Communication Studies (COMS) 591 - Section 02
Senior Seminar in Communication Studies - Communication and Taste
Fall 2008

F 10:00 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.

                                                                                         SS315

Instructor:	Dr. Charlene Elliott
Office Location:	SS236
Office Phone:	403 220-3180
E-Mail:	Charlene.elliott@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:	http://www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/CharleneElliott
Office Hours:	Tuesdays, 10:00 - 12:00

 

 

Course Description

 As a capstone seminar in communication studies, Coms 591 challenges students to both identify and evaluate how ‘communication' functions in innovative ways. This course addresses the issue of taste and its implications for communication. Taste is expressed daily in the brands we purchase, the shows we watch, the music we select, and our favourite leisure pursuits. Taste is not simply about consumption, however; fundamentally it is about communication.

                    

Taste provides a locus around which communities are built and maintained, and serve as a site of symbolic inclusion and exclusion. Displays of taste allow social actors to construct meaning, create networks within groups, and build communities of wealth or knowledge. These displays can also work to classify and block social relations-particularly of those considered ‘Other' to a particular taste culture.

 

Introducing various historical and contemporary theories of taste, Coms 591 will reveal how taste (as a symbolic system of classification) creates, reflects and maintains social relations.

 

 

Course structure and objectives

 

Seminars will trace the development of theory and method in research on concepts of taste, and will introduce various practical instances of how the communication of taste functions historically and in modern society.

 

The course uses an inquiry based learning model; when doing each reading, students should consider the following questions:

 

• 1) What is the concept of taste being articulated? How is it defined?
• 2) What is its relationship to the individual subject and to society writ large? (i.e., how does taste function in personal and social relations?)
• 3) How does taste (a taste culture/public etc.) function as and in communication?
• 4) How does the concept under evaluation inform communication theory?
• 5) Is the concept (still) valid? How has the concept changed from previous notions of how taste operates?

 

Readings

Communication 591 Reading Selections (course pack).

Readings available online through the Library catalogue are listed with "*". 

 

Assignments and Evaluation

Participation                                                         10%       

Quizzes and/or weekly ‘assignments'              20%       

Reading reports/critique (2 @ 15% each)       30%       

Term paper                                                           40%                       

Participation

The success of a seminar class rests strongly on the active and informed participation of each student. Students will be evaluated on the regularity and quality of contributions to group discussions. Students should come prepared to discuss the core concepts, implications and/or problems within the readings and to link them with previous materials covered in class.

 

It is expected that these contributions will be analytical and reflexive. Students are urged to avoid substituting informed, critical commentary with opinions based upon primarily anecdotal evidence and personal experience. 

 

Weekly assignments and/or quizzes

Periodically, students will be asked to do short assignments that help them to contemplate the function of taste and communication in contemporary life. This might include bringing in an example of conspicuous consumption (and explaining the criteria that make it "conspicuous" to class mates, or assessing your own consumption practices). On weeks without such assignments, there will be short, two or three-question quizzes based on the assigned readings for that week. Each quiz or assignment takes place at the beginning of that week's class and is worth 2%. There are no make-up quizzes or assignment, so please do not ask.

Reading reports/critiques

Student will be responsible for two reading reports during the term. Reading reports should provide a bit of a backgrounder to the theme under consideration, briefly summarize the key arguments/themes/ideas of an assigned reading, and provide a thoughtful critique of the reading. Students should strive to answer the questions regarding taste outlined on page one of the syllabus, or they may choose to provide a contemporary or historical example of the argument/themes articulated in the readings. Be creative. The aim here is to identify key themes, concepts and to stimulate thought about the functioning of taste, rather than to provide a summary of the readings. Students must come with 2 insightful questions drawn from the readings, which may be used to drive class discussion after the presentation.

 

 

Paper proposal

The paper proposal is, in fact, a brief (5-7 minute) presentation on the topic selected for the term paper. The intent of the presentation is to allow students to get some feedback, suggestions and input from their colleagues prior to submitting the paper.

 

The proposal is part of the participation, and is not graded. It gives students the opportunity to test out an idea or concept-even if they are not yet certain where it may head-without having to worry about evaluation. Students will want to ensure they address the project's research question, methodology and approach, as well as presenting a working bibliography.

 

 

Term paper (Due December 5)

The term paper should be 14 pages, typed (using 12 point font and 1 inch margins), double-spaced, meticulously researched and properly cited.

 

There is great flexibility in the topics you can choose for the paper. The only criteria is that it must be analytical, pertain to communication and taste, and reflect knowledge of the materials covered in the course.

 

Essays must be submitted in hard-copy (e-mail attachments do not suffice).

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  NO

Policy for Late Assignments

 

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

 

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed on writing skills. Given that this is a senior level course in communication studies, clear articulation, logical organization and persuasive argumentation are expected. Issues of style and organization will factor strongly in the grade assigned.

For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Research papers must be properly documented. If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

 

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

(Revised, effective September 2008)

	Grading Scale
A+	96-100
A	90-95.99
A -	85-89.99
B+	80-84.99
B	75-79.99
B-	70-74.99
C+	65-69.99
C	60-64.99
C-	55-59.99
D+	53-54.99
D	50-52.99
F	0-49

 

Where a grade on a particular assignment is expressed as a letter grade, it will normally be converted to a number using the midpoint of the scale. F will be converted to zero.

 

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333 Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.