PROPAGANDA AND THE MEDIA Communication Studies 178 SPRING 2014 University of California Los Angeles Instructor: Nazo

Koulloukian Email: nkoulloukian@gmail.com Assistant: Taline Hanna taline.hanna@gmail.com Monday 5:00-7:50pm ROYCE 190 The worst forms of tyranny, or certainly the most successful ones, are not those we rail against, but those that so insinuate themselves into the imagery of our consciousness and the fabric of our lives as not to be perceived as tyranny. -Michael Parenti In this course we will examine the ideological nature of propaganda, the corporate structure of the American media, and how propaganda is disseminated to control the media environment. The use of propaganda technique in print media, film, television and the Internet will be illustrated by case-studies and analyzed in terms of theory and practice. In this class, students will develop a systematic approach to critically assess the messages encountered in the media and will form groups to conduct a media content analysis in the form of a research paper. Oral presentations of the results of these research papers will be presented to the class during weeks eight and nine of the quarter. The midterm and final will test your understanding of the information covered in the textbook, Propaganda and Persuasion, as well as covered material from the reader. They will include short answer, multiple choice and essay-type questions. The final exam is cumulative, covering information learned throughout the quarter. Students will be given study guides prior to each exam. Research papers are to be the original work of the students presenting. Sources used in preparation must be cited, and direct quotations must be identified as such. Presentation of materials prepared by another person as your own work is plagiarism, and will result in failure of the course. Documentaries Documentaries will be presented in selected classes during the latter half of the lecture. These documentaries are selected to coincide with the reading. Even though you will not be tested on these documentaries, you will be presented with 2-3 reflection questions before the documentary airs, and you will be responsible to answer these reflection questions by the end of that class. You will not be graded on these answers, but will receive credit for the attendance. Failure to submit these answers will result in a deduction of points on your final exam and will be considered an absence in the class.

Office Hours Office Hours will be held after class ends every Monday. Taline and I will make ourselves available for as long as it takes after class to answer any questions. We will also be available via email. Reading List (Some of these readings are subject to be changed) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Propaganda and Persuasion, 5th Edition, Garth S. Jowett and Victoria ODonnell The Media Monopoly, Ben H. Bagdikian, Fourth Edition, Beacon Press (1994) (Reader) Rich Media, Poor Democracy, Robert McChesney, The New Press (2000) (Reader) When Corporations Rule The World, David Korten, Kumerian Press (1995) (Reader) Four Arguments For The Elimination of Television, Jerry Mander, Quill (1978) (Reader) Has The Internet Changed The Propaganda Model? by Sheldon Rampton, PR Watch, May 22, 2007 (http://www.prwatch.org/node/6068) Brought To You Buy, The Signs of Advertising (Reader) Reality TV and the Republican Ethos by Francine Prose (Reader) Lone Star by Jim Rendon (Reader) The Facebook Effect on the News by Derek Thompson, February 12, 2014 (http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/02/the-facebook-effecton-the-news/283746/) What is Media Manipulation? A Definition and Explanation by Ryan Holiday, July 16, 2012 (http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanholiday/2012/07/16/what-is-mediamanipulation-a-definition-and-explanation/) Four Telltale Signs of Propaganda on Twitter by the Georgia Institute of Technology, May 31, 2012 (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120531101708.htm) The Wests Hidden Propaganda Machine by Elaine Glaser from the Guardian, May 17, 2013 (http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/17/west-hiddenpropaganda-machine-social-media) Social Media Transforming Super Bowl Advertising, by Constantine Von Hoffman from MoneyWatch, January 31, 2013 (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/social-media-transforming-super-bowladvertising/) Twitter effect: How the Hashtag has Shaped Political Debate, by Chris Mason from BBC News, April 25, 2012 (http://www.bbc.com/news/ukpolitics-17824255) Politics and Twitter: Sweet to Tweet, from the Economist, May 6, 2012, (http://www.economist.com/node/16056612)

12. 13.

14.

15. 16.

17.

How Social Media has Radically Altered Advertising, by Hank Wasiak, July 6, 2010 (http://mashable.com/2010/07/06/social-media-advertising/)

Documentary List Documentary: Manufacturing Consent Documentary: Inside Job Documentary: Outfoxed Documentary: The Corporation Documentary: Art & Copy Course Outline (Some readings may be deleted or rescheduled on later classes) Week One March 31 Introduction to Class Introduction to concept of propaganda Reading: Propaganda and Persuasion, Chapter 1 (Pgs. 1-50) Week Two April 7 Paper Prompt Presented The Institution: Global Media and Mass Audiences Reading: Propaganda and Persuasion, Chapter 1 (Pgs. 1-50) Reading: Propaganda and Persuasion, Chapter 3 (Pgs. 97 - 164) Documentary: Manufacturing Consent Week Three April 14 Introduction to Corporate Ownership Reading: The Media Monopoly, Preface & Ch. 1 (reader) (Pgs. 5 70) When Corporations Rule The World, Ch 4 & 5 (reader) (Pgs. 71 106) Documentary: The Corporation Week Four April 21 Group Name, Members, and Topic Due General Discussion of Corporate Ownership & Role of Advertising Reading: The Media Monopoly, Ch. 10 (reader) (Pgs. 107 128) Rich Media, Poor Democracy, Chapter 2 (reader) (Pgs. 129 171) What is Media Manipulation? A Definition and Explanation http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanholiday/2012/07/16/what-is-media-manipulation-adefinition-and-explanation/ (website) Documentary: Art & Copy Week Five April 28 *Midterm Exam Reading: Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television, Ch 6 & 7 (reader) (Pgs. 173 216) Brought To You Buy, (reader) (Pgs. 217 226) Reality TV and the Republican Ethos by Francine Prose (reader) (Pgs. 227 234)

Week Six May 5 Order of Presentations Announced The Unique Role of Television and Propaganda and The Internet and Media Giants (Part 1) Reading: Propaganda and Persuasion, Ch 6 (Pgs. 289 306) Lone Star by Jim Rendon (reader) (Pgs. 235 250) Four Arguments For The Elimination of Television, Ch 10 & 14 (reader) (Pgs. 251 294) Social Media Transforming Super Bowl Advertising http://www.cbsnews.com/news/social-media-transforming-super-bowl-advertising/ (website) Twitter effect: How the Hashtag has Shaped Political Debate http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-17824255 Politics and Twitter: Sweet to Tweet http://www.economist.com/node/16056612 How Social Media has Radically Altered Advertising (http://mashable.com/2010/07/06/social-media-advertising/) Documentary: Outfoxed Week Seven May 12 The Internet and Media Giants (Part 2) Readings: Rich Media, Poor Democracy, Ch. 3 (reader) (Pgs. 295 364) When Corporations Rule The World, Ch 10 & 11 (reader) (Pgs. 365 384) Propaganda and Persuasion, Ch. 8 (Pgs. 359 368) Has the Internet Changed the Propaganda Model? http://www.prwatch.org/node/6068 (website) The Facebook Effect on the News http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/02/the-facebook-effect-on-thenews/283746/ (website) Four Telltale Signs of Propaganda on Twitter http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120531101708.htm The Wests Hidden Propaganda Machine http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/17/west-hidden-propagandamachine-social-media Documentary: Inside Job Week Eight May 19 PAPERS DUE Group Presentations (Each group will make oral presentations of the results of their research papers) Week Nine May 26 Memorial Day No Class

Week Ten June 2 Continuation of Group Presentations Final Exam: Date administered on the class website during Finals week. Will be announced in class. *** Grading Midterm 30% Final 30% Research Paper 30% Documentary Attendance/Reflection 10%