Columbia College Media and Politics
Tentative Syllabus
COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
Media, Politics and Intervention, 2008
50-2312
Dr. June Terpstra
There is a belief that media attention can shame people and governments into stopping human rights abuses. Yet, when examining reality: from past genocides to current unexplained killings to ongoing systemic abuses - we know that media attention alone is not sufficient. This course will explore how intervention by individuals, domestic/international advocacy groups and governments does or does not occur. The focus will be on the successful and unsuccessful use of media to provoke and sustain tangible respect for human rights.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Class Participation--25% OF GRADE= 250 pts
2. An in-class mid-term media analysis presentation on a world crisis or social problem (war, hunger, poverty, sweatshops, etc.) and how corporate media frames and presents the problem. You are encouraged to use graphics, film, music, and art. A bibliography is required. 25% OF GRADE= 250 pts
3. A final in-class research report will continue your study of the group of the problem chosen in the mid-term now demonstrating how alternative and independent media presents the problem or how, after researching multiple points of view, you would tell the story. 25% of Grade =250 pts.
4. Weekly reaction papers reflexively analyzing the assigned class readings.--25% of Grade= 250 pts
COURSE TEXTS
All readings on web at: juneterpstra.com or URL's and links provided
WEEK 1 THE POWER OF MEDIA
Read and respond:
1. Propaganda by Edward Bernays, Chapters 1 and 11
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3998519/Propaganda-how-the-media-molds-your-mind-Bernays-1928
2. Censored 2007
The Top 25 Censored Stories
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Project%20Censored/CensoredNews_2007.html
FILM--The Century of the Self http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12642.htm
WEEK 2 MEDIA, PROPGANDA AND WAR
Read and respond:
1. Managing Consent --The Art of War, Democracy and Public Relations
By Ramzy Baroud
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18221.htm
2. Backspin for War The Convenience of Denial By Norman Solomon
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18203.htm
FILM-Century of the Self cont. and Elite Propaganda http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6435.htm
WEEK 3 MEDIA AND IMPERIALISM
Read and respond:
1. Waging the Media Battle by Robert W. McChesney
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/McChesney/Waging_Media_Battle.html
2. The Unseen Lies: Journalism As Propaganda
by John Pilger
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Pilger_John/Journalism_As_Propaganda.html
3. Fighting Capitalism One Essay at a Time By Angie Tibbs
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15000.htm
FILM-Secret wars of the CIA
WEEK 4 MEDIA: Race, Class and gender
Read and respond:
1. No War But Class War! By Beth Moore
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article10273.htm
2. Racism, Lynching, Slavery - Pillars of the American Dream By Yamin Zakaria
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9184.htm
3. A ‘Ho' By Any Other Color: The History and Economics of Black Female Sexual Exploitation
http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=195&Itemid=33
In Class Film: The Spook Who Sat by the Door
WEEK 5 Media and Globalization
Read and respond:
The Corporate Control Of Society and Human Life By Stephen Lendman http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article12842.htm
"Rebuilding America's Defenses" – A Summary
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3249.htm
In Class Film: Hop
WEEKS 6-8 MID-TERM RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS
Hegemony-the manner in which crisis or a social problem is depicted in corporate media
WEEK 9 MEDIA AND Counter-Hegemony
Read and respond:
1. ANYTHING TO FIT THEIR AGENDA by Malcom Lagauche
Dick Cheney's Song of America By David Armstrong
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article1544.htm
US-Latin American Relations : Measuring The Rise or Fall of US Power By James Petras
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15464.htm
In Class Film: Fourth World War
WEEK 10 MEDIA AND Latin America
READ AND RESPOND:
The Empire And The Independent Island By Fidel Castro http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18216.htm
Chavez, Latin cultural unity & the amassing proletariat By Jessica Long
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18220.htm
IMAGES OF LATINO IMMIGRANTS IN THE MEDIA by Sheila L. Seshans
http://aabss.org/journal2001/Seshan2001.jmm.html
IN FILM-FIDEL
WEEK 11 MEDIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Read and respond:
Sheep can never be shepherds Tyranny Of The Few By Mirza Yawar Baig
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18209.htm
2. Corporate Globalization and Middle East Terrorism
By Charles Sullivan
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14749.htm
FILM-Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land
U.S. Media & the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14055.htm
WEEKS 12-15 FINAL PRESENTATIONS Counter-hegemony
Media, Politics and Intervention: Mid-term Project | ||
| Objective of Project: Complete your oral presentation or 10 page final paper on your research of corporate media coverage of a major crisis, social problem or conflict. Use a bibliography. Include three sources. | ||
| Content and Development 190 Points Possible | Points Possible | |
| The introduction provides sufficient background on the topic and previews major points. | 20 | |
| The body discusses a specific crisis, conflict or social problem detailing the facts and issues as presented by corporate points of view. | 30 | |
| Describes the underlying ideological perspective of the stories told (conservative, moderate, liberal, radical, revolutionary). = . | 30 | |
| Identifies who benefits most from the perspectives offered and who suffers most. | 30 | |
| Discusses the economic sponsors of the media discussed. | 30 | |
| Describes the manner in which the content analysis was conducted and where basic principles of propaganda are used. | 20 | |
| Uses specific examples or situations to back up claims using at least three, reliable sources. | 10 | |
| Sources used are cited within the body of the paper, the slides and in a final reference page or slide. | 10 | |
| The paper is at least 10 pages. The presentation is 10-15 minutes. | 10 | |
| Slides provide main points without an over abundance of script. | 10 | |
| The conclusion is logical, flows from the body of the paper, and reviews the major points. | 10 | |
| Readability and Style 30 Points Possible | Points Possible | |
| Sentences are complete, clear and concise. Presentation is not read from text. | 15 | |
| The presentation is logical and maintains a flow throughout the paper or presentation. | 5 | |
| The tone is appropriate to the content and assignment. | 5 | |
| Mechanics 30 Points Possible | Points Possible | |
| Rules of grammar, usage and punctuation are followed. | 5 | |
| The paper includes the title page, reference page, tables, and appendixes. The presentation provides 10-20 well designed slides with a reference slide. | 5 | |
| Citations of all original works within the body of the paper or slides are provided. | 5 | |
| Spelling is correct. | 5 | |
| Total Points | 250 | |
| Comments and Final Grade | ||
