COMS 464/01 (Winter 2024): RACE, ETHNICITY AND MEDIA
Dr. Christiana Abraham
Department of Communication Studies, Concordia University
Course: Thursdays, 1:15-4:00pm
Course location: CJ:4.320
Office: CJ. 4.240 (Loy)
Office Hours: Thursdays: 4:15- 5:15pm; Or by appointment
Email: christiana.abraham@concordia.ca
Course Description:
This course addresses practical and theoretical issues of race and ethnicity that have become focal points for current debates in public cultural expression in social (in)justice, and media studies. The course addresses the following themes: cultural/racial difference and its implications for media studies; “white" as a color; images and sounds of “otherness" - the (mis) representation of multicultural and multiracial minorities in mainstream and alternative media, including print, radio, television, film; heated debates around questions of access to arts and other cultural funding; the implications of employment equity legislation, programs, and guidelines for media workers; and cross-cultural awareness programs vs. anti-racist training for media professionals; inclusive media and social cohesion; new media technologies and race; immigration challenges to social cohesion; and diversity strategy building. Theoretical readings, which frame issues of cultural and racial representation, will be an integral part of this course. The course offers an overview of themes and theories in communication and media studies related to the study and Race and ethnicity in the media. Numerous media examples will be shown in an effort to deconstruct racial and ethnic imagery and representation.
Key terms:
Race & Racialization, Race & Representations, Stereotypes, Deconstruction, Structural Racism, Whiteness, Privilege, Decoloniality, Anti-racism, Post-Racialization
Course Objectives:
By the end of the course students will be able to:
-Recognize the complexities of (inter)personal and mediated racism/ethnicism
-Acquire and develop conceptual and affective tools to deconstruct the struggle against ideological (infra)structures supporting inferential and overt racisms.
-Develop critical, analytical and interpretive skills utilizing concepts and theories related to the subject.
-Acquire knowledge of a critical range of seminal authors, themes and vocabulary that can be applied to the study of the subject.
-Reflect on strategies and mediated tools of intervention that will disrupt the silences and visual codes that enable racisms to exist organizationally and structurally in various societies and among a variety of social formations.
Method of delivery:
This is a seminar course consisting of lectures, seminars, presentations and workshops. Multimedia aides such as films, documentaries, internet-based media and other circulated images and representations will be utilized.
Students are expected to come to class prepared and to actively participate in class discussions. This course is 2.45 hours per session x 13 weeks.
Core Texts
The core readings for this course listed below can we found on Concordia library’s Ecourse reserves. The readings are also listed on moodle.
Links to journal articles are also available through the library’s extensive database collections. It is the student’s responsibility to download and print all articles for the respective weeks.
Additional journal articles or media texts/links may also be provided throughout the course.
Course Assignments and Marks
The following are the assignments and (marking categories) in this class:
1. Critical Reading(s) review and interpretative paper: 15%
2. Critical Race and Media analysis (Group Presentation): 20%
3. Race and Ethnicity Reflective Journal: 20%
4. Attendance and Participation: 10%
5. Final paper or Media project: 35%
Description of Assignments
1. Critical Reading(s) review and Interpretative paper 15%
This is an individual project that offers a response to one week’s readings (max 3 pages) where students offer a critical summary of the selected readings. Students select weeks of their choice at the beginning of the semester.
Core ideas from each reading are determined and critically engaged with. (Students are expected to make a short (max 10 min.) class presentation in the respective week.
Due dates: Weekly (Selected by students)
2. Critical Race and Media Analysis (Group Presentation) 20%
In small groups of @ 4 students, groups conduct selected research on race representations in the media through a case study approach.
Using three examples of news stories, articles, or other media texts circulated by a selected media, groups conduct an in-depth analysis of the examples in order to analyse the media’s approach to race and ethnicity related issues and representations. Groups use core themes studied in the course in their analysis.
Outside research is expected, and groups make a 15 min. presentation to the class. A 5-page group paper should be submitted.
Due dates: March 07 & 14
3. Race and Ethnicity Reflective Journal: 20%
Students will develop a course journal throughout the semester that utilizes critical reflexive or auto-ethnographic approaches to course readings, themes, theories, discussions, case studies and examples. In this journal, students offer critical, informed reflective @ one-page entries on a weekly basis that are informed by selected weeks of course lectures and readings.
Your journal entries should engage with your own evolving understanding of race and ethnicity as the course develops. In necessary, some of these journal entries can be spaces where you feel comfortable expressing your concerns, struggles, and tensions with course materials, and the ways in which you are working through these. As well, these journal entries can be spaces to share as your novel and or enriched understanding of course discussions and materials. A minimum of 5 (five) entries are expected throughout the course of the semester. Entries can also be artistically expressive allowing you to express your engagement with the course.
Due Date: March 21
4. Attendance and Participation: 10%
Students are expected to attend all classes and actively participate in the course. Your participation is measured on your demonstration that you have read assigned readings through theoretical and critical interventions and discussions of course themes and their relation to everyday media.
Final Course Research Paper or Project: 35%
A. Research Paper: In this final paper, students conduct original research on a topic of their choice inspired by course content. Using core theoretical and conceptual tools acquired in the course, students problematize their topic through an 8-page research paper. Your grasp of major course themes and their critical application of theoretical tools should be demonstrated. A minimum of 6 original references must be cited. A 2-page proposal of your topic should be submitted.
Due date for proposal: March 28
Due Date: Final Research Papers: April 11
B. Creative Project: For this final assignment, students may choose to instead produce an original creative project using media (sound, video, on-line or written media) to explore their topic. This project allows you to engage in critical media production using themes related to Race and Ethnicity in Media. This project should respond to and problematize a topic of your choosing using course themes and theories.
Projects should be accompanied by a (4- page treatment paper) that lays out critical and theoretical dimensions of your project in relation to the course. A minimum or 4 original references must be cited. All projects should be discussed with professor through a 2-page proposal.
Due date for proposal: March 28
Due Date for Final Creative Project: April 11
- Teacher: CHRISTIANA ABRAHAM