Communication 418, Spring 2017

Communication 418, Spring 2017 Foundations of Mediated Communication

Instructor: Dr. Brent Simonds Phone: 438-3532 E-mail: [email protected] Reggienet: Readings, Syllabus, Grades, etc. Office: Fell 412 Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. or by appointment

Seminar Description "Mediated communication" in the course title refers to communication that is not face-to- face. As such, it encompasses any communication involving some form of technology (new and old, high-tech and low-tech, mass and interpersonal). Thus, in this course we will explicitly and extensively address the role of channel in the communication process.

In our course readings, we will encounter several interrelated terms such as medium theory, media ecology, and technological determinism. Basically, it is the study of different media environments. We will be investigating how a medium of communication structures information and how that in turn shapes our thought processes. We will be concerned with a medium’s conditions of attendance and also its affordances (i.e., what sorts of behavior does it make possible and what does it inhibit). We will discuss whether a medium structures information propositionally or presentationally and what that might mean to the culture in which it is used. It is up to you to take the insights of these scholars and extend them into the domains of communication that interest you. The methods/media by which we communicate affect several areas of our lives. For example, how might a medium of communication affect what we consider/value as knowledge (epistemology)? Or, what impact do communication technologies have on our interpersonal encounters? These and many other questions should occur to you as you read and as we discuss the material.

By participating in this seminar, you will gain a conceptual framework/theoretical lens for understanding the role communication technologies/channels play in shaping societies and cultures.

Required Reading Strate, L. (2006). Echoes and reflections: On media ecology as a field of study. New York: Hampton Press.

All other readings are available in PDF format via the Reggienet page for this course. Grading The grade scale is a typical 90% = A, 80%=B, etc. Your grade for this course will be determined based on your performance in the following areas:  Participation 100 points  Leading a discussion 50 points  Midterm Exam 100 points  Final Paper 100 points  Paper Presentation 50 points  Total Possible Points 400 points

NOTE: Failure to turn in any of the course requirements may result in failure of the course.

Policies and Procedures Professional Courtesy. As this is a graduate seminar, I feel it is unnecessary to emphasize issues such as respect for the class (attendance, turning assignments in on time, etc.) and the members of the seminar (respecting others' opinions, being respectful to those who are speaking, and working together in a spirit of cooperation rather than competition). I do, however, want to be clear about my expectations. I believe graduate school is an experience designed to bring professional individuals together to increase and expand knowledge. Thus, I will expect your behaviors and attitudes towards this course to reflect professional courtesy. If I believe a student is not meeting my expectations (e.g., excessive absences, inadequate work, disrespect for others, etc.), I will notify you immediately and a decision will be made concerning your need to drop the course.

Deadlines. All assignments must be completed on schedule and must be handed in when due. No makeups or extensions will be permitted unless the student contacts the instructor prior to the due date and has a verifiable excuse. One letter grade will be deducted for each day that any assignment is late.

Academic Misconduct. All University Policies concerning academic misconduct will be upheld in this course. Of particular concern in a course with written and oral assignments is the issue of plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined by Webster's (1989) as "the appropriations or imitation of the language, ideas, and thoughts of another author, and representation of them as one's original work" (p. 1100). In other words, plagiarism is stealing. You must cite your sources accurately and consistently in both your oral and written assignments.

Absences due to Student Bereavement: Students who experience the death of an immediate family member or relative as defined in the University Student Bereavement Policy will be excused from class for funeral leave, subsequent bereavement, and/or travel considerations. Students are responsible for providing appropriate documentation to the Dean of Students office and for contacting the instructor as soon as possible to make arrangements for completing missed work. More information is available in the Student Bereavement Policy at http://policy.illinoisstate.edu/students/2-1-27.shtml

Extra Credit Opportunities: You may receive five extra credit points for participating in any of the studies in the School of Communication’s Research Pool. The Research Pool is updated as research studies are opened/closed, and it is your responsibility to access the Pool and be aware of available opportunities. The Research Pool can be accessed via: https://sites.google.com/site/ilstusocstudies/

I will get evidence of participation and the time of participation from the researcher(s) who administer the research studies at the conclusion of the semester; however, it is your responsibility to make sure that the researchers have the necessary evidence of your participation at the time of the study. Before participating in a study, please be sure to have your name, ULID (i.e., the part of your email before @ilstu.edu), instructor name, and course and section number ready, as you will need to provide these to receive credit. After the final exam there will be no further opportunities for extra credit or to otherwise improve your grade. You can only receive extra points for one course for participation. You can only receive extra points once for Com 317.

Please also be aware that federal guidelines indicate that instructors offering extra credit for research participation must offer a reasonable alternative (such as a research paper) for students who want to earn extra credit but do not want to participate in a study.

Special Needs: Any student needing to arrange a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability should contact Student Access and Accommodation Services at 350 Fell Hall, 438-5853 (voice) or web: http://studentaccess.illinoisstate.edu/

Mental Health Resources: Life at college can get very complicated. Students sometimes feel overwhelmed, lost, experience anxiety or depression, struggle with relationship difficulties or diminished self-esteem. However, many of these issues can be effectively addressed with a little help. Student Counseling Services (SCS) helps students cope with difficult emotions and life stressors. Student Counseling Services is staffed by experienced, professional psychologists and counselors, who are attuned to the needs of college students. The services are FREE and completely confidential. Find out more at http://counseling.illinoisstate.edu/ or by calling (309) 438-3655. Tentative Course Schedule

Week 1, Jan. 16 – Martin Luther King Day – no class

Week 2, Jan. 23 – Orientation  Echoes and Reflections – Chapter 01  http://media-ecology.org/  Fallon, P.K. (2009). The metaphysics of media: Toward an end of postmodern cynicism and the construction of a virtuous reality. Scranton: University of Scranton Press. (Appendix, An explanation of media ecology principles).

Week 3, Jan. 30 – Technological Determinism  Echoes and Reflections – Chapter 12  Marx, L., & Smith, M. R. (1994). Introduction. In M. R. Smith & L. Marx (Eds.), Does technology drive history? The dilemma of technological determinism (pp. ix-xv). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.  Smith, M. R. (1994). Technological determinism in American culture. In M. R. Smith & L. Marx (Eds.), Does technology drive history? The dilemma of technological determinism (pp. 1-35). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Week 4, Feb. 06 – Media Ecology & Medium Theory  Echoes and Reflections – Chapter 03  Lum, C. M. K. (2000). Introduction: The intellectual roots of media ecology. The New Jersey Journal of Communication, 8, 1-9.  Innis, H. A. (1951). The bias of communication. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. (Ch 2).  Meyrowitz, J. (1994). Medium Theory. In D. Crowley & D. Mitchell (Eds.), Communication theory today (pp. 50-77). Cambridge, UK: Polity Press.  http://justtv.wordpress.com/2007/08/13/medium-theory/

Week 5, Feb. 13 – Ong  Echoes and Reflections – Chapters 05 & 06  Ong, W. J. (1988). Orality and literacy: The technologizing of the word. New York: Methuen. (Ch. 3).  Ong, W. J. (1988). Orality and literacy: The technologizing of the word. New York: Methuen. (Ch. 4).

Week 6, Feb. 20 – McLuhan  Echoes and Reflections – Chapter 02  McLuhan, M. (1962). The Gutenberg galaxy: The making of typographic man. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. (pp. 75-95).  McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding media. New York: Signet Books. (Ch. 1)  McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding media. New York: Signet Books. (Ch. 6, 8, 9, 10) Week 7, Feb. 27 – McLuhan  Echoes and Reflections – Chapter 04  McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding media. New York: Signet Books. (Ch. 18, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31)  The Playboy Interview: Marshall McLuhan. Playboy Magazine, March 1969.

Week 8, March 06 – McLuhan Film Day, Midterm Exam due

Week 9, March 13 – Spring Break – no class

Week 10, March 20 – Postman  Echoes and Reflections – Chapter 08  Postman, N. & Paglia, C. (2007). Two cultures: Television versus print. In D. Crowley & P. Heyer (Eds.), Communication in history: Technology, culture, society, 5th Ed. (pp. 283-295). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.  Postman, N. (1992). Technopoly: The surrender of culture to technology. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. (chapters 1 & 4)

Week 11, March 27 – Telegraphy & Photography  Echoes and Reflections – Chapter 07  Carey, J. W. (1992). Technology and ideology: The case of the Telegraph. In J. W. Carey, Communication as Culture: Essays on Media and Society (pp. 201- 230). New York: Routledge.  Sontag, S. (2003). On photography. In D. Crowley & P. Heyer (Eds.), Communication in history: Technology, culture, society (pp. 166-170). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.  Keller, U. (2003). Early photojournalism. In D. Crowley & P. Heyer (Eds.), Communication in history: Technology, culture, society, 4th Ed. (pp. 170-178). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Week 12, April 03 – Meyrowitz  Meyrowitz, J. (1985). No sense of place: The impact of electronic media on social behavior. New York: Oxford University Press. (preface, Chs. 2 & 6).

Week 13, April 10 – Postman  Postman, N. (1985). Amusing ourselves to death: Public discourse in the age of show business. New York: Penguin Books. (Intro. to 20th ed., Foreword, Chs. 1- 4).

Week 14, April 17 – Johnson & Shirky  Johnson, S. B. (2005). Everything bad is good for you: How today’s popular culture is actually making us smarter. New York: Riverhead Books. (pp. 1-62, pp. 139-157).  Shirky, C. (2010). Cognitive surplus: Creativity and generosity in a connected age. New York: The Penguin Press. (Chaps 1 & 6). Week 15, April 24 – Final Paper Work Week Week 16, May 01 – Research Presentations Final Exam Week, May 08 – Research Presentations