12/4/2024 12:48:40 AM	FMA 44 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  FMA 44	Title:  MEDIA CRITICISM
Full Title:  Media Criticism
Last Reviewed:11/22/2021

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		4 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  MEDIA 44

Catalog Description:

An introduction to the critical analysis of mediated texts with an emphasis on film, television, music, advertising, social media, video games, and new media. Students will explore and apply the core concepts of media theory and methods in an attempt to better understand the relationship between media, culture, and society.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An introduction to the critical analysis of mediated texts with an emphasis on film, television, music, advertising, social media, video games, and new media. Students will explore and apply the core concepts of media theory and methods in an attempt to better understand the relationship between media, culture, and society.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 2022	Inactive:
Area:	D E	Social and Behavioral Sciences Humanities
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	C1	Arts		Fall 2022
	D	Social Science
	D7	Interdisc Social or Behavioral Science
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	3A	Arts		Fall 2022
	4	Social and Behavioral Science
	4G	Interdis:Social and Behavioral Sciences
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2021	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2021	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Analyze and interpret historical and/or current media artifacts through the application of different research methods.

2. Construct, develop, and defend an argument utilizing empirical evidence.

3. Explain the interrelationship between the self, society, and media through different media theories.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify and examine various approaches to media criticism.

2. Explain the historical and cultural elements that enable and constrain the creation of a media artifact.

3. Construct and defend an argument utilizing a method of media criticism.

4. Evaluate the impact of aesthetic, cultural, economic, political, and historical factors that influence the media and shape society.

Topics and Scope

I. The Media Landscape

    A. Statistics

         1. global media conglomerates by net worth

         2. consumer usage by medium across various demographics

         3. consumer expenditures by medium across various demographics

    B. Historical trends and issues

         1. data collection and privacy

         2. personalization

         3. monetization of digital platforms

         4. fragmentation

         5. audience segmentation

              a. demographics

              b. psychographics

              c. taste Communities

         6. conglomeration

         7. globalization

         8. democratization

         9. disruption

    C. Theories

         1. media effects

         2. affect theory

         3. uses and gratifications

         4. medium theory

         5. queer theory

         6. orientalism

         7. afrocentricity

         8. marxist

         9. feminist

       10. post-modernism

       11. fandom

II. Approaches to Research and Analysis

    A. Quantitative methodologies

         1. content analysis

         2. experimental design

    B. Qualitative approaches to criticism

         1.   humanist

         2.   auteurist

         3.   genre

         4.   genealogy

         5.   rhetorical

         6.   political economy

         7.   structuralism and semiotics

         8    ethnography

         9.   psychoanalytic

         10. textual analysis

         11. discourse analysis

         12. reception analysis

    C. Literature review/case studies in various industries

         1. journalism

         2. music

         3. film

         4. television

         5. advertising

         6. new media

         7. video games

         8. social media

Assignments:

1. Weekly readings (40-60 pages)

2. One to three exams

3. Two to four writing assignments/term papers of 1250-2500 words each utilizing various critical methodologies

4. Optional student presentation or project

5. Other written assignments may include a literature review, online discussions, etc.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 50 - 80%
Term papers, other written assignments
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 20 - 40%
One to three exams
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 25%
Class participation, optional presentation or project

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

An Introduction to Criticism: Literature/Film/Culture. Ryan, Michael. Wiley-Blackwell. 2012 (classic) 

The Craft of Criticism: Critical Media Studies in Practice. Kackman, Michael and Kearney, Mary C. Routledge. 2018 

Critical Media Studies: An Introduction. 2nd ed. Ott, Brian L. and Mack, Robert L. Wiley-Blackwell. 2014 (classic) 

Film and Television Analysis: An Introduction to Methods, Theories, and Approaches. Benshoff, Harry. Routledge. 2015 (classic) 

Media Analysis Techniques. 6th ed. Berger, Arthur A. Sage Publications, Inc. 2019 

Media and Communication Research Methods. 5th ed. Berger Arthur A. Sage Publications, Inc. 2020 

Qualitative Research Methods for Media Studies. 3rd ed. Brennen, Bonnie S. Routledge. 2022

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