ZUR155 Media and modernity

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2008
Extent and Intensity
2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Václav Štětka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jan Miessler (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jiří Pavelka, CSc.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Drahomíra Soldánová
Timetable
Tue 12:00–13:30 AVC
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course aims to describe and examine selected social functions of mass media as one of the key institutions of late modern societies. The introductory part will be devoted to the basic sociological conception of modernity, its main structural aspects and socio-psychological consequences of transformation of traditional to modern society, as well as to the theories describing the contemporary changes within modernity itself. After that, the course will explore various social and cultural consequences of the invention and spread of communication technologies in the early modern age, especially the printing press, and in the age of mass society (electronic media). The attention will be devoted to the role of mass media in processes of socialization, social interaction and construction of identity, but also to their role within the establishing of democratic public sphere and the modern nation state. In this context, the socio-integrative functions of mass media will be examined, mainly from the perspective of the ritual model of communication. In the final part, the course will focus on the mediated “export” of Western modernity into other parts of the world, from the point of view of developmental as well as globalization theories.
Syllabus
  • 1. introduction, requirements
  • 2. sociological theories of modernity and late modernity
  • 3. media and the birth of modern society I: social impact of the printing press
  • 4. media and the birth of modern society II: electronic communication
  • 5. media, nationalism and national identity
  • 6. civil society and the public sphere: establishment and transformations
  • 7. mediated democracy: expectations and limits
  • 8. public service broadcasting as a project of modernity
  • 9. media and social integration I: ceremonial functions of mass media
  • 10. media and social integration II: everyday rituals and banal nationalism
  • 11. exporting Western modernity I: developmental theory of media
  • 12. exporting Western modernity II: globalization paradigm
Literature
  • SPARKS, Colin. Globalization, development and the mass media. London: SAGE Publications, 2007, 258 s. ISBN 9780761961628. info
  • THOMPSON, John B. Média a modernita : sociální teorie médií. Translated by Jan Jirák. 1. čes. vyd. Praha: Karolinum, 2004, 219 s. ISBN 8024606526. info
  • MCLUHAN, Marshall. Člověk, média a elektronická kultura : výbor z díla. Translated by Irena Přibylová - Martin Krejza. Vyd. 1. Brno: Jota, 2000, 415 s. ISBN 8072171283. info
  • HABERMAS, Jürgen. Strukturální přeměna veřejnosti :zkoumání jedné kategorie občanské společnosti. Translated by Alena Bakešová - Josef Velek. Vyd. 1. Praha: Filosofia, 2000, 418 s. ISBN 80-7007-134-6. info
  • GIDDENS, Anthony. Důsledky modernity. Translated by Karel Müller. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 1998, 195 s. ISBN 80-85850-62-1. info
  • BILLIG, Michael. Banal nationalism. 1st pub. London: SAGE Publications, 1995, 200 s. ISBN 0-8039-7525-2. info
  • MCLUHAN, Marshall. Understanding media : the extensions of man. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1995, xxiii, 365. ISBN 0262631598. info
  • DAYAN, Daniel and Elihu KATZ. Media events :the live broadcasting of history. 1st ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1992, xi, 306 s. ISBN 0-674-55956-8. info
  • ANDERSON, Benedict R. O'G. Imagined communities : reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. Rev. and extended ed. London: Verso, 1991, xv, 224. ISBN 0860915468. info
  • Understanding television. Edited by Andrew Goodwin - Garry Whannel. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 1990, x, 192 s. ISBN 0-415-01672-X. info
  • MEYROWITZ, Joshua. No sense of place : the impact of electronic media on social behavior. New York: Oxford University Press, 1985, xv, 416 s. ISBN 0-19-504231-X. info
Assessment methods
Final exam - written test.
In course of the semester, students are asked to write two essays on an assigned topic (1200 words minimum) and a final essay to be handed in during the exam period (2000 words minimum).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
General note: Tento předmět byl dříve vyučován pod kódem ZUR278.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Přednostní právo zápisu mají studenti oborové specializace "mediální studia", a to i v případě, že se přihlásí později než studenti jiných specializací a oborů.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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