07297 - Sociology of Communication

Learning outcomes

The course studies the main issues of the sociology of communication, from interpersonal communication to mass media, with particular reference to the symbolic dynamics that can be found in the representations of the socio-political fenomena. At the end of the course, the student has learnt the fundamental theoretical and methodological tools for analysing and interpreting the communication processes in contemporary society

Course contents

The students on this course must register with the mailing list set up by the lecturer.

paolo.terenzi.mmp

The course consists of three modules given over to the following topics: 1) the sociology of the media; 2) the problem of media manipulation; 3) relations between the media and democracy.

Readings/Bibliography

Set books for the written exam

(1) P. Scannell, Media e comunicazione, il Mulino, Bologna, 2009.
(2) G. Gili, Il problema della manipolazione. Peccato originale dei media?, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2010 (ad esclusione del capitolo intitolato La costruzione della credibilità)
(3) M. Sorice, I media e la democrazia, Carocci, Roma, 2015.

(4) Paper to be presented in the Lecture RoomAttending students must present, in the lecture room, an article chosen in agreement with the lecturer, that has been published in the last three years in one of the following reviews: "New Media and Society"; "Media, Culture & Society" .

(5) Set book for the oral exam

A book chosen from among the following

- A. Kenn, Vertigine digitale. Fragilità e disorientamento da social media, Egea, Milano, 2016.

- G. Lovink, L' abisso dei social media. Nuove reti oltre l'economia dei like, Università Bocconi Editore, Milano 2016.

- V. Mayer-Schönberger, Delete. Il diritto all'oblio nell'era digitale, Egea, Milano, 2013.

- S. Turkle, La conversazione necessaria. La forza del dialogo nell'era digitale, Einaudi, Torino, 2016.

- G. Ziccardi, L'odio online. Violenza verbale e ossessioni in rete, Raffello Cortina, Milano, 2016.

 

Teaching methods

Face-to-face lessons

Assessment methods

The exam shall be in written form

Attending students

There shall be two intermediate written exams held, regarding books (1)(2)(3) indicated in the programme. Each intermediate written exam shall consist of 8 essay questions, and students will have 90 minutes to answer the questions. Marks shall be given out of 30. Attending students must present, in the lecture room, an article chosen in agreement with the lecturer.

The oral exam shall be on the chosen work.

The exams are designed to assess the knowledge and understanding that students have acquired during the course, together with their level of critical comprehension of the sociology of mass media, of the relationship between communication and power in a networked society, and of the role of credibility in communicative relations.

Non-attending students

Those students not present at the intermediate exams can sit a written exam (in the exam sessions), in which they will be required to reply to 16 questions (on set books 1, 2, 3 and 5) in 120 minutes. Non-attending students shall study two books of their choice, and sit an oral exam in regard to said books/book (4) [PB: “..dovranno studiare e portare due testi a scelta all’orale il testo (4)” . Non mi è chiaro cosa vuole dire qui]

The exams are designed to assess the knowledge and understanding that students have acquired, during the course, of the sociology of mass media, of the relationship between communication and power in a networked society, and of the role of credibility in communicative relations.

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Terenzi