Syllabus
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Syllabus

Global Media Culture | Fall 2024

📜 Course Description

This course surveys the importance of critical media studies for our understanding of the world. Every week, we explore a key issue in global studies through a variety of audiovisual materials: films, tv shows, music videos, etc. Discussions and assignments help us reflect on how media act as elements of the world: how media content represents local lifestyles for foreign audiences, how media industries and infrastructures depend on international arrangements, and how media circulations create a sense of belonging to the world.

Instructor: 👤David Rheams

Office hours: By Appointment

Email: davidc.rheams@utdallas.edu

Class Website: critical-media-theories.drheams.com

Course Schedule: Link

Credit Hours: 3

University Policies

📰Course Policies

🧰 What You'll Get Out of This Class

  • Examine how media technologies create images and sounds about the world and evaluate how these shape our perceptions of what the world is like and how it operates.
  • Analyze how media producers translate stories and ideologies across different contexts.
  • Create public-facing interventions that synthesize key concepts in global studies and apply them to media from around the world.
  • Apply concepts to their own analyses of media texts

💡Helpful Tools

These are the writing and organization tools I will mention during the semester. They all have a free option. I’ll add to this list as we go through the semester.

Writing Help

Group Work & Attendance

Thinking is a team sport, and you'll be assigned group work in labs and presentations over the semester. The class is designed as an in-person class (unless otherwise indicated on the syllabus) so that we can take advantage of all being in the same room together.

Technologies & Platforms

As we've switched to an online class, here's what you'll need from a technology perspective.

  • Class website: This website will have your schedule, lectures, instructions, reading materials, and everything else you need. If you're reading this, then you're in the right place.
  • MS Teams: We will use MS Teams as the place for you to share during in-person labs, have class discussions, and talk to me! It's not perfect, but it will serve our purposes.
  • eLearning: We'll use eLearning to turn in your Think Pieces, Assignments, and any other class materials for a grade. However, this website is the source of truth for all dates and activities. So if you want to know when something is due, check here first.

📚 Readings

All readings are provided for you - no need to buy textbooks. I've provided links to all readings on the class website. We'll use a mix of text, lecture, video, and audio during this class. Where and when possible, I'll provide multiple options. In addition, I've provided quite a few 'optional' readings in case you find a subject interesting and would like to know more.

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Class Texts

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🏆 Grading

Breakdown

  • Midterm (20%)
  • Student Facilitation (20%)
  • Presentation (10%)
  • Journals & Participation (10%)
  • Final Project (30%)

Scale

  • A 94%-100%
  • A- 90% - 93%
  • B 84% - 89%
  • B- 80% - 83%
  • C 70% - 79%
  • D 60% - 69%
  • F < 60%
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Assignment Submission: Turn in everything via eLearning.

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Late Assignments The class is much easier when all of your assignments are turned in on time.
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Labs are a crucial part of this class. You will be docked in your attendance grade if you do not participate in them. Pro Tip: Save all your work online (Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.), so you can access and share easily.

😢 Plagiarism

Presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words, is a serious offense with serious consequences. In short, don't do it.