ZURn4106 Critical Media Theories

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Jakub Macek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Michal Tkaczyk, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Radovan Plášek (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Lukáš Slavík (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Jakub Macek, Ph.D.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Boris Rafailov, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Fri 12:00–13:40 AVC
Prerequisites (in Czech)
TYP_STUDIA(MN)
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 and sociological theory of modernization and risk.
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. Theory of popular Culture
  • 8. Us, They, consent and conflict
  • 9. Media and Modernity: surveillance, discourse and disciplination
  • 10. Media and Modernity: risk, security and trust
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
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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