Course description
This course examines global transformations in media and communications. Students will use analytical tools to theorize globalization and its processes in the context of historical and contemporary events. Focus will be on shifting trends in the global media landscape in the news, film, and television industries.
Course content
The course introduces students to key concepts and theories around globalization, political economy, the culture industry, and the network society. Students are encouraged to consider how these ideas have influenced us, personally, socially, nationally, and internationally. An example of key topics explored may include platform capitalism, global Hollywood, labour and new media, e-waste and the environment, transnational social movements, cryptocurrency and digital value, and big data.
Learning activities
In this course, students engage with a variety of learning activities including, lecture, seminar style discussion and group work. Student can expect an element of team-based learning through presentation and activity design/implementation.
Some or all of the folowing methods will be used:
- Lecture/seminar
- Media (including video and documentary film)
- Discussion of class readings and materials
- Student-provided materials
Means of assessment
Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in a course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation must be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline. An evaluation schedule will be presented at the beginning of the course. The exact means of assessment will be responsive to the adjusting media landscape.
An example of assessment types and weights is below:
- Midterm exam 20%
- Final exam 20%
- Class activity lead 20%
- Group presentation 25%
- Attendance and participation 15%
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the major trends and challenges in global media and communication
- Identify appropriate theoretical frameworks for assessing trends in global media and communication
- Apply academic theories to an analysis of the global communication order
- Evaluate critical changes in the communication practices over time as competing global media influences emerge
- Create interactive presentations and activities that engage an audience in critical thinking and discussion of contemporary global issues
Textbook materials
There are no required textbooks. Students will be provided with a series of canonical and contemporary readings each week. The readings will include academic journals, popular sources, and multimodal works.