Introduction to Media Studies
RTF 305 – Fall 2011
Lectures: Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00-3:00 PM, Burdine Hall 106 (BUR 106)
Screenings: Thursday 5:00-7:30 PM, Burdine Hall, Room106 (BUR 106)
Discussion Sections: Please consult the Unique Number on your Registration
Course Website: http://courses.utexas.edu (UT EID and password required)
Instructor: Stuart Davis
E-mail:
stuart.davis@mail.utexas.edu
Office:
CMA 7.230
Telephone: (512) 471-4071
Office Hours: M 11:30 AM-1:30 PM or by appointment
Teaching Assistants:
Ji-Hyun Ahn (Lead TA); Gaia Bonsignore, Paul Gansky, Shin
Hea Lee, Colleen Montgomery, Mike O’Brien, Mike Rennett,
Yoonmo Sang.
Course Description and Objectives:
This course examines the context and significance of media in society. It offers an overview
of the social and political aspects of media technologies. How do media shape our lives?
How does society shape media? This course will therefore begin by looking at the major
theoretical framework of media and their role in society. In order to understand the context of
the relationship between media and society, we will look at the history of
telecommunications and media, their creation, their development, and finally the political
impacts of these technologies since their inception. Once you have completed this course,
you should have acquired solid knowledge of:
-
Theoretical approaches to media studies.
Critical approaches to producing media and media role in society
History of communication technology
Ethical issues and policy regarding media
Major elements of the RTF introductory level courses, including
TV and film history, info/media technology, and media production.
Web Dimension:
We will be using blackboard for this course this semester. By the second week of classes, the
blackboard site for RTF 305 will be operational. We will be using this site for posting course
announcements, a digital copy of the syllabus, power point slides from lectures (when
available), test review guides, supplementary readings, and other materials. Please familiarize
yourself with blackboard.
Blackboard: https://courses.utexas.edu
Readings:
RTF 305 has one textbook:
Custom edition of MEDIA NOW: Understanding Media, Culture and Technology, 7th
Edition, by Joseph Straubhaar and Robert LaRose, Wadsworth.
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Textbooks are for sale either at the University Coop OR through the
Wadsworth/CENGAGE website: http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/micro/utacampus.
Once you enter the site, please find the “Select a Course” menu and scroll down to the page
for RTF 305.
Also, required for this course are some supplementary readings available in a course packet
available at:
Jenn’s Copy & Binding - 2518 Guadalupe
(located at the intersection of Guadalupe and Dean Keaton - across from CMA).
http://www.jennscopies.com
There will also be some supplementary readings posted to the course Blackboard site or as
hyperlinks provided on the course schedule in this syllabus.
Student Responsibilities:
By registering for this course, you agree to abide by the rules and regulations governing this
class. Your responsibilities include but are not restricted to the following points:
1. All information stated in this syllabus in regards to your duties and responsibilities.
2. Any additional announcements provided in lectures and discussion sections as
official notices.
3. Not talking in class. It is incredibly disruptive to fellow students. If this starts to
become a serious problem, we will have to start ejecting students from
lecture with points taken off your final class grade.
4. Attending all lectures, discussion sections, and screenings. Absences may be excused
only if you have an official document that meets the University’s standards and
regulations. Please do not leave lectures early. It greatly disrupts the flow
of the class.
5. Reading and understanding the concepts in your reading prior to coming to class.
Lectures and discussions will depend on your understanding of the concepts covered
in the assigned reading. Be prepared to answer questions regarding your readings or
lectures/screenings before coming to class.
6. Be on time! Arriving late to class will cause disruption to your classmates and the
instructor. Do note that upon late arrival to the lecture or screening, the instructor
reserves the right not to allow to you to attend class. Nevertheless, you will still be
responsible for all information discussed in lectures.
7. The recreational use of any electronic devices is not permitted during class. Laptops
may be used only if for note-taking purposes.
8. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get notes and find out what you missed
from another student.
9. Lectures and discussion sessions are most likely to present information additional to
that in your readings. You are responsible for all information presented in these
meetings.
10. Completing and handing in all assignments during your discussion section meetings
by the assigned date. Please note that late work will not be accepted.
11. The Instructor and Teaching Assistants will rely on Blackboard for making
announcements and disseminating information. You are responsible for any class
information posted on the RTF 305 Blackboard site <http://courses.utexas.edu>.
12. Additionally, e-mail will be the main communication tool. Please update your email
on the UT system and keep up with any updates sent electronically.
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Course Performance Assessment:
Requirements
Test I
Test II
Test III
Discussion Section Attendance & Participation
Written Assignment 1
Written Assignment 2
Re-Write of Assignment 1 or 2
Percent of Final Grade
20%
20%
20%
10%
10%
10%
10%
Total
100%
Grading Scale
This course operates on the following grade scale:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
92.5-100
89.5-92
87.5-89
82.5-87
79.5-82
77.5-79
72.5-77
69.5-72
67.5-69
62.5-67
59.5-62
0-59
Tests
There will be three tests during the course of the semester. Each of these tests accounts for
20% of the total grade. These tests will include 40 multiple choice questions that cover
materials taken in the course segment preceding each of them. Tests will therefore cover
lectures, screenings and readings. Therefore, it is very important that you read your assigned
texts on a weekly basis and before coming to class. Tests are NOT cumulative. ALL tests are
required. No make-up tests will be allowed without official documentation as defined by the
UT. Students with disabilities are required to present the appropriate documentation for
special testing arrangements.
Tests will be given during the weekly screening times on Wednesday evenings. Please make
sure you come to the test early. Tests will be given at 5:00 pm. In order to prevent possible
cheating, we have a policy where if you arrive after the first person has turned in his
or her test, you will receive a 0 as your test grade.
If you need to make up a test due to an officially documented reason, please contact your
TA to schedule a time.
Discussion Sections (Beginning September 12/13):
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Discussion sections are held on Monday and Tuesday nights. Please check your registration to
learn about your section’s unique number, meeting location and time. You must attend the
section for which you are officially registered. Discussion section attendance will be taken each
week (including your active participation) for a total of 10% of your final grade. If you arrive later
than 10 minutes, you will be marked as absent.
Unique #
07895
07900
07905
07910
07915
07920
07925
07930
Section #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
07935
07940
07945
07950
07955
07960
9
10
11
12
13
14
07965
07970
07975
07980
07985
15
16
17
18
19
07990
20
07995
21
TA
Mike O’Brien
Shin Hea Lee
Mike O’Brien
Shin Hea Lee
Yoonmo Song
Paul Ganksy
Shin Hea Lee
Colleen
Montgomery
Yoonmo Song
Mike Rennett
Ji-Hyun Ahn
Yoonmo Song
Paul Gansky
Colleen
Montgomery
Mike Rennett
Mike O’Brien
Ji-Hyun Ahn
Paul Gansky
Colleen
Montgomery
Gaia
Bonsignore
Mike Rennett
Time
M 5-6 pm
M 5-6 pm
T 5-6 pm
T 5-6pm
T 5-6pm
M 6-7pm
M 6-7pm
M 6-7pm
Location
CMA A3.112
CMA A3.128
BEN 1.104
CMA A3.128
WEL 4.224
CMA A3.112
CMA A3.128
PAR 304
M 6-7 pm
T 6-7 pm
T 6-7 pm
T 6-7 pm
M 7-8 pm
M 7-8 pm
PAR 308
BUR 130
PAR 303
WEL 3.260
CMA A5.136
PAR 304
T 7-8 pm
T 7-8 pm
T 7-8 pm
M 8-9 pm
M 8-9 pm
BUR 228
PAR 204
PAR 303
CMA A5.136
PAR 308
M 8-9 pm
WAG 208
T 8-9 pm
CMA A5.136
Writing Assignments
You are required to complete two 4-5 page writing assignments throughout the semester.
They will be due on the date indicated in the syllabus. Prompts will be disseminated via
Blackboard approximately two weeks before the assignments are due. Your TA will discuss
these assignments with you more in the weeks to follow.
You will be permitted to re-write one of the papers in order to possibly receive a higher
score. This re-write will count for the same amount as a paper and will be due on the
Monday after the final exam (December 12, 2011).
Office Hours
Your TA will announce her/his office hours during section meetings. Your Instructor and TA
are here to help and assist you either in understanding certain concepts relating to the
course material or aid you with any questions you might have. As posted, my office hours
are Mondays 11:30 am-1:30 pm in CMA 7.230.
Email Communication with Instructor and TAs:
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Please remember that your TA is your primary contact person for the class. They are
responsible for your everyday participation in the course, assessing your papers, and helping
prepare you for tests. Therefore, it would be wise to contact them with any potential problem
before you contact the instructor.
While we will be using Blackboard for official email announcements, you will
not be allowed to use the “class email” function on the site to email everyone in
the class. We have had problems in past semesters with this, and do not want to
repeat them. For each time a student uses the Blackboard “class email”
function to write the entire class, a point will be deducted from the student’s
final course grade.
Students with Disabilities:
Any student with a documented disability who requires academic accommodations should
contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (Video
Phone) as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations.
For more information visit: http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/.
Scholastic Dishonesty:
The University of Texas at Austin defines academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism,
unauthorized collaboration, falsifying academic records, and any act designed to avoid
participating honestly in the learning process. Scholastic dishonesty also includes, but is not
limited to, providing false or misleading information to receive a postponement or an extension
on a test, quiz, or other assignment; copying other people's work into your document, pretending
it is your own; and submission of essentially the same written assignment for two courses
without the prior permission of the instructor. By accepting this syllabus, you have agreed to
these guidelines and must adhere to them. Scholastic dishonest damages both the student's
learning experience and readiness for the future demands of a work-career. Students who violate
University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the
possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. For this class
specifically, we will give you a zero for the assignment or test grade for the first
infraction, lower your course grade by one grade point for the second, and fail you
in the class for any further infractions.
During test sessions, we will be closely monitoring student behavior. Please do not
talk to your neighbor under any circumstances. The first offense will be punished
with a verbal warning. Any subsequent offenses will result in expulsion from the
testing space and a 0 on the test.
For more information on scholastic dishonesty, please visit the Student Judicial services Web site
at http://www.utexas.edu/depts/dos/sjs/.
Writing Assistance:
The Undergraduate Writing Center is located in FAC 211, phone 471-6222. The Center offers
individualized assistance to students who want to improve their writing skills. There is no charge
utilizing this service. Students may come in on a drop-in or appointment basis.
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Student Athletes:
At the beginning of the semester, student athletes and participants of other university-sponsored
organizations who will miss class due to university-sponsored commitments must see the
instructor and present a letter from the athletic department or appropriate sponsoring office.
Class Schedule:
Readings in your text and course packet are labeled chronologically with each of the lecture
topics/screenings below. This schedule is subject to revision if necessary. If changes are
made, you will be notified in class and/or via Blackboard.
RTF 305
FALL 2011
COURSE CALENDAR
DAY
Wed
Thurs
Mon
DATE
8/24
8/25
8/29
Wed
8/31
Thurs
Wed
9/1
9/7
Thurs
9/8
Mon
9/12
MonTues
9/129/13
Wed
9/14
Thurs
9/15
Mon
9/19
Wed
9/21
SUBJECT
Introduction
Screening
Media Theories 1: Technological
vs. Cultural Determinism,
Political Economy, Hegemony
Media Theories 2: Approaches
to Studying Media and Media
Effects
Screening
Race, Ethnicity, and the Media
(RTF 316 M)
Screening
TEXTBOOK
Chapter 1
Media Regulation: Policy and
Law
DISCUSSION SECTIONS
BEGIN
Chapter 15
Advertising and Advertising
Cultures
Screening
History of Mass Media:
Radio/early television
History of Mass Media:
Contemporary Television
PACKET
Bus 174
Chapter 2 (30-47; 4951)
Croateau & Hoynes, “Media and
Ideology”
Chapter 14
Tough Guise/Killing Us Softly
Mad Men
(Selected
Episodes)
Please consult your
Blackboard
registration
information
Chapter 11
I Love Lucy,
Arrested
Development, 30
Rock (Selected
Episodes)
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
6
Spigel, “Installing the TV Set”
Thurs
Mon
9/22
9/26
Screening
History of Mass Media: Music
Wed
Thurs
Mon
Wed
9/28
9/29
10/3
10/5
Test Review
Test 1
Film History 1
Film History 2
Thurs
Mon
10/6
10/10
MonTues
Wed
Thurs
Mon
10/1010/11
10/12
10/13
10/17
Screening
Introduction to Film Analysis 1
(Professor Charles RamirezBerg)
Paper 1 Due in Sections
Wed
10/19
Thurs
Mon
10/20
10/24
Wed
Thurs
day
Mon
10/26
10/27
Film Analysis 2
Screening
Film Analysis 3 (Alternative
Narratives)
Introduction to Producing Films
in RTF (Timothy Edwards)
Screening
Introduction to Documentary
Filmmaking
Introduction to Screenwriting
Screening
10/31
Introduction to Audio Design
Wed
Thurs
Mon
11/1
11/2
11/7
Wed
11/9
Thurs
Mon
11/10
11/14
Test Review
Test 2
History of the Internet 1: Early
Computers and Plugging In
History of the Internet 2: The
Rise of Mobile Platforms
Screening
History of the Internet 3: Social
Media and Social Networks
Wed
11/16
Thurs
Mon
11/17
11/21
MonTues
Wed
Thurs
11/2111/22
11/23
11/24
History of the Internet 4: Digital
Cultures
Screening
Media and Globalization 1:
Cultural Imperialism
Paper 2 Due in Sections
Cadillac Records
Chapter 5
Test 1
Chapter 7
Schatz, “The Studio System and
Conglomerate Hollywood”
Casablanca
Adaptation
Ramirez-Berg “A Taxonomy of
Alternative Film Plots”
Capturing the Friedman’s/High School (excerpts)
Aristotle, “The Poetics”
TBA
Thom “Designing for a Sound
Film”
Test 2
Chapter 9
Chapter 12
The Social Network
Christakis and Fowler, Connected:
The Surprising Power of Social
Networks and How They Change our
Lives (selection)
Saludos Amigos/Disney Educational Films
Miller et. al, Global Hollywood
(selections)
NO CLASS
NO CLASS-THANKSGIVING
7
Mon
11/28
Wed
11/30
Thurs
Mon
12/1
12/5
Wed
12/7
Thurs
Mon
12/8
12/12
Media and Globalization 2:
Hybridity, Cultural Proximity,
and Localization
Media and Globalization 3:
Alternative Media and Global
Social Movements
Chapter 17
Cleaver, “The Zapatista Effect”.
Available at
http://libcom.org/library/zapatistaeffect-cleaver
Screening
Globalization and Media 4: The
Case of Al Jazeera (RTF 312)
Test Review and Course
Evaluations
TEST III
Optional Re-write Due
The Control Room
TEST III
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