Communication Studies (CMNS) 423

Overview

CMNS 423 introduces students to the technology, politics, economics, philosophy, ideology, and morality of television. Students are asked to look critically behind the scenes of the television world and discern the various patterns of industry structure and thematic content. Students require access to a television. Some course components are available online as an optional delivery mode.

Objectives

The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the technology, aesthetics, politics, economics, philosophy, ideology, and morality of television. You will be asked to look critically behind the scenes of the television world, and discern the various patterns of industry structure and thematic content. By looking at the medium itself, its major players, its content, and the audience responses to that content, you will be able to reach your own conclusions about just who, if anyone, controls the television industry. You should develop a critical understanding of television producers, promoters, critics, and creative personnel, as well as a sense of the importance of ongoing debates in this field in which so few issues have been resolved.

Outline

• Unit 1: The History of Television and the Nature of the Medium
• Unit 2: The State of the Art
• Unit 3: Sponsorship and Art
• Unit 4: Genres and Format I
• Unit 5: Genres and Formats II
• Unit 6: News, Tabloid TV and the Creation of Community
• Unit 7: The Power to Educate and Inform
• Unit 8: The Star System
• Unit 9: Stereotypes and Role Models
• Unit 10: The Offensive Side of Television
• Unit 11: Chasing Popularity and Quality
• Unit 12: Global Television

Evaluation

To receive credit for CMNS 423, you must complete all of the assignments, achieve a mark of at least 50 percent on assignment number three, and obtain a course composite grade of at least 'D' (50 percent). The weighting of the composite mark is as follows:

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

Course Materials

Textbook

Other Materials

All other materials are available online, including the Study Guide, the Course Information, and the Reading Files.

Special Course Feature

Students registered in this course may take part in computer conferencing. Mini-Lectures from Nicola Simpson Khullar for this course are available from ACCESS Television at this website http://www.accesstv.ca/Instructors.aspx?tid=5 and from Jacques Benoit at this website http://www.accesstv.ca/Instructors.aspx?tid=1. Viewing of specified dramas, feature films, and Movies of the Week (MOW) on ACCESS Television http://www.accesstv.ca/ is also recommended in this course.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the CMNS 423 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the examination.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form