Mass Communication 205

Course Outline

Length of Course: One semester (14 weeks)
 
Classroom Hours Per Week: 4 hours lecture
 
Number of Credits: 3 credits
 
Prerequisite: Mass Communication 110 or 130 and English 100
 
Description of Course:
An exploration of communication behaviour focusing primarily on the nonverbal dimension of interpersonal communication, and emphasizing its cultural implications and its deployment in mass mediated communications. Topics include the relationship of spoken language to nonverbal communication, human versus animal communications, facial expression, body language, gesture, dress and environment. three frames of reference which will guide our examination of these topics: how "face-to-face" interaction between individuals constructs cultural templates; how cultural "texts" and "contexts" mediate the relationship between individuals and societies in cross cultural communications; how actors, politicians, ad makers and other media producers deploy theatrical and technical strategies of interpersonal/nonverbal communication to generate transnational ideas.
 
Course Outline:
Week 1
Introduction: Nonverbal and Interpersonal Communication
Week 2
Language, Speech and Nonverbal Communication
Week 3
Facial Expressions
Week 4
The Body as Medium of Conversation
Week 5
Gesture and Environment as Nonverbal Communication and as Language
Week 6
Spatial (Proximic) and Tactile (Haptic) Communication
Week 7
Film
Week 8
Nonverbal Communication and Mass Media I: Entertainment
Week 9
Nonverbal Communication and Mass Media II: Politics
Week 10
Nonverbal Communication and Mass Media III: Advertising and Marketing
Week 11
Nonverbal Communication, mass Media and the Construction of Global Metaphors I: Movies and the Culture of Celebrity
Week 12
Nonverbal Communication. Mass Media and the Construction of Global Metaphors II: People, Products, Spectacle
Week 13
Conclusion
 
Evaluation:
Midterm Exam 25%
Final Exam 25%
Research Proposal 25%
Participation and Assignments 25%
 
Text:
The NonVerbal Communication Reader , Guerrero, DeVito and Hecht
Intercultural Communication, Samovar and Porter
 
Transferability:
SFU: Cmns 2XX(3)
UBC: Arts 2nd (3)
UVic: Psyc 200 level (1.5 units)
 
Instructors:
Norbert Ruebsaat, B.A. British Columbia), M.A. (Simon Fraser)
Ian Chunn, B.A., M.A. (Toronto), B.Ed. (British Columbia)