NEW MEDIA
Bachelor	TR-NQF-HE: Level 6	QF-EHEA: First Cycle	EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code	Course Name	Semester	Theoretical	Practical	Credit	ECTS
SOC3093	Sociology of Mass Communication	Spring	3	0	3	5

This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction:	English
Type of course:	Non-Departmental Elective
Course Level:	Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery:	Face to face
Course Coordinator :	Prof. Dr. AYŞE NİLÜFER NARLI
Recommended Optional Program Components:	"."
Course Objectives:	-To introduce mass media theory - To acquire an understanding of media theory and research -To develop a critical understanding for the relationship between media and society -To raise an awareness of political and economic forces shaping media -To deconstruct, analyze and evaluate media messages -To master and apply media literacy skills

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
Students will be able to,
1) Synthesize a range of theoretical perspectives to examine contemporary issues in mass media
2) Critically analyze media messages
3) Develop an understanding for the active role of media in social formations
4) Evaluate relationships between media industries and society in terms of political economy perspective
5) Examine the dynamics of developing media technologies

Course Content

This course by focusing on the impact of mass communication, aims to provide students with a framework for understanding the complex relationship between media and society. The main objectives of the course are to provide students with a critical understanding of the media as a key social institution, to develop awareness of political and economic forces shaping media, to develop critical skills to deconstruct media messages and to develop media literacy skills. This course introduces critical theories of mass media and requires a critical understanding to discuss and evaluate media messages and also the ability to synthesize a range of theoretical perspectives to examine contemporary issues in mass media with a reflective understanding.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week	Subject	Related Preparation
1)	Introduction to the course Concepts & Models	“The Mass Communication Process” in McQuail’s Communication Theory, McQuail (2010) pp. 51-78.
2)	Media – Society Theories: Overview	Theory of Media & Theory of Society in McQuail’s Communication Theory, McQuail (2010) pp. 79-110. “Mass Communication, Popular Taste and Organized Social Action” Paul F. Lazarsfeld & Robert K. Merton, in Media Studies (Eds.) Marris & Thornham, (2000).
3)	Critical Theories of Mass Media 1: Cultural Implications of Mechanical Reproduction	Walter Benjamin’s “Work of Art” Essay Chp 1, Critical Theories of Mass Media, Taylor & Harris (2008) pp. 17-38. Summary & Response Essay 1: “Moral Solidarity & Technological Reproduction of Images” K, Tester. Media Culture & Society Journal, (1995)
4)	Critical Theories of Mass Media 2: Culture Industries	Theodor Adorno and The Culture Industry Chp 3, Critical Theories of Mass Media, Taylor & Harris (2008) pp. 62-84. “Culture Industry Reconsidered” Theodor W. Adorno, in Media Studies (Eds.) Marris & Thornham, (2000), pp. 31-37. Summary Response Essay 2: “Cultural Industries In the Digital Age: Some Provisional Conclusions” E. Bustamante, Media Culture & Society Journal (2004)
5)	Critical Theories of Mass Media 3: Mass Communication & Culture	Mass Communication & Culture Chp. 5, McQuail’s Communication Theory, McQuail (2000) pp. 111-134. Debate 1: “Mass Communication & Minority Culture” Raymond Williams, in Media Studies (Eds.) Marris & Thornham, (2000), pp. 44-50. “A Semiotic Analysis of Four Designer Clothing Advertisements” Stone (2000) “Social Anxiety, Class and Disaffedted Youth” in Media Culture, Kellner (1995)
6)	Critical Theories of Mass Media 4: Media & Technology	Marshall McLuhan’s Understanding of the Media Chp 4, Critical Theories of Mass Media, Taylor & Harris (2008) pp. 85-106. “The Medium is the Message” Marshall McLuhan, in Media Studies, Marris & Thornham (2000), pp. 38-43. Debate 2: “Podcasting & Political Life” MacDougall American Behavioral Scientist, (2011) “Requiem for the Media” from A Critique of Political Economy Of Sign” (Baudrillard)
7)	Debates (Homework submission) & Midterm	Debate Group 1 & 2 Midterm
8)	Critical Theories of Mass Media 5: Communication as Ideology	Communication as Ideology Chp. 8, Media & Communication, Scannell (2007), pp. 198-232. “Encoding / Decoding” Stuart Hall, in Media Studies, Marris & Thornham (2000), pp. 51-61. Debate 3: “Myth Today” from Mythologies (Barthes) “Media Culture, politics and ideology from Reagan to Rambo” in Media Culture, Kellner (1995)
9)	Critical Theories of Mass Media 6: Mass Media & Public Sphere	Normative Theory of Media & Society Chp. 7, McQuail’s Communication Theory, McQuail (2000) pp. 161-188. “The Public Sphere” J. Habermas, in Media Studies, Marris & Thornham (2000), pp. 92-98. Summary Response Essay 3: “The Virtual Sphere” Papacharissi, New Media & Society, (2002)
10)	Critical Theories of Mass Media 7: Media & Consumerism	Guy Debord’s Society of the Spectacle Chp 5, Critical Theories of Mass Media, Taylor & Harris (2008) pp. 107-127. Debate 4: “Towards a Genealogy and Typology of Spectacle : Some Comments on Debord” Roberts, Thesis Eleven, (2003). “Debord and the Postmodern Turn: New Stages of the Spectacle” (Best & Kellner) Chp 7 “Banality TV: the democratization of celebrity” in Critical Theories of Mass Media, Taylor & Harris (2008) pp. 155-176.
11)	Critical Theories of Mass Media 8: New Media	New Media – New Theory? Chp. 6, McQuail’s Communication Theory, McQuail (2000) pp. 135-160. Debate 5: “Boundaries and Borderlines: Reflections on Baudrillard and Critical Theory” “Mapping the present from the future: From Baudrillard to cyberpunk” Chp. 9, Media Culture, Kellner (1995) pp. 297-330.
12)	Critical Theories of Mass Media 9: Social Media	“The Masses: The Implosion of the Social Media” Jean Baudrillard, in Media Studies, Marris & Thornham (2000), pp. 99-108. Debate 6: “Media and the Arab uprisings of 2011: Research notes” Cottle, Journalism, (2011). “Video Justice : Crimes of Violence in Social/Media Space” Biressi & Nunn, Space & Culture, (2003). “Twitter: Microphone for the Masses” Murthy, Media, Culture & Society, (2011).
13)	Critical Theories of Mass Media 10: Media & Social Control	Debate 7 : Discuss a case(s) examplifying different ways of social control through media “Media Gatekeeping” pp 75-89 “The Agenda-Setting Role of News Media” pp 90-105 “Spiral of Silence: Communication and Public Opinion as Social Control” pp. 153-168 in An Integrated Approach to Communication Theory and Research. (Eds) Stacks & Salwen, (2009).
14)	Debates (Homework submission) / Presentation	Debate Groups 5,6 & 7

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks:

Dersin hocası tarafından temin edilecektir.
Will be provided by the professor

References:

Dennis, McQuail. (2010). McQuail’s Communication Theory. London: Sage Publication.

Kellner, Douglas. (1995). Media Culture. London: Routledge.

Marris, Paul & Thornham, Sue. (2000). Media Studies (Eds.). NY: New York Univ. Press.

Kellner, Douglas. (1995). Media Culture. NY: Routledge.

Stacks W. Don & Salwen, Michael Brian. (2009). An Integrated Approach to Communication Theory and Research. (Eds). NY: Taylor & Francis.

Taylor, Paul & Harris, Jean Ll. (2008). Critical Theories of Mass Media. Berkshire: Open University Press.

Media Culture & Society Journal, Thesis Eleven

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements	Number of Activities	Level of Contribution
Attendance	14	% 10
Homework Assignments	2	% 20
Presentation	1	% 10
Midterms	1	% 20
Final	1	% 40
Total		% 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK		% 60
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK		% 40
Total		% 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities	Number of Activities	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Course Hours	14	3	42
Study Hours Out of Class	14	3	42
Presentations / Seminar	1	10	10
Homework Assignments	2	10	20
Midterms	1	2	2
Final	1	2	2
Total Workload			118

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect	1 Lowest	2 Low	3 Average	4 High	5 Highest

	Program Outcomes	Level of Contribution
1)	To be able to critically interpret and discuss the theories, the concepts, the traditions, and the developments in the history of thought which are fundamental for the field of new media, journalism and communication.
2)	To be able to attain written, oral and visual knowledge about technical equipment and software used in the process of news and the content production in new media, and to be able to acquire effective abilities to use them on a professional level.
3)	To be able to get information about the institutional agents and generally about the sector operating in the field of new media, journalism and communication, and to be able to critically evaluate them.
4)	To be able to comprehend the reactions of the readers, the listeners, the audiences and the users to the changing roles of media environments, and to be able to provide and circulate an original contents for them and to predict future trends.
5)	To be able to apprehend the basic theories, the concepts and the thoughts related to neighbouring fields of new media and journalism in a critical manner.
6)	To be able to grasp global and technological changes in the field of communication, and the relations due to with their effects on the local agents.
7)	To be able to develop skills on gathering necessary data by using scientific methods, analyzing and circulating them in order to produce content.
8)	To be able to develop acquired knowledge, skills and competence upon social aims by being legally and ethically responsible for a lifetime, and to be able to use them in order to provide social benefit.
9)	To be able to operate collaborative projects with national/international colleagues in the field of new media, journalism and communication.
10)	To be able to improve skills on creating works in various formats and which are qualified to be published on the prestigious national and international channels.