth. “The Rise of the Reading Public.” CH. 97-105
Graff, Harvey. “Early Modern Literacies.” CH. 106-114.
9/10 F Communication and Community: Computer Literacy
Read: Xan-Edu Packet Articles
9/13 M Oral Communication and Cultures: The Agora
Read: Ong, Walter. “Orality, Literacy, and Modern Media.” CH. 64-70.
Burke, James. “Communication in the Middle Ages.” CH. 74-82.
Havelock, Eric. “The Greek Legacy.” CH. 53-58.
9/15 W Oral Communication and Cultures: Political Talk
Read: Xan-Edu Packet Articles
9/17 F Debate: Is Negative Campaigning Bad for the Political Process?
9/20 M The Commodity Form: News
Read: Thompson, John B. “The Trade in News.” CH. 115-118.
Schudson, Michael. “The New Journalism.” CH. 138-144.
Stephens, Mitchell. “Television Transforms the News.” CH. 272-278.
9/22 W The Commodity Form: Music and Intellectual Property
Read: Xan-Edu Packet Articles
9/24 F Debate: Have the News Media Improved Since 9/11?
9/27 M Space and Time: Telecommunications
Read: Headrick, Daniel. “The Optical Telegraph.” CH. 123-131.
Carey, James. “Time, Space, and the Telegraph.” CH. 157-162.
Kern, Stephen. “Wireless World.” CH. 210-212
9/29 W Debate: Can Privacy Be Protected in the Information Age?
10/1 F Debate: Should Tobacco Advertising Be Restricted?
10/4 M Consumer Culture: Utopianism and Moral Panics
Read: Williams, Rosalynd. “Dream Worlds of Consumption.” CH. 179-185.
Czitrom, Daniel. “Early Motion Pictures.” CH. 186-193.
Fowles, Jib. “Mass Media and the Star System.” CH. 194-200.
10/6 W Consumer Culture: Video Game Media
Read: Xan-Edu Packet Articles
10/8 F Midterm Exam
10/11 M New Professionals: Communication Scientists
Read: Marvin, Carol. “Inventing the Expert.” CH. 152-156.
Keller, Ulrich. “Early Photojournalism.” CH. 170-178.
Lears, Jackson. “Advertising and the Idea of Mass Society.” CH. 201-206.
10/13 W New Professionals: PR and Spin
Read: Xan-Edu Packet Articles
10/15 F Debate: Is Advertising Ethical?
10/18 M Visual Cultures: Photography
Read: Sontag, Susan. “On Photography.” CH. 166-169.
Carpenter, Edmund. “The New Languages.” CH. 250-254.
Bolter, Jay David and Richard Grusin. “The World Wide Web.” CH. 309-316.
10/20 W Visual Cultures: “It Looked Like a Movie”
Read: Xan-Edu Packet Articles
10/22 F Debate: Is Television Harmful for Children
10/25 M Communication and Regulation: The Communications Act of 1934
Read: Standage, Tom. “Telegraphy – The Victorian Internet.” CH. 132-136.
Fisher, Claude. “The Telephone Takes Command.” CH. 145-151.
Boddy, William. “Television Begins.” CH. 240-249.
10/27 W Communication and Regulation: The 1996 Telecommunications Act
Read: Xan-Edu Packet Articles
10/29 F Debate: Does Concentration of Ownership Jeopardize Media Content?
11/1 M Technology Uses: Media and Private Space
Read: Douglas, Susan. “Early Radio.” CH. 213-219.
Spigel, Lynn. “Making Room for TV.” CH. 255-263.
McLuhan, Marshall. “Understanding Radio.” CH. 230-236.
11/3 W Technology Uses: Media and Public Space
Read: Xan-Edu Packet Articles
11/5 F Debate: Will Technology Change Social Interaction?
11/8 M Communication and Representation: Golden Ages
Read: Sterling, Christopher and John M. Kittross, “The Golden Age of Programming.” CH. 220-225.
Nachman, Gerald. “Radio and Race.” CH. 226-229.
Bodrogkohzy, Anniko. “The Sixties Counterculture on TV.” CH. 264-271.
11/10 W Communication and Representation: Striptease Culture
Read: Xan-Edu Packet Articles
11/12 F Debate: Do African American Stereotypes Still Predominate on Television?
11/15 M Globalization: The Internet
Read: Carter, T.F. “Paper and Block Printing – From China to Europe.” CH. 87-92.
Abbate, Janet. “Popularizing the Internet.” 297-301.
O'Donnell, James. “From the Codex Page to the Homepage.” CH. 302-308.
11/17 W Debate: Do Ratings Work?
11/19 F Debate: Should Internet Access Be Regulated?
11/22 M Debate: Do the Mass Media Undermine Openness and Accountability in Democracy?
11/29 M Communication and Control
Read: Beniger, James. “The Control Revolution.” CH. 283-292.
DeLillo, Don. WN. 1-100.
12/1 W Communication and Control
Read: DeLillo, Don. WN. 101-326.
12/3 F Final Thoughts About Mass Communication
FINAL EXAM: Thursday, December 9, 1-4 pm