Political Media, Disinformation & Activism in the Age of COVID
School of Media Studies
The New School
Fall 2020

Instructor: Peter Asaro asarop AT newschool.edu
Time: Monday, 6:00 - 7:50 pm
Location: Synchronous Online (ZOOM)

Course webpage is here: http://peterasaro.org/courses/2020Disinfo.html

Course blog is here: http://disinfo2020.wordpress.com/

Course Description

We face simultaneous global health and economic crises of epic proportions, amid growing signs of the failure of government accountability and democratic processes. At the same time, we are preparing for the most divisive United States Presidential election in history. Because of social distancing and quarantines, this will also be an election that will be discussed and debated almost entirely on-line. The role of the mass media and social media platforms, and their power to shape public opinion, will be greater than ever before. Meanwhile, the US response to the COVID pandemic has been politicized at every turn, from the role of the World Health Organization and China, to immigration policies. Misinformation about the virus, from scams to unproven cures, and an array of conspiracy theories about its origins have been shared widely on social and mass media. Corporations and the government are seizing new powers of digital surveillance and social control in the name of public safety. How the political messaging around the pandemic plays out, and plays into the upcoming election will be the focus of this seminar, along with the ways in which activists and social movements are creatively deploying media technologies to organize, create solidarity and preserve democracy under enforced social isolation.

While the course will focus on US politics, international students are encouraged to bring a global perspective to these issues, and we will compare the US situation to those in other countries. We will examine the traditional roles of political rhetoric in presidential politics, as well as the unique strategies employed by President Trump. We will examine how audiences are created and shaped by internet and broadcast media platforms, how political campaigns, public health agencies, and activists are using social media platforms, and how audiences are responding to these messages. As we follow the political conventions, speeches, debates, presidential tweets and press briefings, public health warnings, protests and demonstrations, we will consider the ways in which the current crises facing the nation and the world are framed politically, and in turn used as political tools. Students will be required to keep political media journals with regular entries and commentary, complete readings as assigned, participate in online class discussions via Zoom, and write two 6-10 page papers, or create short multi-media presentations, during the course of the semester.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS & GRADING:

Class Attendance & Participation 30%
Media Journal Blog Entries & Comments: 30%
First Paper or Media Project 20%
Second Paper or Media Project: 20%

Class Attendance and Participation: 30%

You are expected to have thoroughly and thoughtfully read the assigned texts, viewed the assigned videos, and to have prepared yourself to contribute meaningfully to the class discussions. For some people, that preparation requires taking copious notes on the assigned readings; for others, it entails supplementing the assigned readings with explanatory texts found in survey textbooks or in online sources; and for others still, it involves reading the texts, ruminating on them afterwards, then discussing those readings with classmates before the class meeting. Whatever method best suits you, I hope you will arrive at class with copies of the assigned reading, ready and willing to make yourself a valued contributor to the discussion, and eager to share your own relevant media experiences and interests. Your participation will be evaluated in terms of both quantity and quality.

As this is a seminar, regular attendance is essential. You will be permitted two excused absences (you must notify me of your inability to attend before class, via email). Any subsequent absences and any un-excused absences will adversely affect your grade.

If you must take the class "asynchronously" due to scheduling or time-zone conflicts, you must make arrangements with me for your class participation at the beginning of the semester. In most cases this will consist of watching the posted videos of the weekly discussion, and posting an additional weekly blog entry with your reflections on the week's topic and readings (approx. 1 page or 500 words).

Media Journal Blog Entries & Comments: 30%

You will be required to keep a daily "Media Journal" and make weekly blog entries commenting on the political media that you consume each week.

You will be required to create an account on WordPress (if you do not already have one), and send me an email with your LoginID and the EMAIL ADDRESS used to create the account, so that you can be added as an author for the collective course blog. Everyone will be posting to a common blog page, and this will be readable by your classmates, but not by people outside of the class. When writing and making comments, you are expected to treat other students with the same respect and courtesy as you should in the classroom, and to cite the sources of any text or quots you use.

The idea of a "Media Journal" is for you to keep a private written record of the various political media (broadly construed) that you consume each day. You should start by tracking your media "diet": what types of media are you consuming each day (TV, websites, social media, radio, etc.)?; how much time do you spend consuming various types of media?; which specific platforms and sites do you spend the most time on?; and how much of that contains political media?

Beyond your own media diet and consumption, your journal should evolve to contain your reactions to the specific media objects you encounter. As you find specific ads, memes, stories or topics particulary interesting, you should develop a written analysis of these: what is the political message?; who is the purported speaker?; who is the intended audience?; what is the proximate aim?; what political interests lie behind the message?; what is its ultimate aim or effect?; what psychological and semiotic tactics does it use? As this journal is for you, you can keep this as a digital file or handwritten journal as you choose. It can take any form you like. But make an effort to save bookmarks and links to the specific political media objects that impress you each week.

Once a week, you will review and reflect on this journal and write a short (1-page or so) blog entry on the course blog analyzing any specific media objects, events, stories, memes, images, video clips, etc. which you found particularly interesting, or reflections on your own media consumption behaviors and/or reactions, or political activism.

You are also expected to read the posts of your classmates, and encouraged to comment on other people's posts each week. Posts will not be graded but I, and other students, will read them and occasionally comment on them. There will be 12 posts worth 2 Points (on-time) or 1 point (late) required through the semester (not required on days when papers/projects are due), thus 24 points, plus 6 points for comments on the posts of other students, totalling 30% of your grade.

Blog posts will be due before the start of each class. They are time stamped when you post them, and late posts will only receive half credit (1 point). There is no specific topic for each post, but they should express your reactions to and reflections on your media journal for that week.

First Paper or Media Project 20%
Second Paper or Media Project: 20%
There will be no final exam.

There are two research projects, required for the semester. There are 2 options: Research/Analysis Paper Option, and Media Project Option.

First Paper or Media Project Due: November 2
Paper Length: 3000-5000 words (approx. 6-10 pages), Media Projects of equivalent effort

Second Paper or Media Project Due: December 18
Paper Length: 3000-5000 words (approx. 6-10 pages), Media Projects of equivalent effort

Project topics can address any aspect of the topics and materials discussed in class. Projects should include materials beyond what is directly covered in class, as appropriate for your topic. In other words, they should require research. You media journal and blog entires will provide many ideas for projects, as will class discussion. You should develop one of these into a more in depth analysis through additional research to try to answer a question, or argue a position, you feel is important.

Research Paper Option
This will take the form of a 3000-5000 word (Times New Roman, 12pt font, double spaced) term paper. You should draw upon sources from the course readings as well as beyond the course readings. You should cite your sources properly.

Media Project Option
Media Projects can take the form of film and video pieces, audio documentaries, websites, interactive media, performance pieces, infographics, a social media campaign strategy, or other ideas. In addition to the actual media product, you will need to submit a short written piece explaining your project, its motivations, methods and what you did to realize it.

Papers should be submitted to me in electronic form by email (Word Perfect, MS Word, PDF, HTML and plain TXT are all fine). All assignments are due at 6pm at the start of class on the day they are due. Late final papers will not be accepted, as I must turn in grades shortly thereafter.

READINGS

All readings will be available electronically, via the web, in PDF, MS Word, HTML, or similar format. You are welcome and encouraged to buy any of the books used.

LECTURE/DISCUSSION VIDEOS

All of the Zoom lecture/discussion sessions will be recorded. Recordings will only be made available to members of the class through a Google Drive. By attending this class you consent to being recorded.

Weekly Topics & Readings

Week 1: August 31
Course Introduction

Course Syllabus Overview