First: Order the book Revolutions in Communication ($15 used, $25 – $35 new)
Next, get familiar with the syllabus and the schedule:
- Weekly: Read a chapter in Revolutions in Communication, look at the slide show, participate in the discussion groups, and then take the quiz.
- Twice a month: Read a book and watch a film about people in the media and write a reaction about the film for the D2L drop box.
- Semester: Research an event or person in the history of communication, using contemporary resources in the newspaper / magazine database, and then write a short overview or research memo. (This is not a “term paper.”)
First week — Introduction to History
- Read the Introduction and sub-pages, including
- About history
- Quick guide to historians
- History of media technology
- (These are provided here free so that you can get started.)
- Look at the Introductory chapter slide show
- Quiz 01: Take Introductory chapter quiz Q0 on D2L
- You can take the quizzes twice, and your best grade out of two is the one that counts.
- They should remain open so that you can review them for the mid term and final.
- Media History Discussions on D2L.
Second Week –The Printing Revolution – Section I intro and Chapter I
- Read Chapter 1 (Available free)
- Look at the slide shows
- Media History Discussions on D2L
- Take Chapter 1 quiz on D2L
Third Week — Chapter 2 The Industrial Press
- Read Chapter 2
- Look at the slide shows
- Media History Discussions on D2L
- Take Chapter 2 quiz.
Fourth Week — Chapter 3 The Modern Press
- Read Chapter 3
- Look at the slide shows
- Media History Discussions on D2L
- Take Chapter 3 quiz.
Fifth Week — Section II Imaging revolution and Ch 4 Photography
- Read the introduction for Section II on imaging along with Chapter 4 about photography.
- Look at the Section II slide shows
- Media History Discussions on D2L
- Take quiz 4.
Sixth Week — Chapter 5 Cinema
- Reach chapter 5 on Cinema
- Look at the Section II slide shows
- Take Quiz 5
- Media History Discussions on D2L
- This is a good moment to recommend one of the very best histories of cinema ever made: Mark Cousins’ The Story of Film, a 15 hour love letter to world cinema history. It’s very unlikely that this will be topped anytime soon. It’s just brilliant, and trust me, you will love it. So when you watch one of your movies from the Films about Media section and write a short description / reaction in the D2L discussion area, you might want to watch The Story of Film. Another good one is The Battle over Citizen Kane.
Seventh Week — Chapter 6 Imaging and Advertising
- Reach chapter 6 on Advertising
- Look at the Section II slide shows
- Take Quiz 6
- Media History Discussions on D2L
- You might want to consider “Crazy People” as a film from this section. Very funny but lots of insight about advertising too.
Mid Term Exam
Eighth Week –– Section III Electronic revolution and Ch. 7 Telephone & telegraph
- Read Section III intro and Chapter 7 (Telephone, telegraph, wire services)
- Look at the Section III slide shows
- Media History Discussions on D2L
- Take the quiz for Ch 7
Ninth Week— Chapter 8 Radio history
- Read Chapter 8
- Look at the Section III slide shows
- Media History Discussions on D2L
- Take the quiz for Ch 8
- Recommended movies: Radio Days (Woody Allen); Winchell (not great but a slice of the times).
- Recommended documentary: War of the Worlds (American Experience) avail. on Netflix
Tenth Week — Chapter 9 television
- Read Chapter 9
- Look at the Section III slide shows
- Media History Discussions on D2L
- Take the quiz for Ch 9
- Recommended movies: Network, Up Close and Personal
Eleventh Week — Section IV — The Digital Revolution and Ch. 10 Computers
- Read Chapter 10
- Look at the Section IV and Ch 10 slide shows
- Take the quiz for Ch 10
- History Active (TBA)
- Recommended documentary: Triumph of the Nerds (Parts 1, 2 and 3); Silicon Pirates; bio-pix of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates[/reveal]
Twelfth Week— Chapter 11 Networks
- Read Chapter 11
- Look at the Ch 11 slide show
- Take the quiz for Ch 11
- History Active (TBA)
- Recommended documentary: Triumph of the Nerds (Parts 4, 5, and 6)
Thirteenth Week— Chapter 12 Global Culture
- Read Chapter 12
- Look at the Ch 12 slide show
- Take the quiz for Ch 12
- History Active (TBA)
- Im looking for recommendations about movies from Bollywood or Nollywood that tell stories about global culture.
Semester research project
- Research memo on media history — It’s very very very important to read the instructions. This is not at all like any other research paper you have written. It’s not terribly complicated but it will involve searching through news archives and reporting on what you find.
- Turn in the research memo in the Assignments drop box on D2L.
Final exam