Communication 110: Introduction to Communication Studies

Fall, 2007 [1077]

Lecture Topics and Readings

September 4: Introduction to Course Readings: No readings assigned this week. Make sure you come to class having completed the assigned readings for that week.

September 11: Communication Studies in Context: Models, Methods, Meanings Readings: Miller, K., Conceptual Foundations. Postman, N., The Judgment of Thamus

September 18: Language and Culture Readings: Fischer, S., Scripting the Future Hall, E. T., Monochronic and Polychronic Time

September 25: Issues in History of Communication: The Question of Orality Readings: Fernback, J., Legends on the Net Levitt, S. and S. Dubner, How is the Ku Klux Klan Like a Group of Real-Estate Agents?

October 2: Marshall McLuhan: Medium Theory in Communication Studies Readings: Morrison, J., Marshall McLuhan: The Modern Janus McLuhan, M., The Medium is the Message

October 9: Consciousness and Society: Communication & Theories of the Self Readings: Mead, G. H., Thought as Internalized Conversation Eisenberg, E., Building a Mystery:Toward a New Theory of Communication & Identity Sweetman, P., Anchoring the (Postmodern) Self?

October 16: Making Meanings: Encoding and Decoding Messages Readings: Kingwell, M., Fear & Loathing in Couchland: Eights Myths About Television Doyle, A., An Alternative Current in Surveillance and Control Chandler, D., Semiotics: The Basics

October 23: Mid-Term Exam

October 30: Communication and Popular Culture Readings: Inglis, D., ‘High,’ ‘Popular,’ and ‘Low’ Cultures in Everyday Life O’Brien, S. et. al., The History of Popular Culture

November 6: The New Media: Technology and Social Relations Readings: Castells, M. The Culture of Real Virtuality Franklin, U., The Real World of Technology Pecora, V., The Culture of Surveillance

November 13: Communication, Culture and the Cinema Readings: Turner, G., Film Languages MacKinnon, K., Masculinity in the Movies

November 20: Political Economy and Communication Readings: Heath, J. et. al., I Hate Myself and I Want to Buy Paterson, M., You Are What you Buy: Theories of the Consumer Strinati, D., The Frankfurt School

November 27: Conclusions, Summaries, & Final Thoughts