Syllabus
1. The role of media in everyday life I2. Media news + The role of media in everyday life II3. Media news + Media as means of communication (Media Technology and Social Change)4. Media news + The Media in Society I: The Media and Modernity / Communication and Social Context
5. Media news + The Media in Society II: Radio and TV programs: comparing USA and Europe / The media as part of the specific culture6. Media news + Trends in Media Development: The Globalization of Communication / Mass and Network Media7. Media news + The Media Production II: Making News8. Media news + How to Study Media Content I: The Interpretation of Meaning / Stuart Hall: Representation and the Media9. Media news + Media and Audiences: The Interpretation of Meaning10.-12. Topic presentations.
13. Conclusion, evaluation
Annotation
The purpose of the course is to offer a introductory description of mass nad network media and their - real as well as desired - role in contemporary society. The participants will get a survey of various theoretical and normative perspectives on relation between media (as institutions and organisations) and their content on one side and society and individual on the other side. Specifically, we will discuss various dimensions of media-society relation: (1) the typology of media as communication means, organisations and institutions and the social context as a framework for specific media systems; (2) media products as a social practice; (3) types of audiences as a social enviroment; (4) the (possible and probable) media effects, as well as positive or negative expectations; and (5) the specific role of media in society heading towards democracy (Czech example). The course requires only some basic knowledge of sociology and communication science on introductory level, some basic knowledge of world (American and European) history and of American and European literature. The course also requires some interest in popular culture.