A/P Ian Gordon

History

AS

NUS

Course Description, Aims, and Objectives
It is almost obligatory for Hollywood films that deal with U.S. politics to depict policy makers as fixated with how issues are discussed in the media. In this version of policy formation the media is a key player in the process of decision-making and policy is reduced to a series of "media events". How true is Hollywood's version? Likewise the US media in general is often held responsible for that society’s problems. This module examines the part of the U.S. media in shaping American society and culture beginning with the New York Journal's advocacy of the Spanish- American War of 1898 through to the role played by CNN in the 1990s. The module will review the growth of mass circulated newspapers, magazines, radio and television and examine how new media forms, such as the Internet, shape and are shaped by society.

The module gives students the opportunity to critically examine in a historical context the role media plays in American society. Students will gain exposure to different media theories and can employ different methodologies in an interdisciplinary fashion. On completion of the module students should be able to develop and present arguments in a critical assessment of American media.

Teaching Format
A weekly two hour lecture with a program of IVLE discussion forum tutorials.

Assessment
Students are expected to attend lectures and tutorial in accordance with university policy and to actively participate in tutorials. Assessment is based on continuous assessment (60%)  and an open book final exam (40%).  The 60% for continuous assessment consists of Essay (30%), Discussion Group Participation (25%), and Bibliographical assignment (5%).

The tutorial bibliographical assignment is due February 6 at 5pm.

The essay is due March 15, 2004 at 10am. You must follow this link to the essay guide page.

Textbook
Joseph Turow, Media Today: An Introduction to Mass Communication. Second edition (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003). Available in the Co-Op.

Extra Reading: The textbook will be supported by extra readings, which are available in the Central Library RBR or through the Library EReserves on the IVLE. 

Useful Films, Video and Audio in NUS Library

Lecture Schedule
Be sure to follow the individual lecture links to the outline, detailed schedule of readings, links, tutorial guide, and other resources for each lecture.

The lectures are divided into three themes:

Media Forms

Lecture 1 (January 5)
Newspapers and Magazines

Lecture 2 (January 5 note Lectures 1 and 2 combined due to Hari Raya Haji holiday later in the semester)
How The Media Shapes Events: The Spanish-American War 1898

Lecture 3 (January 12)
Movies

Lecture 4 (January 19)
Radio

Lecture 5 (January 26)
Comic Books

Lecture 6 (February 9)
Television

Lecture 7 (February 16)
Internet

Media Content

Lecture 8 (February 23)
Politics

Lecture 9 (March 1)
War

Lecture 1O (March 8)
Popular Music

Lecture 11 (March 15)
Advertising

Media Issues

Lecture 12 (March 22)
Censorship and Control

Lecture 13 (March 29)
Globalization