Last Update 4/29/07

LCC 2400 Introduction to Media Studies

Lecture: Mon, Weds, Fri 12:05 pm -12:55 pm
Room Skiles 371

Instructor: Clara Fernández-Vara
Room: Skiles 005
Email: clara.fernandez@lcc.gatech.edu
Available for consultation by appointment

 

Description

LCC 2400 offers an introduction to the technological and cultural history of of media, including books, radio, television, film and multimedia applications. The course will focus on mass media technologies and their effects, as well as the transformation and influences between media. The aim is to encourage the students to analyze media critically, encouraging the analysis of their current mediascape, and giving a historical perspective of the development and interrelationships between media.

Course Strategies:

  • Introduction to the basic terminology of media studies and key theories
  • Introduction to the historical development of specific forms of media
  • Practice in the use of methods of media analysis
  • Discussion of the dialectics technology / society
  • Discussion of patterns in the development of new media
  • Discussion of influences across media

Requirements

The grade of the course will be determined by class participation, in-class preparedness, and assignments (20%), a mid-term paper to be handed on February 12th (30%) and a final paper due May 2nd (50%).

On top of this, students will have to complete 2 visual activities (of different chapters) of the text book. Failing to complete these activities will result in 10% of your final grade, that is, one letter grade less. The activities are available after registration in the companion website of your textbook. They are due the Monday after the week they're listed on the syllabus; the answers should be emailed (not just completed in the website).

Regular attendance is required to pass the course--not only it affects your class participation grade, but the mid-term and final papers will consist of issues that we have discussed in class. More than 6 unjustified absences will disqualify you from passing the class.

 

Required Texts:

  • Richard Campbell, Christopher R. Martin, Bettina G. Fabos, Media and Culture Fifth Edition: An Introduction to Mass Communcation, Bedford/St. Martin's; 5th edition, 2005
  • H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds. (Any edition will be okay, though i recommend Ray Bradbury (Foreword), Ben Bova (Foreword), War of the Worlds: Mars' Invasion of Earth, Inciting Panic and Inspiring Terror from H.G. Wells to Orson Welles and Beyond, Sourcebooks Mediafusion; Book & CD edition, 2003)
  • Articles that are not in the textbook don't have a URL in this page will be available at the Online Reserves of the Library.

Recommended Texts

Wayne Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, The Craft of Research, University Of Chicago Press, 1995

Internet Resources

Paper advice

You're more than welcome to set up an appointment if you need any guidance, particularly if you want to write a paper about a topic of your own. I compiled a list of problems that I keep coming across when I grade your papers, along with ways to solve them. Please read this before handing in your papers: Big Red Flags that Give Away a Weak Paper (.pdf)

COURSE STRUCTURE

Some of the additional readings are liable (and likely) to change throughout the term, so please check this page before reading anything

  1. January 8, 10, 12
    Introduction to the Course
  2. January 17, 19
  3. January 22, 24, 26
    Mass Communication: A Critical Approach (Chapter 1)
  4. January 29, 31, February 2

    5. Books and the Power of Print (Chapter 10)

    • John Fiske, Introduction to Communication Studies, Chapter 3 (link)
    • How to write textual commentary (slides)
    • Visual Activity for Chapter 10 (online)

      MID-TERM PAPER TOPICS ARE AVAILABLE HERE
  5. February 5, 7, 9
    • Bill Watterson, The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book, 'The Comics in Transition' and 'The Sunday Strip' (Online Reserves)
  6. February 12, 14, 16

    MID-TERM PAPER DUE MONDAY 12th BEFORE 5 PM

    • H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds

    7. Newspapers and the Rise of Modern Journalism (Chapter 8)
    Magazines in the Age of Specialization (Chapter 9)

  7. February 19, 21, 23
    Photography
    • Andre Bazin, 'The Ontology of the Photographic Image' (Online Reserves)
    • 'The evolution of Photojournalism' (p. 316-17)
    • World Press Photo http://www.worldpressphoto.nl
  8. February 26, 28, March 2
    Sound Recording and Popular Music (Chapter 3)
    • Exercise: Sound Technologies Survey & History

    Popular Radio and the Origins of Broadcasting (Chapter 4)

  9. March 5, 7, 9 (GDC)
    • Screening: A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies
    • Movie Criticism Vocabulary (.pdf)
  10. March 12, 14, 16
    • Exercise: Movie Review

    11. SPRING BREAK

  11. March 26, 28, 30
    Television and the Power of Visual Culture (Chapter 5)

    FINAL PAPER TOPICS ARE AVAILABLE HERE
  12. April 2
    • Documentary: 'Watch the Skies'
  13. April 4, 6
    Advertising and Commercial Culture (Chapter 11)

     

  1. April 9, 11, 13
    The Internet and New Technologies: Media at the Crossroads (Chapter 2)
  2. April 16, 18, 20
    Videogames
  3. April 23, 25, 27

    Media Artifacts Show-and-Tell

    FINAL PAPER DUE MAY 3rd BEFORE 5 pm