MGU: 'Media English'

(Spring term).
Teacher: Richard John Walker. Email: rjwalker@warpmail.net
Textbook: None. Handouts will be available.
Reference site: http://mediaenglish2010.blogspot.com/

Overview:
This class will allow students to use their English language skills
to analyse the media – television, news, the Internet, advertising,
movies, music, etc – used in our daily lives. Types of media shape
and mould our knowledge of the outside world, but are too often
taken for granted. They are rarely questioned. Alongside the
discussion of topics in the media, this course will attempt to
confront issues concerning the role and effect of 'media' in our
lives, and foster an ability to think critically about its effect on us
individually and on society as a whole.

Schedule:
This may be modified in accordance with the ability
and interest of the class.

1. Introduction: how 'media literate' are you? 'TV': the drug of

the nation?
2. Active or passive viewing? Creating in-class discussions (1).
3. Music as a tool to 'raise social awareness'.
4. Analysing the newsmakers. Camera techniques, etc.
5. Advertising tricks of the trade. Post advertising advertising?
6. Broadsheets vs tabloids (paper); in-class discussions (2)
7. Appreciating UK comedy: From Monty Python to The
Office.
 8. Student presentations.
9. Decision makers: deconstructing the news you see; re-
constructing the news.
10. Gender in the media.
11. Foreign images of Japan; Japanese images of foreigners.
12. It's in the news!
13. Public discourse in the 'age of show business' (Neil
Postman).
14. Review/ Student presentations.
15. Student presentations.

Evaluation:

You will be evaluated as follows:

attitude and effort in class (30%),

attendance (30%),
assignments (40%)*.

You will have to write two assignments taken from two different
topics used over the semester. In addition, you are expected to do
two short 'in-group' presentations within class time.

rjwalker@warpmail.net