CMST2000 – Critical Approaches to Communications and Popular Culture
(3 credit hours)
INSTRUCTOR
Dr. J. Dyer
Office: SN-4074
Class time: slot 17: Tuesday/Thursday 9:00-10:15am
Office Hours: Tuesdays 12 – 3 pm (and by appointment)
Email: jdyer@mun.ca
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE
This course considers critical issues and approaches in the study of popular culture. We will explore the
ways in which everyone is both a user of and is used by popular culture: we will examine what popular
culture is, where it is, what is its influence, what are its relations to power, response, affectivity and,
ultimately, media. We will look primarily at television, film, advertising, popular music, style and
cyberculture; we will analyze how such critical factors as ethnicity, race, gender, class, age, region, and
sexuality are shaped by and reshaped in popular culture.
A variety of critical approaches to studying popular culture will be examined; these approaches will
center around four main dimensions of pop culture: production, texts, audience, and history. We will ask
questions such as: Who owns the media? Who makes these texts? How do specific pop cultural objects
make their meanings? How have these changed over time?
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS
Meenakshi and Durham, Media and Cultural Studies: Keywords (Wiley-Blackwell, 2nd Ed., 2012)
OTHER REQUIRED READING
Please note that supplemental readings and additional learning materials may be distributed throughout
the semester via Desire2Learn (D2L) and/or in class. These will also be required reading, but will not
require purchase.
TEACHING AND LEARNING APPROACH
Critical Approaches to Communications and Popular Culture will be primarily lecture-based; there will
be, however, a large emphasis placed on interactivity, discussion, and debate to fend off student boredom
and intellectual stagnation. To this end, presentation formats will include a variety of media, and will
endeavour to engage with students by presenting learning materials in a manner that shows their
relevance and importance beyond the classroom.
In return, students are expected to attend class, and to come to class prepared not only to discuss the
required readings, but also to discuss current events, media culture, and popular culture.
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING
In advance of each assignment I will post a more detailed description (and frequently the rubric that will
be used to grade you) on D2L OR I will discuss the assignment requirements in class. This, in addition to
the descriptions below, will give you significant detail on what is expected in your work.
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Participation (10% of your final grade)
There are many ways you can participate in this class. Asking thoughtful questions and participating in
meaningful discussion and debate in class (in a manner that is informed and respectful) is one way. A
second way - perhaps more appealing to those uncomfortable with speaking up in class - is participating
in small group discussion, activities and exercises. Please note that these first two ways of participating
are only possible by attending class. Finally, students are also welcome to contribute to the Desire2Learn
online discussion forum (while still observing the same guidelines set for the in-class discussion). These
approaches are three ways you can work towards your participation grade.
In terms of the in-class discussion guidelines, the following is not considered appropriate participation:
Talking just for the sake of being heard (less can be more), being disrespectful to opposing opinions,
speaking before giving thought or consideration of the readings and learning materials, and blatantly
ignoring the lecture and/or distracting others from their learning. Avoiding these kinds of approaches will
help ensure you are a valuable contributor to the classroom discussion (in person and online) and prevent
you from being docked marks.
Essay Writing Assignments (60% of your final grade)
Students will write three essays, due throughout the term, on topics discussed in class.
Essay 1: 20%
Essay 2: 20%
Essay 3: 20%
Final Research Essay (30% of your final grade)
The final essay is due on the last day of class. There will be no formal exam for CMST2001. The final
essay will cover material talked about in class as well as material from the texts and is structured to test
your understanding of and ability to apply key concepts and theory.
ASSESSMENT SUMMARY
The table below is for you to track your grades as you receive them. Most of your work will be
returned to you and you are expected to hold onto all of it as a personal record in case of a grade
dispute.
Assignment
Essays (60% of grade)
Essay 1 (20%)
Essay 2 (20%)
Essay 3 (20%)
Final Research Essay (30% of grade)
Final essay
Participation (10% of grade)
Participation
Your Grade
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COURSE AND INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to abide by Memorial University regulations regarding academic offenses, and in
particular, plagiarism. Students must understand that plagiarism is a serious academic offense. Those
found to be purposefully plagiarising materials will be subject to review and dismissal.
Plagiarism is the act of presenting the ideas or works of another as one's own. This applies to all material
such as essays, laboratory reports, work term reports, design projects, seminar presentations, statistical
data, computer programs, research results and theses. The properly acknowledged use of sources is an
accepted and important part of scholarship. Use of such material without acknowledgment is contrary to
accepted norms of academic behavior. Information regarding acceptable writing or by email practices is
3available through the Writing Centre at www.mun.ca/writingcentre/about/.
For a full listing of what constitutes academic offense please refer to Section 5.11.4 of the Memorial
University Calendar available here: www.mun.ca/regoff/calendar
Missed classes
You are responsible for obtaining notes, information, instructions, class alterations, etc. from the missed
classes. In other words, it is not the responsibility of the instructor to see that you are caught up.
Late submission policy
All written assignments must be passed in at the beginning of the class period on the day they are due.
Only in the case of very serious circumstances or illness will the instructor consider an exception to this
policy and a student in this situation must provide the instructor with the requested written documentation
to support the need for compassionate grounds.
The only excused absences that will be considered are: (1) death in the family; (2) illness; (3) religious
observance; and (4) participation in Memorial University sanctioned activities. Any student wishing to
have an absence excused must provide the requested documentation and in the case of religious
observance and university-sanctioned activities arrangements must be made with the instructor in advance
of the due date.
Written assignments
All assignment descriptions must be typed, be clear, and meet the format of the assignment description.
Failure to do so will mean a loss of marks and emailed assignments will not be accepted.
Participation norms
As outlined in the description of the participation grade you are expected to treat the instructor and your
classmates with respect in class and online. Please refrain from doing anything that might inhibit someone
else’s ability to learn in class such as talking with your neighbour. Being late for class can also be very
disruptive and students who are more than 10 minutes late may be considered absent.
Desire 2 Learn (D2L)
You will need to sign up to D2L early in the semester as I’ll be using it to put up links to course materials
and rubrics for assignments. Be sure you check it regularly in case there are important announcements or
new materials you should be aware of.
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Inclusion and Equity
Students with disabilities
Students who require physical or academic accommodations are encouraged to speak privately to the
instructor so that appropriate accommodations can be made in order that you may participate fully in the
course. All conversations will remain confidential.
If students want more information on disabilities accommodation at Memorial University that can visit
The Blundon Center in the University Counseling Centre located in the University Centre (UC). You can
also view their webpage at www.mun.ca/blundon.
Equity
This course draws students from a variety of disciplines and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This
diversity of experience, worldviews, values, and approaches to problem solving is one of the most
enriching aspects of the university experience. In order for this course to be a valuable experience for all
participants there is an expectation that dialogue will be collegial and respectful across disciplinary,
cultural, and personal boundaries
Any concerns students have with their fellow classmates, or the classroom environment, should be
addressed to the instructor immediately. Student concerns will be dealt with in strict confidentiality. If
students have concerns with the instructor they are asked to speak with the instructor regarding their
concerns first. Student concerns will be respectfully responded to, and appropriately addressed by the
instructor.
Support services
Students can avail themselves of a variety of academic and non-academic support services on campus,
including but not limited to:
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The Writing Centre: www.mun.ca/writingcentre/about/
The Commons and Digital Media Center: http://thecommons.mun.ca/site/
The QEII Library: www.library.mun.ca/qeii/borrowing/undergrad.php
The Glenn Roy Blundon Centre: www.mun.ca/blundon/about/index.php
University Counseling Centre: www.mun.ca/counselling/home
Students are welcome to approach the instructor with any concerns they may have regarding the course,
or their learning in general, and the instructor will be glad to direct them towards the appropriate support
service.
Caveat on the nature of the syllabus
The instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to the syllabus in extenuating circumstances or by
mutual agreement between the instructor and the students. Any changes will be communicated to students
immediately and disseminated in class and through Desire2Learn.
CLASS OUTLINE WEEK BY WEEK
The following tentative schedule details assigned readings, lectures, discussions, and quiz dates. Should
it change students will be informed well in advance. Please be sure to check the schedule before you
come to class so that you will be prepared.
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FALL SEMESTER SCHEDULE
Date
Topics
Readings
Welcome and syllabus overview
Marx/ Engels
What is culture? How do we encode
and interpret culture and its messages?
Horkheimer and Adorno
Walter Benjamin
Dick Hebdige
How is power incorporated into
culture?
ESSAY #1 DUE
What is encoded in mass media? What
can mass media do? How do
communications practices affect
everyday life?
Raymond Williams
Guy Debord
What is represented in media and
various forms of communication?
How is it represented?
Richard Dyer
Laura Mulvey
bell hooks
How is race, gender, sexuality,
religion, etc., represented in culture?
Who gets to represent?
ESSAY #2 DUE
Do media and new media forms
help us, hinder us, or deceive us into
connecting with the world? How do
they do this?
Nestor Garcia Canclini
Patricia Hill-Collins
Chandra Talpade Mohanty
How does media culture affect social
movements? How does it develop or
change globalization?
Arjun Appadurai
Jan Nederveen Peterse
Concepts of change and
indeterminacy
ESSAY #3 DUE
Angela McRobbie
Henry Jenkins
Integrating Collective media and
Personal media: ways by which a
medium becomes a message
Annabelle Sreberny
Susan Bordo, “Reading the Slender
Body” (handout)
Week 1
Week 2
Culture and
Hegemony
Week 3
Media Power
Week 4
Encoding power/
Envisioning control
Week 5
Media and
Representation
Week 6
Representation and
Power
Week 7
Postmodernism and
new media
Week 8
Politicizing
Representation
Week 9
Indeterminacy
Week 10
Collectives and
Participation
Stuart Hall
Ien Ang
Pierre Bourdieu (both)
Jean Baudrillard
Fredric Jameson
Angela McRobbie
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Week 11
Reconsiderations of
Media Effects
Week 12
Review
What else are we taking for granted
when we study meaning in
communications?
HANDOUTS
Andrew Wernick, “The Promotional
Condition of Contemporary Culture
Lev Manovich, “Database as
Symbolic Form”
José van Dijk, “Picturizing Science:
The Science Documentary as
Multimedia Spectacle”
How does media studies differ from
Communication Studies? What is the
role of social theory in communication
studies?
FINAL RESEARCH ESSAY DUE
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