Anth/Soc 345: Media, Politics and Propaganda

Spring 2010

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Schedule of readings
required texts

 

Reading schedule by week

Week topic(s) readings
Are media biased? Age of Propaganda, 1-17, 268-79; Censored 10, Chap. 3
2 Apr 5-9 How is news filtered? Herman and Chomsky, 1-35; Hart
3 Apr 12-16 Censorship Censored 2010, 7--110; read at least ten of the censored stories (from one through 25--read at least two each from 1-5, 6-10, etc.)
4 Apr 19-23 Persuasion and propaganda Age of Propaganda, 21-67; 93-100
5 Apr 26-30 Public relations, propaganda Rampton and Stauber, Nelson, CDD, Bacon et al.
Midterm exam, Monday-Wednesday, May 3 & 5
6 May 7 Group term projects  
7 May 10-14 Feelings . . . Borosage, Brownell and Warner
8 May 17-21 Television Postman; Postman and Powers; Age of propaganda, 79-87
9 May 24-28 What to do? Age of Propaganda, 329-56; Cathcart and Klein; Frankfurt
Memorial Day Holiday, Monday May 31, no classes
10 June 1-4 Presentations attendance required; each group will have 20 minutes
11 June 7-11
final exams (Tuesday, 8 - 10am)

Link to EOU academic calendar

 

 

Week 1: Are media biased?

  • Anthony Pratkanis and Elliot Aronson. 2007. Age of Propaganda: The everyday use and abuse of persuasion. New York: W.H. Freeman (pp 1-17, 268-79).
  • Mickey Huff, Frances Capell, Project Censored. 2009. Infotainment Society: Junk food news and news abuse for 2008-09. Pp 147-74in Censored 2010.
  • Become familiar with the course Web page--do 20 minutes or so of surfing, make sure you know what's there and how to use it--we will use it often in here, and if you're familiar with it, there will be less unpleasant surprises for you in class.

 

 

Week 2: How is news filtered?

  • Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky. 1988. Manufacturing Consent. New York: Pantheon Books. (Chapter 1, 'A propaganda model,' pp 1-35) In Blackboard.
  • Peter Hart. 2009. Fear and favor: Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. (chp 10 in Censored 2008, pp 233-40)

Friday Discussion: (make-up questions)

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Week 3: Censorship

  • Peter Phillips and Mickey Huff. 2009. Censored 2010. NY: Seven Stories Press. Read Chapter one, the top 25 censored stories. Be prepared to discuss at least ten of the censored stories (from one through 25--read at least two each from 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, and 21-25. The censored stories will comprise the bulk of discussion for this week.
  • Kevin Uhrich. 2006. Time up for Project Censored? June 1, Alternet. Online at www.alternet.org/mediaculture/36696/

 

 

Week 4: Persuasion and propaganda

  • Pratkanis and Aronson. 2007. Age of Propaganda (Chapters 2-6, 21-67; Chapter 9, 93-100)

Friday Discussion: Going viral (group questions)

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Week 5: Propaganda, PR


 

 

Week 6: Midterm, Group projects on Friday

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Week 7: Tricks of the trade

Friday discussion: War and heroes (following up on Wag the Dog--group questions)


 

 

Week 8: Television

  • Neil Postman. 1985. Amusing ourselves to death: Public discourse in the age of show business. New York: Penguin Books. On electronic reserve
  • Neil Postman and Steve Powers. 1992. How to Watch TV News. NY: Penguin (chps 1, 3) In Blackboard
  • Anthony Pratkanis and Elliot Aronson. 2001. Age of Propaganda (pp 79-87)

Optional: Christine Rosen. 2004. Fast forward to passivity. Los Angeles Times, December 11. Find the article here.

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Week 9: What to do?

Friday discussion: Attack! (read at least two readings, watch at least 3-4 videos)

Readings:

Video:

Attacks can be against individuals, against institutions, against ideologies, officeholders, etc. They may be tied into networks or conspiracies as well. Think about the concept of attack in a sophisticated way, and think about strategies of attack, and of persuasion. Check out snopes.com if you have doubts about any allegations above. And think about where these videos were aired.


 

 

Week 10: Presentations

 

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