History of Communication Methods

Academic year: 2007-2008 Course code module 2BPSW-14 Semester: 1st semester Credits: 3 Study load (hours) 84 Theory (hours): 30,00 Practice/Exercises(hours): Other (hours): Part-time program: 1/2 Instructor(s) Guido Marnef Language of instruction: Dutch Semester exam information: semester exam in January Contract restriction information: 1. Prerequisites *Algemene competenties - End goals secondary school - A basic knowledge of general history from the middle ages until the beginning of the 21th century *Sequentiality 2. Objectives (expected learning outcomes) - A basic knowledge of and insight in the important developments of communication processes (particularly processes aimed at mass communication) from the middle ages onwards - To indicate the historical roots of the present day complex media landscape - An insight in the complex and changing relationship between media and broader society 3. Course content This course contains a survey of the development of communication from the middle ages until the early 21th century, with a special focus on the media and their social and cultural impact. Particular attention is paid to the communication processes used for large scale distribution of information and ideas. The course starts with the middle ages and emphasizes that in the highly illiterate preindustrial period oral and non-verbal modes of communication were very important. Another important topic is the development and impact of the printing press. The second part of the course deals with the 19th and 20th centuries and contains an analysis of the most important media, such as journals, film, radio and television. The course wants to make clear that the way people communicated in the past was influenced and even determined by the changing historical context. Explicit attention is paid to the interplay between different modesof communication. Furthermore, the course will show that the complex situation of the present day media landscape can not be understood without a basic knowledge of the historical development. 4. Teaching method Direct contact: Lectures 5. Assessment method Exam: Written, without oral presentation Open questions 6. Compulsory reading – study material Syllabus by teacher, available at Universitas 7. Recommended reading - study material A. Briggs and P. Burke, A social history of the media: from Gutenberg to the internet, Cambridge, 2002. 8. Tutoring laatste aanpassing: last update: 24/09/2007 16:20 guido.marnef