Media and Social Identity Syllabus

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Media and Social Identity
Com 287, Winter 2014
UC2 203 = Anton Frankel Center Room - T/R
Department of Communication & Journalism
College of Arts and Sciences
Oakland University
Instructor: Dr. Michael Glassco
Email: Glassco@oakland.edu I do my best to answer emails as quickly as possible, but please allow me
24 hours to respond.
Office Hours: by appointment.
Course Overview
Media and Social Identity explores the role of media in the construction of international, national and
local communities, as well as social identity. From television and magazines to billboards, the Internet
and everything in between, media are a vital part of our everyday lives. In this course, we will consider a
variety of approaches to, theories of, responses to and opinions about the role of media as a system for
cultural reproduction. Drawing on the fields of history, sociology, political science, economics, cultural
studies and mass communications, we will explore the economic structure of cultural production, the
representation of culture and the consumption of media texts from multiple and overlapping perspectives.
After developing a theoretical grounding rooted in media and cultural studies, developed in the first part
of the course, the majority of the semester will be spent applying theory to specific historical and current
examples of everyday media texts. Specifically, we will explore the role of advertising, reality television
and new media in shaping identity our sense of history and culture and hailing particular identities of
(race, class, gender, sexuality etc.). At issue is how distinctive identities (such as gender, sexuality, social
class, occupation, race and nationality) are constructed and represented in the media. How is identity
formed, maintained, and represented? How do individuals use traditional and new media to reflect their
identities? How does popular culture inform our personal displays of identity?
Students will be given an historical overview of the development of media and cultural studies with an
emphasis on the role of media and consumer culture in shaping our ideas of ethnicity, gender, sexuality
and citizenship. This class satisfies the General Education requirements in the Social Science Knowledge
Exploration Area, including emphasizing the following learning outcomes and cross-cutting capacities:
 knowledge of concepts, methods and theories designed to enhance understanding of human
behavior and/or societies
 application of concepts and theories to problems involving individuals, institutions, or nations
Cross-cutting capacities associated with the Social Science Knowledge Exploration Area include:
 social awareness
Required Course Materials
The following books are available at the campus bookstore. You may also find them online, but please be
sure to order the most recent edition (of Berger):
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Berger, Arthur Asa (2011). Ads, fads and consumer culture (4th ed). Lanham, MD: Rowman &
Littlefield
Pozner, Jennifer L. (2010). Reality bites back: The troubling truth about guilty pleasure TV.
Berkeley: Seal Press.
Additional readings will be available via www.mediaandsocialidentity.com and Moodle.
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ALWAYS REFER TO THE SYLLABUS TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF READINGS
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Exams
2 x 20% =
Paper #1
Paper #2
Journal
Class Leader
Attendance/Participation
TOTAL
40%
15%
20%
10%
5%
10%
100%
(All assignments will be given a grade out of 100.)
Exams: There will be two exams in this course. The exams will cover course material including readings
and class lectures/discussions and will consist of multiple choice questions and short answer and/or essay
questions. The midterm exam will cover the first half of the semester and will be held on February 20.
The final exam will be held on the scheduled exam day.
Papers: There will be two short essays dealing with issues covered in class. Specific instructions and
details about each paper will be provided on moodle and www.mediaandsocialidentity.com. Papers will
focus on material covered in class but may require a small amount of outside research.
Journal: Students are required to complete 10 journal entries. Each entry should reflect personal
experiences as they pertain to a course concept or critical reading reactions of the assigned reading. Use,
define, and underline course concepts in journal entries. All journal entries must be typed and turned in
during assigned due dates during scheduled class meetings.
Class Leader: Each Student will be responsible for leading class discussion of one of the assigned
readings. Students should come to class prepared and ready to provide a general overview of the central
and interesting aspects of the reading and use examples to lead the class in a discussion of the material.
Participation and Attendance:
1. Attendance: You must attend class regularly and on time. Attendance will be taken by the instructor
every class meeting. Absences will only be counted as excused in case of religious holiday, dire
emergency or illness and with proper documentation (e.g. doctor’s note). DO NOT schedule meetings
with advisors or other appointments etc during class time, as these are NOT excused absences. You
should contact me as soon as possible (ideally in advance) if you have to miss class. An absence may be
excused without a doctor’s note or other documentation ONLY IF you contact me PRIOR to class time.
Accumulating more than TWO unexcused absences will result in the reduction of your participation
grade and will impact your final grade. If you are more than one hour late for class you will be
marketed as absent for that day.
If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to catch up on material you missed. If you are absent on a
given day, I am more than happy to answer questions or go over lecture notes during a scheduled
appointment. However, I will NOT send you my lecture notes, PowerPoint slides, etc. via email.
2. Participation: You must come to class prepared to participate in class discussions and activities in
thoughtful and constructive ways. This includes coming to each class with the reading prepared and with
you, answering and posing questions, listening respectfully to fellow students and the instructor, and
contributing concretely to a positive classroom learning environment.
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Grades
Grading for this course will be based on the following grading scale:
A-range = for work which is outstanding, not just completing the assignment well, but going beyond—
perhaps insightfully integrating ideas in the current section, perhaps drawing in readings from other parts
of the course in interesting ways, or bringing something else special to the assignment.
B-range = for work which is good, not just meeting the minimum requirements necessary for completing
the assignment, but also characterized by the inclusion of something more than the minimum.
C-range = for work which is adequate, meeting most but not all of the basic course/assignment
requirements, or meeting the requirements at the bare minimum level without going beyond this.
D-range = for work which is worthy of some credit even though it does not satisfactorily meet the basic
course/assignment requirements.
A range
B range
C range
D range
E
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
59 or below
3.6-4.0
3.0-3.5
2.0-2.9
1.0-1.9
0.0
After I hand you back graded work, you should read my comments before coming to me with questions
about your grade. If you are dissatisfied with any evaluation of an assignment, you must wait 24 hours
then make an appointment to speak to me in person, not just over email.
As this is a 200-level course, I am required to submit midterm evaluations to indicate satisfactory (S) or
unsatisfactory (U) progress in the course. You will receive an email from Academic Skills Center when
the reports are available for access.
Re-writes on papers
I do not allow re-writes on papers. However, I am happy to meet with you in person to go over drafts at
any point during your writing process. The goal is to make the version you turn in your best work, not a
first draft that you re-write after it has been graded.
Extra credit
I will not assign any extra credit work on an individual basis. Limited opportunities for extra credit will
be offered to the entire class as the instructor sees fit.
Late Written Assignments: Deadlines for all assignments are stated on the syllabus and/or will be
announced in class. LATE ASSIGNMENTS WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT OR DOCUMENTED
MEDICAL OR PERSONAL EMERGENCY WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FOR UP TO ONE
WEEK AFTER THE DUE DATE. LATE ASSIGNMENTS ARE SUBJECTED TO GRADE
DEDUCTIONS. Please contact me as soon as possible (ideally in advance) if you cannot turn in an
assignment on time.
CLASS CLIMATE: RESPECT!
Respect the dignity and worth of your fellow classmates. Prejudicial remarks that offend another’s race,
religion, ethnic background, gender, or sexual orientation will not be tolerated. Any student found in
violation of this creed will be asked to leave. Each student has a valuable contribution to make, please
allow them to make it. Please avoid talking over other students. Cell phone rings, eating meals, reading
the paper, and packing up are a distraction that disturbs the flow of the class. Please respect those who
wish to learn and the environment that makes this possible. Let us create an environment of mutual
respect to foster an atmosphere in which your voice is affirmed while respecting and affirming the voices,
beliefs and experiences of fellow classmates.
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Course Policies and Important Dates
Last day official withdrawal is 3/17. Visit http://www.oakland.edu/important-dates for important dates.
Technology policy: You should check your OU email account regularly to stay apprised of any course
announcements etc. I always respond (within 24 hours) to your emails. Class participation also means turning off
and putting away your cell phone (no texting) and refraining from using your laptop for anything other than
course notes (e.g. no checking Facebook or other non-class related web sites).
Snow Day policy: As per the University Center policy: If Oakland University is closed, no OU classes will be held
at the University Center and our office will be closed. If Macomb Community College is closed, no OU classes will
be held and our office will be closed. The new College Closing Hotline number is 586.445.7800.
Student Integrity: Students that cheat, fabricate, or plagiarize (which means misrepresenting as your own work any
part of work done by another) will be forwarded to the Dean of Students and the Academic Conduct Committee.
Possible repercussions range from 0.0 on the assignment to expulsion from the university. See the Student
Handbook for more details on academic misconduct or contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 248-370-3352
or online at http://www.oakland.edu/deanofstudents. I am happy to help you with any questions or concerns related
to plagiarism BEFORE an assignment is due. The library offers an online plagiarism tutorial here:
http://library.oakland.edu/tutorials/plagiarism/index.htm
Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities are welcome in this class. However, I need to hear from anyone
who has a disability so that appropriate arrangements may be made prior to their need (e.g. do not tell me on the day
of an exam that you need extra time). The Disability Support Services Office is responsible for providing reasonable
accommodations for students with disabilities. Students with special needs are encouraged to utilize these services
and you must register with this office to receive necessary accommodations. For more information, contact DSS
office at 248-370-3266 or 248-370-3268 (TDD).
Grievances: Please feel free to contact me with any concerns you have about material covered in the class, about
assignments or grades, or concerns you might have regarding events in the classroom.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR COMMUNICATION MAJORS: We strongly encourage you to be proactive about
your future.
Advising: Plan to meet with the Communication Advisor, Renee Ligeski, at least once a year. Schedule an
appointment by calling 248-370-4120.
Career Services: Begin visiting the OU Career Services office in your freshman year to make an appointment with
a Career Consultant and to start preparations for your career and future employment search. Schedule an
appointment by calling 248-370-3250. Also, check their website regularly: www.oakland.edu/careerservices/
Graduate Study: If you are considering graduate study, either at OU or at another institution, please make an
appointment to sit down with one of our faculty to explore your options.
Facebook: We post updates to the OU COM page. Please join the OU Network and OU COM page.
Counseling Center – Graham Health Center: The Counseling Center is located inside of the Graham Health
Center; it provides short-term personal counseling, psycho-educational testing and consultations to university
students and staff. For more information please contact the Counseling office at: (248) 370 – 3465. The Graham
Health Center provides affordable health care services for the OU community. For more information, please contact
the Graham Health Center office at: (248) 370 – 2341.
Academic Skills Center: The Academic skills center is located at 103 North Foundation Hall and offers free peer
tutoring and supplemental instruction (SI) for registered Oakland University students. Tutoring is available by
appointment. Please contact the Academic Skills Center office at: (248) 370 – 4215.
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TENTATIVE DAILY SCHEDULE
**Instructor reserves the right to adjust the schedule as necessary
**You should complete the assigned readings prior to coming to class on the date they are assigned
Jan 7: Syllabus/Introduction: Cultural studies, multiculturalism, and media culture.
Media & Cultural Studies
Jan 9:
Readings:
 Shah, A (2009). “Media conglomerates, mergers and concentration of ownership” [Blog post]
Global Issues. Retrieved from http://www.globalissues.org/article/159/
 Corteau, D. & Hoynes, W. (2007). Media/Society: Industries, Images, and Audiences: The
Economics of the Media Industry. Ch. 2
In class screening: Rich Media Poor Democracy
Jan 14:
Journal Entry 1 Due
Readings
 Corteau, D. & Hoynes, W. (2007). Media/Society: Industries, Images, and Audiences: Media
and Ideology. Ch. 5
Jan 16:
Readings:
 Mohamed, S. (2011, Nov 10). Stuart Hall - encoding/decoding model and Apple iPod
commercials. (Rev. 2012, April 24). [Blog post]. The Glaring Facts Retrieved from:
http://www.theglaringfacts.com/staff-essays/encodingdecodingmodel/
 Corteau, D. & Hoynes, W. (2007). Media/Society: Industries, Images, and Audiences. Active
Audiences and the Construction of Meaning Ch. 8
Advertising and Consumer Culture
Jan 21:
Journal Entry 2 Due
Readings
 Berger, A. A. (2010). Ch. 2: Consumer Cultures. In, The Objects of Affection: Semiotics and
Consumer Culture.
 Berger, A. A. (2011). Ads, Fads and Consumer Culture. Ch. 2.
Jan 23:
Readings:
 Jhally, S. (1994). Image-based culture: Advertising and popular culture.
 McClaren, C. (1999) On advertising: Sut Jhally vs. James Twitchell Stay Free 16. Retrieved
from http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/archives/16/twitchell.html
 Berger, A. A. (2011). Ads, Fads and Consumer Culture. Chapter 1
In class screening: Advertising & The End of the World
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Jan 28
Journal Entry 3 Due
Readings:
 Berger, A. A. (2011). Ads, Fads and Consumer Culture. Chapters 3 & 4
Jan 30
Readings:
 Berger, A. A. (2011) Ads, Fads and Consumer Culture. Ch. 8 & 9
 Livingstone, R. (2011). Better at Life Stuff: Consumption, Identity and Class in Apple’s “Get a
Mac” Campaign.
In class screening: The Persuaders
Feb 4
Journal Entry 4 Due
Readings
 Wilson, C.C. & Gutiérrez, F. (1995) Advertising and people of color. In G. Dines and J.M.
Humez (Eds.), Gender, race, and class in media, 2nd Edition. (pp. 283-292). Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage Publications.
 Wade, L. (2008) Why and how people of color are included in advertising [Blog series].
Sociological Images. Parts 1, 2 and 3 of the series (read more if you want!)
Feb 6
Readings:
 Berger, A. A. (2011) Ads, Fads and Consumer Culture. 5
 Killbourne, J. (2003). The More You Subtract, the More You Add: Cutting Girls Down to Size.
 Katz, J. (2003). Advertising and the construction of violent white masculinity.
In class screening: Killing Us Softly
Feb 11
Readings:
 Schor, J. B. Born to Buy. Selections (p. 9 – 58).
 Berger, Ch. 7
Feb 13
Paper 1 Due
Readings:
 Petrecca, L. (2006) Product placement—you can’t escape it. USA Today
 Klein, N. (1999). Selections from No logo. New York: Picador.
In class screening: Merchants of Cool
Feb 18
Readings:
 Walker, R. (2010). Buying In: What We Buy and Who We Are. Ch. 1 & 4
 Miller, L (2008, June 3). “We are what we buy” [blog post] Salon.
 Barber, B. R. Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize adults, and swallow citizens
whole. Ch. 5.
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Feb 20:
Test 1
Feb 25 – Spring Break
Feb 27 – Spring Break
Reality TV & Consumer Culture
March 4
Journal Entry 5 Due
Readings:
 Pozner, Introduction
 Barnhart, A (2010, Dec 6). How reality TV took over prime time. Kansas City Star. Retrieved
from: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/12/04/2497484/how-reality-tv-took-over-prime.html
 Andrejevic, M. (2002). The Kinder, Gentler Gaze of Big Brother: Reality TV in the Era of Digital
Capitalism.
March 6
Readings:
 Pozner, Chapter 9.
 Stanley, T.L. (2011, Dec 22) ‘X Factor,’ ‘Idol,’ ‘Biggest Loser’ lead in product placement. LA
Times. Retrieved from: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/12/suburgatory-bigbang-theory-have-most-memorable-product-placements.html
 Doonan, S. (2010, Aug 7). How Snooki got her Gucci: The dirt on purses. The New York
Observer. Retrieved from: http://www.observer.com/2010/08/how-snooki-got-her-gucci-the-dirton-purses/
March 11
Journal Entry 6 Due
Readings
 Hall, S. The Whites of Their Eyes: Racist Ideologies and the Media. In P. Marris and Sue
Thonham (Eds.). Media Studies: A Reader. New York University Press.
 Pozner, Ch. 5 & 6
March 13
Readings
 Orbe, M. P. Constructions of Reality on MTV’s “The Real World”: An Analysis of the
Restrictive Coding of Black Masculinity
 The Amazing Race: Global Othering http://www.extratextual.tv/2013/10/the-amazing-raceglobal-othering/
 Drew, E. M. (2011). Pretending to Be “Postracial”: The Spectacularization of Race in Reality
TV’s Survivor
In class screening: Representation & the Media (Hall, S.)
March 18
Journal Entry 7 Due
Readings:
 Pozner, Ch. 1 & 4
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McMurria, J. (2008). Desperate Citizens and Good Samaritans: Neoliberalism and Makeover TV.
Cox, B. (2011, May 19)‘Repo Games’: Turning poverty into a game show. [Blog post] The Awl.
Retrieved from: http://www.theawl.com/2011/05/repo-games-turning-poverty-into-a-game-show
Lloyd, R (2011, Dec 1) Reality TV’s new breed of stars. The Los Angeles Times Retrieved from:
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/01/entertainment/la-et-1130-redneck-tv-20111201
March 20
Readings:
 Pozner, Chapter 2 and 3
 Orenstein, P. (2011) Selections from, Cinderella Ate My Daughter New York: Harper Collins.
In class screening: Class Dismissed: How TV Frames the Working Class
March 25
Journal Entry 8 Due
Readings:
 Pozner, Chapter 7 & 8
 Franco, J. (2008). Extreme Makeover: The Politics of Gender, Class and Cultural Identity.
March 27
Readings:
 Klein, A.A. (2011) Compulsory masculinity on The Jersey Shore. [Blog post] Antenna. Retrieved
from: http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/2011/02/26/compulsory-masculinity-on-the-jersey-shore/
 Raymond, D. Queer Representations and Popular Culture: A Critical Perspective.
 Clarkson, J. (2005). Contesting Masculinity’s Makeover: Queer Eye, Consumer Masculinity, and
“Straight-Acting” Gays.
In class screening: Tough Guise
Identity, politics and postmodern representation
April 1:
Journal Entry 9 Due
Readings:
 Jaramillo, D. L. (2013). AMC: Stumbling toward a New Television Canon. Television & New
Media.
 Smith, A. N. (2013). Putting the Premium into Basic: Slow-Burn Narratives and the LossLeader Function of AMC’s Original Series. Television & New Media.
 Tudor, D. (2012). Selling Nostalgia: Mad Men, Postmodernism and Neoliberalism.
 Teurlings, J. Product Integration in Mad Men: Political Economy, Nostalgia and Critique.
April 3:
Readings:
 Schneider, T. When the difference can’t be told: The subject in contemporary horror and science
fiction film. Spectator.
 Canavan, G. We Are the Walking Dead: Race, Time and Survival in Zombie Narrative.
Extrapolation, Vol. 51. No. 3
 Strohecker, D. P. On the Origins of Zombies. Retrieved:
http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/02/17/guest-post-on-the-origin-of-zombies/
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Kumar, D. Showtime’s Homeland and the Imagination of National Security. Mondoweiss. Nov.
14, 2013. Retrieved from:
http://mondoweiss.net/2013/11/showtimes-imagination-security.html
Beaumont, P. Homeland is a Brilliant Drama. But does it present a crude image of Muslims? The
Observer. October 13, 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.theguardian.com/tv-andradio/2012/oct/13/homeland-drama-offensive-portrayal-islam-arabs
Branded Political Television
April 8
Readings:
 Herman, E. & Chomsky, N. A Propaganda Model:
 Jones, J. P. (2012). The New News as No News: US Cable News Channels as Branded Political
Entertainment Television.
 Jones, J. P. (2012). Fox News and the Performance of Ideology.
In class screening: Outfoxed
April 10
Paper 2 Due
Readings:
 Jones, J. P. & Baym, G. (2010). A Dialogue on Satire News and the Crisis of Truth in
Postmodern Political Television.
 Baym, G. (2005). The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the Reinvention of Political
Journalism
 Baym, G. (2007). Representation and the Politics of Play: Stephen Colbert’s Better Known
District
Media Activism & Resistance
April 15
Journal Entry 10 Due
Readings:
 Pozner, Chapter 10
 Rumbo, J. (2002). Consumer Resistance in the World of Advertising Clutter: The Case of
Adbusters.
 Harold, C. (2007). Pranking Rhetoric: Culture Jamming as Media Activism
April 17
Readings:
 Jenkins, H. (2007). Quentin Tarantino’s Star Wars?: Digital Cinema, Media Convergence, and
Participatory Culture. In M. G. Durham & D. Kellner (Eds.). Media and Cultural Studies: Key
Works. Wiley Blackwell.
 Pozner, Chapter 11
 Kahn, R. & Kellner, D. M. (2007). Oppositional Politics and the Internet: A Critical
Reconstructive Approach. In M. G. Durham & D. Kellner (Eds.). Media and Cultural Studies:
Key Works. Wiley Blackwell.
April 21-25
Finals Week