SOCIOLOGY OF CULTURAL AND COMMUNICATIVE PROCESSES mutuato
SOCIOLOGIA DEI PROCESSI CULTURALI E COMUNICATIVI
A.Y. | Credits |
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2016/2017 | 8 |
Lecturer | Office hours for students | |
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Graziella Mazzoli |
Assigned to the Degree Course
Date | Time | Classroom / Location |
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Learning Objectives
The main aim of the course is providing students with a comprehensive theoretical perspective on sociology of communication, starting with some classical authors who defined the concept of communication and its first technologies up to the more advanced concept dealing with digital media. Another aim is offering theoretical and practical instruments useful for the social and communicative analysis of contemporary society, seen as a complex object. The students will be provided with basic knowledge on the main theories on media, and on technologies of communication regarding in particular social media and news making. A particular focus will be on cultural news, on its use and its main topics. These topics, on the whole, are essential issues to understand the contemporary scenario of communication and indispensable for future professionals in the field of communication
Program
The course, in its first part, wants to introduce some key concepts such as modernity, information and pragmatic of communication. Later it will be analysed the role of technology in reproducing and spreading communication, starting with the more traditional. The course will also deal with the main theories on media effects, also in a historical perspective. The historical-evolutional approach will be used also to understand the introduction and spreading of digital media, up to contemporary social media. In this sense, at the end of the course, there will be a focus on the role of social media in the world of newsmaking, in its production as well in its consumption. A recurring topic will be newsmaking and the changes linked with the evolution, particularly dealing with cultural news and its role in the Italian scenario. This last part will be developed also seminars led by experts and professionals working in the field of communication and newsmaking.
Learning Achievements (Dublin Descriptors)
Students have to reach these goals:
1. Knowledge and understanding of: forms and languages of communication in the complex society, through the learning of competences on the main models and theories in the communication field.
1.1. Students reach these basic knowledge attending lessons and studying mentioned textbooks.
2. Use of knowledge and understanding skills: analysing languages of news making and the different ways in which they are used by their publics.
2.2. Students reach these skills by laboratory activities during class hours.
3. Judging skills: critical approach on the evolving dynamics of the relation between new media technologies and society and on present transformations in mediated public interpersonal communication.
3.1. Students reach and demonstrate these skills during debates with the Professor and with the class, during laboratory activities and during the preparation of the final exam.
4. Communication ability: students have to interact during the lesson asking questions, exchanging ideas with the collegues and organizing keynotes while tested.
4.1. Students reach these skills organizing discussions and excercises.
5. Learning skills: students have to adopt a critical approach while studying in order to connect theoretical knowledge with empirical analysis, obtaining a personal point of view on the subject.
5.1. Students strengthen these skills debating with the Professor and the rest of the class.
Teaching Material
The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it
Supporting Activities
Besides lectures, there will be seminars focused on specific topics led by professionals in the field of communication and cultural newsmaking. There will also be practical exercises and activities during class hours.
The teaching materials made available by the lecturer can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform blended.uniurb.it
Teaching, Attendance, Course Books and Assessment
- Teaching
Lectures, seminars on specific topics, practical exercises and activities during class hours
- Attendance
Lesson attending, individual studying of course books.
- Course books
1. Mazzoli L., Il patchwork mediale. Comunicazione e informazione fra media tradizionali e media digitali, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2012.
2. Watzlawick P., Beavin J.H., Jackson D.D., Pragmatica della comunicazione umana, Astrolabio, Roma, 1971 (limitatamente ai capp. 1, 2 e 3).
3. Benjamin W., L'opera d'arte nell'epoca della sua riproducibilità tecnica, Einaudi, Torino, 2011.
4. Mazzoli L., Zanchini G. (a cura di), Info Cult. Nuovi scenari di produzione e uso dell’ informazione culturale, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2015.5. G. Balbi, P. Magaudda, Storia dei media digitali. Rivoluzioni e continuità, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2014
- Assessment
Written exam at the end of the course or oral exam, chosen by the student. The written test will be articulated in an essay regarding some of the topics, chosen by the professor. The student can decide whether to deal with the written exam, that will take place at the end of the course, or the oral exam. The individual oral exam will be based on the course books, and will evaluate the student learning and his ability of reprocessing and argumentation.
An excellent evaluation will be scored when the student shows good critical and deepening abilities; when he/she shows to connect the main course topics; when he/she uses an appropriate language regarding to a particular discipline.
A reasonable evaluation will be scored when the student shows a mnemonic knowledge of contents; when he/she shows a limited critical ability and limited ability to connect the main course topics; when he/she uses an appropriate language.
A passing grade will be scored when the student shows a minimal knowledge of the topics; when he/she uses of the language not completely appropriate.
A negative evaluation will be scored when the student shows difficulties in the orientation among the topics dealt with during the exam; when he/she shows educational gap; when he/she uses an inappropriate language.
- Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)
Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.
To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.
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