Class Media, Communication and Society

This curricular unit intends to constitute itself as a broad space for reflection and analysis in the field of sociology of communication and media, in order to enable students to address themes and to apply concepts and theories that are related to theories and models of communication, to communication technologies, to traditional and new media, and to the network society. In this context, and while framing these themes in the historical context and means of communication’s models, the aim is to understand communication phenomena in contemporary societies, in order to lead reflection, analysis and application of this knowledge, theories and concepts to applied or transversal themes and projects. Students should develop skills to theoretically and epistemologically discuss, and apply, issues related to theories and models of communication, traditional and new media, digital social networks, and technological mediations in public space.

Not applicable

PART I Communication: Fundamentals, Models and Theories  Mediatisation as construction and the regimes of truth. The media as a device and its political economy. Communication Theory as Social Theory. Critical approaches to a psychopolitics of marketing. The ontological dimension of Communication. Part II 1. Media, Networks and Society  From conventional media and mass communication to networked interactivity. Participation and non-participation in digital media. 2. Media, Ecology of Mediation and Media Practices Media practices, mediation processes and mediatisation. Relationality and digital ecologies.  The communication in digital media. 3. Public Space, Media, Visibility and Invisibility Public space and media. Visibility and invisibility in traditional media and digital networks.

The project methodology, or project-based learning, involves investigative work, based on the formulation of a question by the students.  This methodology complements lectures. These also initiate discussions around texts on theories and authors that are addressed. Active discussion of texts based on teams

Brighenti, A. M. (2010). Visibility in Social Theory and Social Research. Palgrave  Casemajor, Couture, Delfin & Mauricio (2015). Non-participation in digital media: toward a framework of mediated political action. Media, Culture & Society, Vol. 37(6) 850–86 Castells, M. (2009). Comunicación y poder, Alianza Editoria. Guillaume, M. (1986). Digressions sur les masses et les médias, pp. 135-142. Gurevitch, Bennett, Curran & Woollacott (2005). Culture, Society and the Media. Taylor & Francis e-Library. Luhmann, N. (2009). A realidade dos meios de comunicação. Paulus. McQUAIL, D. (2003). Teoria da Comunicação de Massas. F. Calouste Gulbenkian. A. Mattoni & E. Trere¿, (2014) Media Practices, Mediation Processes, and Mediatization, Communication Theory 24 (2014) 252–271 Miège, B. (2008) Médias, médiations et médiateurs, continuités et mutations. Réseaux, 148-149 Pleyers, G. (Ed.) (2013). Militantisme en réseau, Réseaux, 31(181). Thompson, J. B. (2005). The New Visibility.