ENGL 320: History and Theory of Media 2
Prof. Aimée Morrison
269 Hagey Hall
Office hours: Wednesday 1:00-4:00, or by appointment
Course description:
This course explores the social, political, and cultural contexts and consequences of mass media technologies such as newspapers, movies,
radio, recorded music, and television. We will take a historical as well as theoretical overview of mass and broadcast media.
Assignments and Mark Distribution
The following are the graded components of the course:
Group Assignments 35% (week 3 – week 12)
Mid Term Exam 20% February 16 (in class)
Final Exam 25% (scheduled exam period)
Participation / Portfolio 20% (week 2 – week 11)
The “Assignments and Handouts” page under the Content tab on Learn has detailed handouts listing requirements and instructions for each graded component of the course. Go look at those right now. Some of them are lengthy, so take your time. Some of them preview work for the end of term: the start of term will go better if you read those, too.
Contact information:
If you email me, do so directly through Learn, because it has a consistent subject header that makes it possible for me to find it in my inbox.
If your email is longer than a paragraph, it’s too long (unless you’re just telling me a story. I love stories.) If you need help understanding some part of the content of the course (“I don’t understand what ‘syndication’ means in television, or “How is broadcasting different from cable?”) then
you will be using email to set up an appointment with me
The weekly AMA forum is always open and if you put a question in there, I’ll be answering them weekly in class. You can attend my open office hours either in person or virtually.
You need the textbook:
We are reading this entire book. It is the anchor content of the entire course. Get it: print book shipped from W Store, print book or e-book available from Amazon and from the W Store, ebook course reserve online at the UW Library. It’s $45 bucks print, $35 electronic, $26 to e-rent,
free online through the library. Kortti, Jukka. Media in History: An Introduction to the Meanings and Transformations of Communication over Time. 2019.
Attendance and Late Policy
What happens in class is crucial to the course. I will take attendance at each class meeting. I allow two “freebies”, absences where you let me know you won’t be in class, and I don’t care why. The university just implemented a “self-declared short-term absence” for a single 48 hour period in a term. If you use that option, it will count as one of your freebie absences (we only meet one time in any given 48 hour period.)
All course deadlines are visible in the syllabus on day 1. Plan your efforts and manage your time. Group assignments must be completed on time: that’s why I’ve made them group assignments, as a fail safe. Individual assignment deadlines can be adjusted, potentially, if youdiscuss it with me in advance, or in cases of emergency.
Access
I strive to make my classes accessible for all of us. Everyone has a right to the full experience of the university education they have earned by admission and/or tuition payment. Night owls, English learners, introverts, rebels, loud-talkers, assault survivors, grieving students, anime fans
but-only-like-the-subs-and-not-the-dubs, students who use a potato as their Teams avatar, disabled students, people with dial up internet. We succeed or fail together: let’s succeed.
If there’s something you need to help you thrive in this course, let me know. If something in this document is freaking you out, let’s talk. If you’re registered with AccessAbility Services (man, that’s a LOT of paperwork to fill out!!!!) you can have them send me whatever. Or talk with me. Me, I’m autistic with a very large side order of ADHD: academic excellence doesn’t mean your body and brain have to be superhuman. It takes all kinds. And it takes kindness and good faith. Let’s do this together.
Rights and Responsibilities
Every member of this class—instructor as well as students—has rights and responsibilities to ensure a pleasant and productive experience for all. We are all answerable to University policies governing ethical behaviour (Policy 33) and academic integrity (Policy 71), as well as to those outlining grievance or dispute procedures (Policy 70). Here are some more specific expectations for this course:
You will:
- know the university policies that govern your behaviour
- participate actively in your own learning, while respecting the rights of others to learn as well: this means staying in contact with your assigned group, and doing your part in shared documents, which includes doing assigned readings.
- give thoughtful consideration to instructor feedback on written and oral work
- ask for help when you need it
I will:
- adhere to the university policies that govern my behaviour
- make myself available for consultation online
- return assignments of 1 page or less within one week, and all others within 2 weeks
- provide helpful and respectful feedback on student work
- be ready to offer help when something technical or intellectual goes awry
A final word
Once more, welcome to the course! I hope you find as valuable as it will be challenging. I am looking forward to a productive and exciting semester, and to getting to know all of you, or at least the top half of your faces.