CMA07 Political Economy of Media

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025

The course is not taught in Spring 2025

Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Tae-Sik Kim, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Tae-Sik Kim, Ph.D.
Department of Film Studies and Audiovisual Culture – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Film Studies and Audiovisual Culture – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
Course objectives
This course is designed to help students develop an understanding political economy of media industries in a globalized capitalist world. Students will learn the theoretical background of political economy by reading such classics as Das Capital. By reading topical book chapters, students will critically discuss the boarder context of global political economy of media. The first half of the course will cover the conventional understandings of poltical economy of media. The second half of the course will then focus on the political-economic context of media in recent days.
Learning outcomes
Students understand the theory of political economy; comprehend the broader context of global political economy in media world; critically evaluate the political economy of media industries; discuss their (students’) own role as consumers and audiences (and producers) in media industries; get informed about a variety of media industries in the world that hasn’t well been known; develop critical thinking skills. Student will understand scholar terminology in English and will be able to interpret English scholar literature.
Syllabus
  • Week 1. Introduction.
  • Week 2. Understanding Political Economy.
  • Week 3. Basics: Political Economy in Media.
  • Week 4. Culture Industry: History of Mass Culture.
  • Week 5. Corporate Media & News.
  • Week 6. Audiences and Consumers.
  • Week 7. Cultural Imperialism and Global Media Flow.
  • Week 8. Midterm Exam.
  • Week 9. Corporate Transculturalism.
  • Week 10. Regional Media Flow.
  • Week 11. Political Economy of New Media.
  • Week 12. From Neoliberalism to Populism: Politics, Economy and Media.
  • Week 13. Group Presentation.
Literature
  • Zhao, Y., & Chakravartty, P. (Eds.). (2007). Global communications: Toward a transcultural political economy. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
  • Marx, K. (2005). Das capital. Volume 1. Translated by Samuel Moore and Edward Aveling. The Marx-Engels Reader, 439-442.
  • Adorno, T., & Horkheimer, M. (2007). The culture industry: Enlightenment as mass deception.
  • HEPP, Andreas. Transcultural communication. Edition first. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley Blackwell, 2015, vi, 276. ISBN 9780470673935. info
  • FUCHS, Christian. Social media : a critical introduction. Los Angeles: Sage, 2014, vii, 293. ISBN 9781446257302. info
  • THUSSU, Daya Kishan. Media on the move : global flow and contra-flow. New York: Routledge, 2006, xiv, 267. ISBN 0415354587. info
  • MCCHESNEY, Robert Waterman. Rich media, poor democracy : communication politics in dubious times. New York: New Press, 2000, xxxvi, 427. ISBN 1565846346. info
  • MOSCO, Vincent. The political economy of communication : rethinking and renewal. 1st pub. London: Sage Publications, 1996, x, 307 s. ISBN 0-8039-8560-6. info
  • TOMLINSON, John. Cultural imperialism : a critical introduction. 1st pub. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991, ix, 187. ISBN 0801842492. info
  • JHALLY, Sut. The codes of advertising : fetishism and the political economy of meaning in the consumer society. New York: Routledge, 1990, ix, 225. ISBN 041590353X. info
Teaching methods
The format of the course is a combination of lectures and controlled discussions of assigned readings. All students are expected to read textbooks assigned and to develop appropriate discussion questions.
Assessment methods
Attendance: 3 unexcused absences during a semester shall be denied academic credit. Midterm Examination 30%. Class Presentation 10%. Develop discussion questions on assigned week’s topic. Introduce cases not included in textbooks. Final Group Project 40% (Due: 8th of June, 2018). Group with 2-3 colleagues. Find your topic by Week 10. Presentation in Week 13. Short Essay 20% (4 Pages – Choose one topic). Define “Labor” in Media Industries: Who are laborers? And Why? Explain the relationship between social media and “manufacturing consent”.
Language of instruction
English
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