Thank you to all the students who made the orals worthwhile. I finished computing and illustrating the grades just now, with graphs and all. Very curious results to say the least. :) Over our last four weeks, I hope to hear more from everyone in class and, yes, in the discursive space that is our blog. I discovered that a lot of you have very interesting opinions and experiences with the media.
Please pick up the three readings from the library starting tomorrow. Two of these are required for our Tuesday lecture. See you next week!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Announcements
Hi. Yesterday was the first day of oral exams. I recommend that upcoming pairs revisit readings and lecture slides. It's not enough to ramble on with examples; one needs to ground them in theory and, crucially, situate the discussion within the context of our course.
Please note that we have no classes on Thursday, August 30. We do have an important lecture on Tuesday, September 4 on American Mass Communication Research (c/o Jason Cabanes). There are TWO readings for this lecture. They will be made available for photocopy by Thursday. For the first 30 minutes or so however, I will be discussing the results of the oral exams and giving each pair feedback sheets alongside your marks. I will also be revisiting the thesis statements and clarifying issues/concepts from our previous lectures. Not to be missed.
I suggest that creative project groups schedule consultation with me over the next weeks. You may also drop in to review your marks, discuss your concerns about your course, and talk about personal or academic issues.
Please note that we have no classes on Thursday, August 30. We do have an important lecture on Tuesday, September 4 on American Mass Communication Research (c/o Jason Cabanes). There are TWO readings for this lecture. They will be made available for photocopy by Thursday. For the first 30 minutes or so however, I will be discussing the results of the oral exams and giving each pair feedback sheets alongside your marks. I will also be revisiting the thesis statements and clarifying issues/concepts from our previous lectures. Not to be missed.
I suggest that creative project groups schedule consultation with me over the next weeks. You may also drop in to review your marks, discuss your concerns about your course, and talk about personal or academic issues.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Media and Morality--Seeing the Other in the News
PLEASE COME! :)
Date/Time: September 5, 430-600PM
Venue: Escaler Hall, Ateneo de Manila
In today’s globalizing world, we get to know distant peoples, distant cultures, and distant events primarily through screens, pages, and interfaces—what we have come to call as media. The news, in particular, brings us images of the Other on a live, continuous basis—but with what consequences? Indeed before we mistake connection for responsibility, we should ask Roger Silverstone’s forceful question, “The media may have extended reach, but have they extended understanding?”
In this public seminar Seeing the Other in the News, scholars from the Department of Communication dialogue with esteemed industry professionals Maria Ressa (ABS-CBN) and Howie Severino (GMA Network). The seminar wishes to highlight the ever-evolving, ever-increasing responsibilities of the media—and here we mean owners, producers, actors, and audiences—to create a space for hospitality for the distant others that we see onscreen. Issues such as objectivity in journalism, ethical issues in reporting on suffering, and compassion fatigue will be discussed. The format also allows for participation from the audience, as they can pose questions to the panelists.
This event also marks the launch of the MediaTalk@admu seminar series, produced by the Department of Communication and the Center for Communication Research and Training.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Announcements Again
Hi! I missed seeing everyone last Thursday.
I hope that all the orals pairs are starting to prepare for the exam in two weeks' time. Students usually feel very anxious over oral exams because it's very stage-y. But really, as long as you come prepared, you should do fine.
You will be graded on your ability to tackle each question with both depth and breadth. You are expected to know the topic/issue the thesis statement refers to, what issue regarding the media it is able to explain, its strengths and weaknesses, etc. You should be able to "break down" each thesis statement to its key concepts, e.g., discuss what "critical examination" means, discuss what "the media" means, discuss "representation," discuss "double meaning," then link all these together. At the same time, you are expected to display integrative thinking: the ability to link the thesis statement to other concepts discussed in class (from different lectures) or even outside of class. And so, you can see that the oral exam is also a site of creative expression, as you should bring in your own thoughts and experiences with the media in reflecting on each question. Surprise the examiners with unusual examples to clarify your arguments. Remember that the examiners are not expecting template answers; there are no right or wrong answers--only critical and uncritical, creative and uncreative answers. Remember that the examiners would be listening to around 40 pairs tackle the same questions over and over again. Make your 15 minutes of fame memorable, as they are grading you in comparison with other students in class.
You are graded separately. But orals pairs that work well together and are able to build on each other's statements would of course be more effective. Moments of dead air should be avoided, as of course you open yourself up to the tricky follow-up questions from the examiners.
Again, you are free to select from four out of the ten thesis statements. And the examiners will select two out of the four.
SCHEDULE
On Tuesday, August 21, we are having the seminar to discuss Leloy's lecture. There will be also be a graded class activity with your orals partner where you will be asked to do a textual analysis of a TV ad. I am also giving tips for the oral exams during this session. Not to be missed.
Finally, we are moving the lecture on American Mass Communication Research to the week after the orals. And so, we are dropping thesis statement 5 from the oral exams.
I hope that all the orals pairs are starting to prepare for the exam in two weeks' time. Students usually feel very anxious over oral exams because it's very stage-y. But really, as long as you come prepared, you should do fine.
You will be graded on your ability to tackle each question with both depth and breadth. You are expected to know the topic/issue the thesis statement refers to, what issue regarding the media it is able to explain, its strengths and weaknesses, etc. You should be able to "break down" each thesis statement to its key concepts, e.g., discuss what "critical examination" means, discuss what "the media" means, discuss "representation," discuss "double meaning," then link all these together. At the same time, you are expected to display integrative thinking: the ability to link the thesis statement to other concepts discussed in class (from different lectures) or even outside of class. And so, you can see that the oral exam is also a site of creative expression, as you should bring in your own thoughts and experiences with the media in reflecting on each question. Surprise the examiners with unusual examples to clarify your arguments. Remember that the examiners are not expecting template answers; there are no right or wrong answers--only critical and uncritical, creative and uncreative answers. Remember that the examiners would be listening to around 40 pairs tackle the same questions over and over again. Make your 15 minutes of fame memorable, as they are grading you in comparison with other students in class.
You are graded separately. But orals pairs that work well together and are able to build on each other's statements would of course be more effective. Moments of dead air should be avoided, as of course you open yourself up to the tricky follow-up questions from the examiners.
Again, you are free to select from four out of the ten thesis statements. And the examiners will select two out of the four.
SCHEDULE
On Tuesday, August 21, we are having the seminar to discuss Leloy's lecture. There will be also be a graded class activity with your orals partner where you will be asked to do a textual analysis of a TV ad. I am also giving tips for the oral exams during this session. Not to be missed.
Finally, we are moving the lecture on American Mass Communication Research to the week after the orals. And so, we are dropping thesis statement 5 from the oral exams.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Announcements + Orals
Hi!
Here is the schedule that we have for the coming weeks:
* August 14: Race/Gender/Sexuality plenary c/o Leloy Claudio. Venue: 12NN- Com Studio; 3PM - Ching Tan.
* August 16: Race/Gender/Sexuality Seminar. Graded class activity. Orals pairs analyze a media text provided by the seminar leader in the second half of the class. The graded activity replaces the take-home essay that I originally mentioned.
* August 21: American Mass Communication Research Part 1 c/o Jason Cabanes.
* August 23: American Mass Communication Research Part 2 c/o Jason Cabanes.
* August 27, 28, 29: Oral Exams.
Below are the long awaited oral exam questions. I hope that you begin studying as soon as you can. Remember that the oral exam comprises 20% of your grade. While the oral exam is conducted in pairs, individual grades are given. The sign-up sheet will be posted in the Dept of Communication on August 14. Tips on how to answer and prepare for orals will be given in our August 16 seminars.
ORAL EXAM PROCEDURE: You and your partner are free to select four out of the ten thesis statements to study. During the oral exam, the examiner will select two out of the four thesis statements for you and your partner to critically discuss.
THESIS STATEMENTS:
1. A critical examination of the media involves the study of the double meaning of representation.
2. The culture industry is dominant in its control of the symbolic power of the media.
3. The rise of the Internet has opened up the possibility for a new public sphere.
4. “The media are becoming environmental. Not in the sense of the media as generating a distinct sphere, a separation of the symbolic from the realities of everyday life. But more a sense of the media as tightly and dialectically intertwined to the everyday” (Silverstone).
5. The effects tradition has steadily moved from an assumption of direct effects to powerful effects. Critically discuss this development.
6. To what extent are the concepts of discourse AND/OR ideology useful in our study of media power?
7. Evaluate the claim that watching television is harmful for audiences’ public knowledge and engagement.
8. “Public spaces should be places for the expression of dissensus, for bringing to the floor what forces attempt to keep concealed” (Mouffe).
9. The media provide daily reminders of the unstable ground on which notions of race, gender, and sexuality are built.
10. “Active audience does not mean powerful audience” (Ang).
Here is the schedule that we have for the coming weeks:
* August 14: Race/Gender/Sexuality plenary c/o Leloy Claudio. Venue: 12NN- Com Studio; 3PM - Ching Tan.
* August 16: Race/Gender/Sexuality Seminar. Graded class activity. Orals pairs analyze a media text provided by the seminar leader in the second half of the class. The graded activity replaces the take-home essay that I originally mentioned.
* August 21: American Mass Communication Research Part 1 c/o Jason Cabanes.
* August 23: American Mass Communication Research Part 2 c/o Jason Cabanes.
* August 27, 28, 29: Oral Exams.
Below are the long awaited oral exam questions. I hope that you begin studying as soon as you can. Remember that the oral exam comprises 20% of your grade. While the oral exam is conducted in pairs, individual grades are given. The sign-up sheet will be posted in the Dept of Communication on August 14. Tips on how to answer and prepare for orals will be given in our August 16 seminars.
ORAL EXAM PROCEDURE: You and your partner are free to select four out of the ten thesis statements to study. During the oral exam, the examiner will select two out of the four thesis statements for you and your partner to critically discuss.
THESIS STATEMENTS:
1. A critical examination of the media involves the study of the double meaning of representation.
2. The culture industry is dominant in its control of the symbolic power of the media.
3. The rise of the Internet has opened up the possibility for a new public sphere.
4. “The media are becoming environmental. Not in the sense of the media as generating a distinct sphere, a separation of the symbolic from the realities of everyday life. But more a sense of the media as tightly and dialectically intertwined to the everyday” (Silverstone).
5. The effects tradition has steadily moved from an assumption of direct effects to powerful effects. Critically discuss this development.
6. To what extent are the concepts of discourse AND/OR ideology useful in our study of media power?
7. Evaluate the claim that watching television is harmful for audiences’ public knowledge and engagement.
8. “Public spaces should be places for the expression of dissensus, for bringing to the floor what forces attempt to keep concealed” (Mouffe).
9. The media provide daily reminders of the unstable ground on which notions of race, gender, and sexuality are built.
10. “Active audience does not mean powerful audience” (Ang).
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Week 8 Discussion: Representations
You may download the lecture slides HERE.
Please feel free to use this space to raise questions about the study of representations. It seems most people were shy to ask questions during the plenary lecture. :)
Remember to bring a magazine to class on Tuesday. In your orals pairs, you'll be select ingan article or advertisement that has an interesting representation of nation/race/gender/sexuality and share your analysis with the rest of the class.
Happy weekend.
Please feel free to use this space to raise questions about the study of representations. It seems most people were shy to ask questions during the plenary lecture. :)
Remember to bring a magazine to class on Tuesday. In your orals pairs, you'll be select ingan article or advertisement that has an interesting representation of nation/race/gender/sexuality and share your analysis with the rest of the class.
Happy weekend.
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