PMCb1119 The Mediated Politics of Everyday Life

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Charles Michael Elavsky, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Vojtěch Dvořák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Iveta Jansová, 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
Prerequisites
! ZURb1618 Politics of Everyday Life && ! NOW( ZURb1618 Politics of Everyday Life )
Interest in the world around us.
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
In this course, we will explore how we understand and interpret contemporary topics, current events and today's cultural dynamics as they intersect our lives and knowledge of our place in our world.
Our first step is to develop and foster critical thinking (meaning to question that which is most obvious) about ourselves, so as to discern how information, ideas and experiences are produced, disseminated and understood in relation to the mass media within our culture, and how specific cultural, social, political, and economic forces influence and inform these processes. In short, we will be tackling a lot of conceptual groundwork and for you to get the most out of this class, it is imperative you complete (and think through) the readings and assignments and actively participate in the discussions. If you do this, you will never see your world the same way again. Moreover, the class will have more meaning for you and be more fun for everyone. Caveat: You may encounter ideas and thoughts in this course you may not agree with or that may even offend you. Understand that this is part of the strategy behind the course design – to challenge you -- as we seek to engage alternative and opposing perspectives.
Learning outcomes
enhancing critical literacy; developing civic speaking/engagement skills developing critical consciousness enhancing English dialogue skills developing skills related to group work enhancing awareness/understanding of current events/contemporary topics/controversial themes and related perspectives
Syllabus
  • The Power and Politics of Elon Musk
  • Interpreting Cryptocurrency
  • The Global Impact of the 2024 US Election
  • Climate Agendas
  • Poverty and Perceptions
  • AI and the Changing Dynamics of Media/Culture
  • Citizen Journalism and the Media as Practice
  • Race and Technology
  • Neoliberal Values, Mental Health and the Self as Entrepreneurial Brand
  • The Rhetoric, Rationale, and Returns on Conspiracy Theories
  • he Politics of Migration and the Rise of Populism
  • Contemporary Violence and the Coming Experience of War
Teaching methods
lectures, class discussions, group work, homework, readings
Assessment methods
Attendance/Class Participation: Students must come to class prepared, having done the readings and ready to address the course material, answer questions, and engage their classmates and the instructor in a thoughtful and respectful manner. Collective class attendance and participation are crucial to the success of our semester and are therefore mandatory. Short supplemental in-class quizzes will augment this aspect of the course.
Group Discussion/Presentations: In designated groups, students will be responsible for discussing/debating/presenting (among themselves and with the class at large) perspectives on the subject matter and class themes each week as a means of digging deeper into our understanding of the subject at hand in all its complexity. Assessment will be based on how these activities comprise engagement with the readings (main points) and the topic more broadly as it intersects personal perspectives, and the ability to stimulate robust class discussion and engagement that is both compelling and respectful. Actual grades will be figured according to instructors and group self-assessments, with points accumulating across the semester to determine one's final grade for this aspect of the course.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
Teacher's information
C. Michael Elavsky, Ph.D. Vojtech Dvorak, Ph.D.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2026, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2026/PMCb1119