COM 248 Introduction to Media Criticism and Analysis
Fall 2009
MW 3:00-4:15
Neff 141

Table of Contents
Instructor Information
Course Description
Course Objectives
Texts
Assignments
Course Policies
Work Teams

Film/TV/Radio Screening Schedule

Course Schedule and Readings

Dr. Jonathan David Tankel
230F Neff Hall
Phone: 481-5789
E-mail: tankel@ipfw.edu

Office Hours: MW 1:30-3:00
and by appointment

Course Description
Introduction to major critical approaches of media studies. Includes standard terminology of media analysis used to discuss form and technique of film, video, and audio productions. Instructor may require additional screening times outside scheduled class meeting times. No credit for both COM 248 and COM 251. Cr. 3.

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Successful completion of COM 251 fulfills 3 credits in IPFW General Education Area IV -- Humanistic Thought.
NOTE: COMM and COMI majors do not earn General Education credit for COM 251


General Education Area IV Course Objectives (Senate Document 99-25)

  • Should require the student to demonstrate understanding of scholarly approaches to such abiding issues as the meaning of life, the role of the arts in our understanding of what it is to be human, and the limits of knowledge.

    Evidence of competence: Successful completion of final examination that requires analysis of the various dimensions of media production (form, content, and theme).

  • Should lead students to reflect critically on the traditions that have shaped their values, beliefs, and aesthetic preferences, and make meaningful comparisons between the traditions that have shaped them and traditions different from theirs.

    Evidence of competence: Successful completion of five (5) essays (including final examination essay) examing various aspects of media production and reception.

  • Whenever possible, should expose students to the writing or creative works in this area, e.g., essays, works of art and music, and involve students in writing of their own, e.g., critical analyses, reaction papers.

    Evidence of competence: Evident and appropriate integration of knowledge gleaned from course readings and course presentations in five (5) essays (including final examination essay) examing various aspects of media production and reception.

  • May also involve students in demonstrations or hands
    • -on participation to develop an understanding of data collection and analysis and quantitative problem-solving.

    Evidence of competence: No appropriate assignment

Course Objectives
At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Identify the communication techniques employed by media producers;
  2. Utilize the lexicon of terms used to describe those techniques; and
  3. Evaluate critically the aesthetics of media productions.

Readings

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Assignments
All assignments must be completed in order to achieve a passing grade in this course.

  1. My Media World Website Project: Due:


  2. Creative Project
    Each student group will create a public service announcement for a non-profit organization in Fort Wayne. This will entail

    1. A storyboard or a digital video rough cut that shows each individual shot and the soundtrack of the spot.
    2. Group Essay: The essay will articulate the aesthetic and semiotic rationales for the production choices in terms of the intended meanings.
    Therefore, this essay will be evaluated on both the choices made and knowledge of appropriate applications of specific production techniques.

    Some Storyboard Resources: Animatics and Storyboards Inc.
    Storyboards (from OSU)
    Storyboards (from Exposure)
    Kristofcreative
    Storyboard worksheet (.pdf file)
    Storyboards Inc.
    Comics and Cinema
    Storyboards for PolyKarbon

    Creative Project Due:

  3. Critical Essays
    Each student will complete three critical essays.
    Essay #1: THEME: Semiotic analysis of a television commercial in which the student will describe the literal and and semiotic meanings. In particular, students need to assess the multiple layers of signification employed.
    Due: Sept 30
    Essay #2: CONTENT: Dramatic analysis of the narrative structure of a television episode.
    Due: Oct 28
    Essay #3: FORM: Formal analysis of the strategies of depiction (visual and aural) of one scene from a theatrical motion picture.
    Due:

  4. Final Examination Essay:
    Due

Grading
Course assignments and examinations will be weighted as follows:

My Media World100 points
Creative Project (Team) 150 points
Critical Essay #1 175 points
Critical Essay #2 175 points
Critical Essay #3 150 points
Final Examination Essay250 points
Total 1000 points

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The final grade will be based on the following scale:
PointsGrade
1000-890 pointsA
889-790 pointsB
789-700 pointsC
699-600 pointsD
599 points-belowF

Course Policies
1. You are expected to attend class.
2. All assignments must be turned in. Failure to turn in an assigment will result in a grade of F for the course.
3. No late assignments will be accepted. Due dates are stated in the syllabus.
4. No handwritten assignments will be accepted.

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