Tuesday, August 30, 2016

TVF 4600 Theories of Mass Communications Syllabus

TVF 4600 THEORIES OF MASS COMMUNICATIONS
Fall 2016




“Knowledge is not for knowing:  Knowledge is for cutting.” – --Michel Foucout—

Instructor:  Roberto S. Oregel                                   Class Location: KH C4071
Days/Time: Thursday 6:00 – 8:45 PM                      Office Hours:  5:00 – 6:00  (By Appt)
TVF Dept: 323-343-5425                                          Email: oregelfilms@yahoo.com


WELCOME TO TVF 4600 Theories of Mass Communications.  This course will provide a survey of the significant importance of media in our society, namely journalism, radio, film/tv, and web based content.  The course will consider historical, social, political and technological forces that have contributed to the evolution of Mass Communication.   The goal for this coarse is to allow students hands on practice in the variety mass media communication…ie print journalism, radio, and film and TV.

COURSE CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1.  Explore the historical development and practices of mass media.
2.  Examine the process of creating, distributing, and exhibiting mass media content for diverse audiences
3.  Discuss the ethical issues facing media outlets
4.  Understand the power structures that disseminate media.
Readings and Additional Video Clips will be posted in the Class Blog that I will keep up through out the quarter.  Please reference the class blog for readings and extra video clips: http://masscommwithoregel.blogspot.com/


REQUIREMENTS  

1.     FULL ATTENDANCE at lectures, screenings and discussion is mandatory.   Class attendance means you are present at the start of class and stay until the period ends.  Students are allowed no more than 2 absences.  Each absence will result in a deduction of 5points per day missed.   There is no make up work.  After 4 absences, student is at risk of obtaining an “F” as their final grade. Tardiness is unacceptable – arriving late to class 2 times will be counted as 1 absence. Leaving and returning during class time will be counted as a tardy as well as using your phone. You are expected to arrive on time after their class break.  If you’re late before class and after the break time you will accumulate two tardies which is equivalent to an absence.

You are expected to be in class for all screenings. Should you miss a video, it will be your responsibility to find, rent, and view a copy on your own – course tapes/DVD’s will not be loaned.

MOST IMPORTANT COME WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

2.   Each class will conclude with a homework assignment for the following meeting.  NO LATE WORK IS PERMITTED. 

3.    4 Projects  – You will work on 4 different mass media projects journal/newspaper, Graphic Meme, Short Radio program (group), Short Film (group),
           
     4.    Midterm exam based on readings, films, and discussions.

     5.   Final Exam and final Group Short Film presentations listed on #3

     6.    Publish your works on the class facebook page.

      GRADE POINT BREAKDOWN

ATTENDANCE 15 points
HOMEWORK   0-2 points each (30 Points possible)
4 Projects 5 points each (total 20 points)
MIDTERM 15 points
FINAL EXAM 20 points
TOTAL POINTS 100


GRADE SCALE
A                 96 – 100                                A-                    90 – 95
B+              86 – 89                                   B                     80 – 85                       B-        76 – 79
C+               70 – 75                                   C                      66 – 69                       C-        60 – 65
D+              56 – 59                                   D                     50 – 55                       D-        46 – 49
F                   0 - 45


CLASS SCHEDULE

Schedule is subject to change. Students are responsible for ALL schedule & assignment changes announced in class.

August 25
Class Review and INTROS...
Class Exercise
PRINT MEDIA
Start Film: Manufacturing Consent part 1
Homework: find a person who is voiceless, exploited, and see if you can share their story.  Bring a pitch to share.

September 1 
Print Mass Media
BREAK THE CLASS INTO  4 GROUPS (PRINT MEDIA, RADIO, FILM AND TV)
Homework Assignment— Listen to pitches identify the power structures and audience for set pitches.
PRINT MEDIA
Manufacturing Consent part 2
**Homework:  1. Write up a one to two paragraph summary of the story you’re interested in writing up.  2. Read PRINT MASS MEDIA in BLOG


September  8
Sound Mass Media to Timeline of Developments in the Internet
Orson Wells- Citizen Kane Part 1
PRINT MEDIA
**Homework
**Readings in Blog—


September 15 
Functions and Theories of Mass Communication: 1.  Functions of Mass Media
2. The Media as Gatekeeper 3. Theories of Mass Communication
Orson Wells- Citizen Kane Part 2
PUBLISH YOUR PRINT MEDIA-----PRINT MEDIA GUEST SPEAKERS
**Homework
**READINGS POSTED ON CLASS BLOG

September 22
Functions and Theories of Mass Communication: 1. Hypodermic Needle and Beyond 2. Media Effects 3. Cultivation Theory
The Corporation Part 1
RADIO
**READINGS POSTED ON CLASS BLOG
**Homework Will share in class

September 29
Media and Audiences   
The Corporation Part 2
RADIO
**READINGS POSTED ON CLASS BLOG
**Homework Will share in class

October 6
The Effects Research
Where To Invade Next? Part 1
RADIO
**READINGS POSTED ON CLASS BLOG
**Homework Will share in class

October 12
 Theories of Technology and Culture
Where to Invade Next? Part 2
RADIO-------RADIO GUEST SPEAKERS------
**READINGS POSTED ON CLASS BLOG
**Homework Will share in class

October 20
Cyber Theory
Why We Fight Part 1. 
RADIO PRESENTATION 
**READINGS POSTED ON CLASS BLOG
**Homework Will share in class



October 27  MIDTERM
Michel Foucault –Power is Everywhere
Why We Fight part2
FILM/TV
**READINGS POSTED ON CLASS BLOG
**Homework Will share in class

November 3 
Enron Part1
FILM/TV
**READINGS POSTED ON CLASS BLOG
**Homework Will share in class

November 10
Enron part2
FILM/TV
 **READINGS POSTED ON CLASS BLOG
**Homework Will share in class

November 17
FILM/TV-------FILM GUEST SPEAKERS------
**READINGS POSTED ON CLASS BLOG
**Homework Will share in class

November  24 No Class

December 1
FILM/TV
FINAL EXAM REVIEW
**READINGS POSTED ON CLASS BLOG


December  8 FINAL EXAM and STUDENT PROJECTS

(Films for this course: Manufacturing Consent, The Corporation, Why We Fight?, Where to Invade Next, Citizen Kane, )


IMPORTANT
ALL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TYPED, DOUBLE-SPACED WITH STANDARD 1- INCH MARGINS, MAXIMUM 12 PITCH FONT, SPELL AND GRAMMAR CHECKED.

ALL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TURNED IN ON DEADLINE AND IN CLASS.
I WILL NOT ACCEPT THE ASSIGNMENT VIA EMAIL OR OTHERWISE----IN CLASS ONLY.

ANY ASSIGNMENT SHOWING INDICATIONS OF PLAGIARISM WILL RECEIVE ZERO GRADE POINTS.

5.     IN-CLASS FINAL EXAMINATION  --Will cover readings, screenings, and class discussions.
         The exam will be short answers, fill in the blanks and multiple choice.
Under no circumstances will early or make-up final exams be given.
DROPPING AND ADDING
Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, etc. Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping classes: https://get.calstatela.edu/Registrar.htm.

INCOMPLETES
Will not be considered before the fourth week and without proof of serious and compelling reasons and unless all course requirements to date have been satisfactorily fulfilled.

EMERGENCY WITHDRAWALS
Will not be agreed to without proof of serious and compelling reasons as specified by the university’s emergency withdrawal policy.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Student Handbook
Information on student rights and responsibilities, academic honesty, standards of conduct, etc., can be found in the Student Handbook: http://www.calstatela.edu/usu/csi/handbook.htm.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Reasonable accommodation will be provided to any student who is registered with the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD) and requests needed accommodation.

ASSOCIATED STUDENTS, INCORPORATED (A.S.I.)
Officially recognized as the voice of CSULA students, ASI continually advocating on campus and at the state level. In addition to ensuring representation through Shared Governance, your student government, A.S.I. provides free scantrons and blue books, a book voucher program, laptop/printer rentals, student lockers, discounted movie and amusement park tickets, student healthcare information, and much more.  Contact your College of Arts and Letters representatives with any ideas, issues, and/or concerns.  E-mail us at <asicalr1@calstatela.edu>. You can also visit ASI online for more information at http://www.calstatela.edu/asi .


Visit the Arts and Letters webpage <http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/al/> where your ASI Student Representatives have a link with other important information.