Propaganda, Politics, Media, and More!
Weapons of Mass Communication
NYU - POL-GA.1322.001
Syllabus
Weapons of Mass Communication (Tuesday 6:20 – 8:20PM) explores the ways in
which the media is now being thought of - and employed - to influence public
opinion and elections outcomes in political campaigns.
From the 2007 - 2008 War Posters Exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, London
It looks at how ‘old’ media, ‘new’ media, and the ‘news’ media intersect – and how
this is creating a new opportunity for combining classic propaganda techniques with
contemporary political campaign strategies in order to communicate one’s position
effectively - and to impact the outcome of both policy decisions and public elections.
Selected readings, screenings, and guest lectures.
Weapons of Mass Communication: NYU (Graduate) Department of Politics
19 University Place – Room 228 – Tuesdays 6:20 – 8:20 PM
Professor: Eli F. Bleich
eb122@nyu.edu
(DRAFT #1 November 8th 2013)
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS II: Weapons of Mass Communication
Messages & Media
Course:
Semester:
Time:
Location:
Instructor:
POL-GA 1322-001
Spring 2014
Tuesday 6:20 – 8:20PM
19 University Place - Room 228
Eli F. Bleich
Syllabus & General Requirements:
Attend All Classes
(Only one un-excused absence, will be permitted. An additional excused absence
will be permitted for ‘cause’ solely at my discretion)
Read and View all Assigned Books, Articles, and Movies on the reading list
during the course of the semester
Read: The New York Times regularly - be prepared to discuss relevant stories
contained in the paper. Especially follow the 2014 Congressional and Senatorial
Elections (you can also subscribe on line to the ‘Politics’ daily e-mail at the New York
Times)
Watch: Television Network News, Fox News, MSNBC, Al Jezeera, and The Daily
Show. HBO’s ‘Newsroom’, as well as Netflix’ House of Cards is often good too – as is
CBS’ ‘The Good Wife’
Political/Media Blog and Comments. Create and Contribute to class website.
We will discuss the mechanics of this in class. Example:
http://fundamentalsofpoliticalstrategy.wordpress.com/
Bring Something New to the Table.
Present something new and interesting that you have come across – either on-line, or
elsewhere - to the class. An approximately 10 minute presentation – usually at the
start of class – you need only do one during the semester – sign up in class for the
date you would like to present). More about this in class. Here’s an Example of a
video one student found on line and shared with the class when we were discussing
the concept of Framing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AoT13m8Kxo#at=65
Mid-Term
There will be two or three (short) papers required for this course, each covering a
specific module of our studies - plus an assignment to create a short campaign
plan/memo and speech.
More on this in class as we go along.
Additionally, I will expect you to post your thoughts and ideas about the topics that
are under discussion - to our class page.
Final Project
Group projects (2 to 3 people per group)
Select a Candidate or Issue or Both –Do the research – Design a campaign – Present
an Executive Summary of your Campaign Plan - Develop Messages – Write Ads –
Write/Produce examples of media designed to effectively communicate issues and
ideas – demonstrate the use of appropriate mediums for appropriate messages.
Strut your stuff.
The subject of your project - and participants in your group – need to be approved in
advance by me. Further discussion on this in class.
Grading:
Your grade will be earned as a compilation of the following:
Preparation for, and Participation in class 50%
Blogs, Presentations & Mid-Term Papers 50%
Final Projects and Other Contributions 50%
Whoever said it had to add up to 100%?
Notes:
The Guest Lecturers (tentatively listed) are not yet scheduled. Due to their changing
schedules, some may ultimately not be able to appear – or need to be rescheduled to conform to changes in their own schedules.
Please make every attempt possible to attend their talks. Should the date of their
appearance change, I will notify you as soon as I know.
Readings / Screenings / Articles
The list of books below make up the bulk of reading material for the course. Some of
these titles are meant to be read in their entirety – others just specific excerpts or
chapters. Many are available on line (Particularly where we are only reading part of
the book) – and so they do not need to be purchased – although some you may want
for your permanent library – if you are really interested in Campaigns and Elections.
The films listed are also all available on Netflix, or Itunes, or other online outlets.
Some may also be in theaters. They are an invaluable source of cultural content
related to how people regard politics and politicians. Be sure to watch them, and be
prepared to talk about them in the context of what we are doing in class.
The Articles (shortly to be listed for each session) are all linked to their source (if
not, then their source is noted so that you can find them easily). Some of these are
essential – others are supporting evidence to our class conversations and other
readings. Many will change during the course of the semester, as other articles come
along that are more current – and more pertinent to our discussions. Stay alert
yourself to the things you read – and suggest articles to the class - that you think are
interesting.
(1st Draft) Readings include:
Campaigns and Elections American Style , Thurber & Nelson (Selected Chapters)
Understanding Media, Marshall McLuhan (Selected Chapters)
Everyday Life and Cultural Theory, Ben Highmore (Selected Chapters)
Communication Power, Manuel Castells (Selected Chapters)
The New Media Monopoly, Ben Bagdikian (Selected Chapters)
The Influencing Machine, Brooke Gladstone
The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell (Selected Chapters)
Here Comes Everybody, Clay Shirky (Selected Chapters)
The Revolution will not be Televised, Joe Trippi (Selected Chapters)
Thinking Fast & Slow, Daniel Kahneman (Selected Chapters)
Dollarocracy, Nichols & McChesney (Selected Chapters)
The Culture Industry, Adorno & Horkeimer
Emotions & Social Movements, W. Lance Bennett
Various related articles and news stories from selected publications
Plus: Selected political print advertisements and direct mail pieces
(1st Draft) Screenings include:
The Candidate
Cocalero
Game Change
No
Plus: Selected radio, television, cable, and internet political commercials
The following is an initial outline of the material to be covered by this class.
Sessions are not fully populated with their reading and/or screenings
Some of the readings may change, and many short articles will be added.
Session I
Review Syllabus
Talk about objectives
Introductions
Who your are
What do you think the class is going to be about
What do you expect to get out of this class
Discussion about Media and Message
Recommendation for Students who did not take Political Campaigns I:
Read (or at least peruse) the following (*indicates especially relevant)
Walter Ong
Orality, Literacy, and Media
*Tony Schwartz
The Responsive Chord
*Edward Bernays
Propaganda
Quintus Cicero
How to Win an Election
Nicollo Machiavelli The Prince
Saul Alinsky
Rules for Radicals
*George Lakoff
Don’t Think of an Elephant
Sasha Issenberg
Victory Lab
Session II
The Media - Who owns it?
What is their purpose?
The New Media Monoploy, Ben H. Bagdikian, Chapter 2: The Big Five
2004 http://www.gpia.info/files/u930/Bagdikian__Ben_The_New_Media_Monopoly__Chapter_2.pdf
The Cuture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception, Adorno & Horkeimer
The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception Theodor ...
Campaign Ad Cash Lures Buyers – Brian Stelter, NYT 7/7/13
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/08/business/media/with-political-ad-profitsswing-state-tv-stations-are-hotproperties.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130708
Session III
What comes first – the chicken or the egg?
Understanding Media, Marshall McLuhan
Part I (pp 1-32)
Part II (pp77-88)(pp170-178)(pp188-216)(pp265-274)(pp284-345)
http://beforebefore.net/80f/s11/media/mcluhan.pdf
Session IV
Person to Person / Broadcast / Networks
Speech & Print (The Guttenberg Revolution)
They Became what they Beheld, Edmund Carpenter
www.media-studies.ca/articles/carpentr.htm
Pamphleteering - (Thomas Paine)
Session V
Radio / Television / The Press
The Candidate sees Himself
The Influencing Machine, Brooke Gladstone
Spinning the War, Michael I. Niman
http://www.coldtype.net/Assets/pdfs/10.Nim.April01.pdf
Session VI
Guest Lecture: Brooke Gladstone
Session VII
Internet / Networks
Communication Power, Manuel Castells, Chapter 3, Networks of Mind & Power
The Revolution will not be Televised, Joe Trippi
Session VIII
Developing a Message
SPRING BREAK
Mid-Term Due
Session IX
Listen First – Then Talk
Then Listen Again
Session X
Guest Lecture: Devine, Mulvey & Longabaugh
Session XI
Activism through Media
Troublemaker, Bill Zimmerman
Know Thine Enemy, Noam Cohen, NYT 8/23/09
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/weekinreview/23alinsky.html
Session XII
Thoughts and Conclusions
Sessions XIII & XIV
Final Presentations