ZUR402 Critical theory of mass media: Mass culture, media and society

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2019
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Jakub Macek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Johana Kotišová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Radovan Plášek (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Lukáš Slavík (seminar tutor)
Bc. Lucie Hillová (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Jakub Macek, Ph.D.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Bc. Pavlína Brabcová
Supplier department: Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Thu 14:00–15:40 AVC
Prerequisites (in Czech)
ZUR410 Mass communication theory || ZUR110 Mass communication theory
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to acquaint students with key critical theories of media, with theories of mass and popular culture and critical theory of technology. At the same time, the course focuses on applying the theories and concepts of individual authors to current themes. The subject is diachronically conceived and covers classical authors (Frankfurt School, Birmingham School, technological determinism and its criticism, mormative theory of public sphere, French critique of everyday life), structuralism and poststructuralism, popular culture theory, sociological theory of risk, STS and contemporary neo-Marxism.
Learning outcomes
Student will be:
- oriented in critical media theories and will know the key texts of selected authors
- to be able to apply selected theories and concepts in an argumentative text
- able to distinguish between critical, normative and analytical social sciences
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Critical theory and its position in social sciences
  • 3. Frankfurt School and critique of ideology and mass culture
  • 4. Normative theory of public sphere
  • 5. Technological determinism and its critique
  • 6. Birmingham School
  • 7. Media and Modernity: Imagined communities
  • 8. Media and Modernity: risk, security and trust
  • 9. Media and Modernity: surveillance, discourse and disciplination
  • 10. Media and everyday life
  • 11. STS and critical theory of technologies
  • 12. New media, neo-Marxism and neo-materialism
  • 13. New media and deep mediatization
Literature
  • FISKE, John. Jak rozumět populární kultuře. Edited by Petr A. Bílek. Vydání první. Praha: Akropolis, 2017, 319 stran. ISBN 9788074701900. info
  • BERRY, David M. Critical theory and the digital. First published. New York: Bloomsbury Academic, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2015, ix, 260. ISBN 9781441166395. info
  • MCLUHAN, Marshall. Jak rozumět médiím : extenze člověka. Edited by Jan Jirák, Translated by Miloš Calda. 2., rev. vyd. Praha: Mladá fronta, 2011, 399 s. ISBN 9788020424099. info
  • ANDERSON, Benedict R. O'G. Představy společenství : úvahy o původu a šíření nacionalismu. Edited by Martin Procházka, Translated by Petr Fantys - Miloslav Uličný. 1. české vyd. Praha: Karolinum, 2008, 274 s. ISBN 9788024614908. info
  • An introduction to critical theory. Edited by Jennifer Rich. Penrith, Calif.: Humanities-Ebooks, 2007, 82 p. ISBN 9781847600189. info
  • Democratizing technologyAndrew Feenberg's critical theory of technology. Edited by Tyler J. Veak. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 2006, xxii, 229. ISBN 9780791480960. info
  • GIDDENS, Anthony. Důsledky modernity. 2. vyd. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2003, 200 s. ISBN 8086429156. info
  • FOUCAULT, Michel. Dohlížet a trestat : kniha o zrodu vězení. Translated by Čestmír Pelikán. Praha: Dauphin, 2000, 427 s. ISBN 8086019969. info
  • LEFEBVRE, Henri. Everyday life in the modern world. New York: Continuum, 2000, xxiii, 206. ISBN 0826467415. info
  • A dictionary of cultural and critical theory. Edited by Michael Payne. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1997, xii, 644 s. ISBN 0-631-20753-8. info
  • Critical theory and practicea coursebook. Edited by Keith Green - Jill LeBihan. New York: Routledge, 1996, xxiv, 336. ISBN 041511439X. info
  • ADORNO, Theodor W. The culture industry : selected essays on mass culture. Edited by J.M. Bernstein. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 1991, viii, 210. ISBN 0-415-25534-1. info
Teaching methods
lecture, seminar, reading
Assessment methods
position papers, argumentative paper, oral exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Přednostní právo účasti mají studenti mediálních studií a žurnalistiky i v případě, že se přihlásí později než studenti jiných oborů.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 1999, Autumn 2000, Autumn 2001, Spring 2002, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2019, recent)
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