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CMNS 401 Course image

Communication Studies (CMNS) 401
Cultural Policy in Canada (Revision 2)

Revision 2 closed January 14, 2008, replaced by current version.

View previous syllabus.

Delivery mode: Individualized study. Online-enhanced.

Credits: 3 - Social Science.

Prerequisite: CMNS 301 and CMNS 302 are recommended but not required.

Centre: Centre for State and Legal Studies

CMNS 401 has a Challenge for Credit option.

Course website

Overview

CMNS 401 surveys the historical development of federal arts policy and the related ideals of national culture. It uses this framework to discuss expanded perceptions of “culture” as social expression and the role of government policy in a diverse society. Finally, the course offers detailed studies of the interaction between symbolic and economic environments in key cultural industries.

Outline

Part I: Framing National Culture—The State and the Arts

  • Unit 1: Introduction: Cultural Politics and Institutions
  • Unit 2: The Beginnings: The Aird Commission (1929) and Ideals of Public Service
  • Unit 3: Toward the Present: Massey-Lévesque (1951), Applebaum-Hébert (1982), and the Role of the Arts
  • Unit 4: Social Dimensions: Diversity, Heritage, and Cultural Politics

Part II: Cultural Industries

  • Unit 5: Cultural Industries, Economic Policies, and International Contexts
  • Unit 6: Publishing and Cultural Protectionism
  • Unit 7: Popular and Commercial Culture: Canadian Content in a Mixed System
  • Unit 8: Broadcasting and the Public Interest
  • Unit 9: Film

Part III: The Information Highway: Policy in Motion

  • Unit 10: Digital Media and Citizenship
  • Unit 11: Convergence (A): Telecommunications and Beyond
  • Unit 12: Convergence (B): Ownership, Ethics, and Globalization
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Evaluation

To receive credit for CMNS 401, you must achieve a grade of at least 50 percent on each of the written assignments. If you receive a grade of less than 50 percent on an assignment, you may redo that assignment to try to improve your grade. You must achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent) in order to pass. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Assignment 1 (after Part I) Assignment 2 (after Part II) Assignment 3 (after Part III- outline) Term Paper (after Part III- final draft) Total
15% 35% 10% 40% 100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Dorland, M. (ed.). The Cultural Industries in Canada: Problems, Policies and Prospects. Toronto: Lorimer, 1996.

Other materials

The course materials also include a student manual/study guide, and a reading file.

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