1. Examine the interplay between the Culture Industry, as understood from the Frankfurt School perspective, and Canadian society. Do you feel critical theory is still relevant in today's mass mediated culture? Why?
MACS 110 | Introduction to Mass Communication Theory
Essay Topics: Value: 30%: (10-15 pages, typed and double-spaced) back to MACS 110 Home
Please let me know which essay topic you've chosen by Tuesday, February 29th. Include a title and thesis statement. If you wish to propose an alternative essay topic related to mass communication theory, submit it to me by email along with a title and thesis statement. These essay topics will also be considered up until this date.
Your oral presentation should be on a topic of your choice related to the subject area covered in the course. This is also subject to approval. Presentation topics should also be decided and submitted by email before February 29th. Remember to ensure your email subject lines read: 'MACS 110 Essay Topic' and 'MACS 110 Presentation Topic'. Student oral presentations will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Essay Topics
1. Examine the interplay between the Culture Industry, as understood from the Frankfurt School perspective, and Canadian society. Do you feel critical theory is still relevant in today's mass mediated culture? Why?
2. Explain in what ways the emergence of mass society is linked to the twentieth century history of communications. How might new communication technologies promote cultural unity on the one hand, and cultural fragmentation on the other?
3. Do you have faith in the self-righting principle in terms of mass media content and effects?
4. Which media theories apply to the reading 'Cold War and Communication'? Can they also be applied to the "war on terror" and communication?
5. What issues might some people be afraid of speaking out against because they go against the grain of the dominant culture? How might one design an effective mass communication campaign to effectively promote one of these oppositional viewpoints?
6. Matthew Arnold's definition of culture is "to know the best of what's been thought and said" in order to be able to appreciate the "sweetness and light of culture." What do you believe Arnold would make of contemporary popular culture as represented by the mainstream mass media? Please include examples of what he might view as positive signs.
Arnold 1822-88
Leavis 1895-1978
7. F.R. Leavis sees popular culture as "largely masturburtory" and characterized by "junkies addicted to substitute living" as a consequence of the "cretinization of taste." What insights can mass society theory provide into this perspective?
8. In what ways does propaganda undermine democracy, and in what ways is it essential to a democracy?
Some concepts/terms to consider in essays and presentations might include:
ideology, technology, power, market economics, fallacies, audience, reception, ownership, culture, identity, socialization, protectionism, nationalism, imperialism, social control, consciousness industry, dependency, cultural hegemony, ideological state apparatus, globalization, professionalism, cultural policy, regulation/deregulation, consumer sovereignty, quality, agenda setting, and emotional transfer.
