Communication Models and Theory

Scholar Year: 2020/2021 - 2S

Courses

Head Teacher Responsability Lídia Soraya Barreto Marôpo Head

Weekly workload Hours/week T TP P PL L TC E OT OT/PL TPL O S Type of classes Lectures Type Teacher Classes Hours Contact hours Totals 1 4,00 Lídia Marôpo   4,00

Teaching language

Portuguese

Intended learning outcomes (Knowledges, skills and competencies to be developed by the students)

At the end of the course the students should be able to:

- Understand what are the theories and models of communication and what are their purposes.
- Characterize the main theories and models of communication in its historical, scientific and technological context.
- Reflect on mediated communication from different points of view: production, content and reception.
- Critically analyze the media (new and traditional), taking into account their roles in contemporary societies and their social, political and economic effects.

Syllabus

- The objects of study of communication theories: communication processes and media.
- Mediated communication from different points of view: studies on the production, content and reception of the media.
- The perspective of the unlimited effects of the media: hypodermic theory and its deployment.
- The perspective of the limited effects of the media: the two-step flow of communication theory, the psychological studies of persuasion, the American functionalism and the hypothesis of uses and gratifications.
- The technological perspective of the media: 'the medium is the message'.
- The perspective of the cognitive effects of the media: agenda-setting.
- The critical perspective of the media: Frankfurt School and Cultural Studies.
- Change of paradigm: from mass communication to network communication or an introduction to digital cultures.
- Development of an exploratory research project.

Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the UC intended learning outcomes

The syllabus is presented in a social and historical perspective and allow students to understand the main theories of communication in a reflexive way, while learning to apply them in the critical analysis of the media in the current context and in an exploratory research project in communication.

Teaching methodologies

The sessions are centered on exposition of concepts, face-to-face debates and practical exercises. Students are invited to participate in activities in all classes and regularly present the results of the work they do.

Demonstration of the teaching methodologies coherence with the curricular unit's intended learning outcomes

Teaching methodologies balance expository and participatory classes in order to ensure an understanding of the theories and their critical applicability in the analysis of concrete cases.

Assessment methodologies and evidences

a) Test: 40%
b) Participation group work: 20%
c) Final group work: 40%

Bibliography

Bollmer, G. (2018). Theorizing Digital Cultures. Los Angeles: Sage.
Esteves, J. P. (2011). Sociologia da Comunicação. Lisboa: F. C. Gulbenkian.
Firsk, J (1993). Introdução ao Estudo da Comunicação. Porto: Edições Asa.
Griffin, E. (2012). A First Look at Communication Theory. Nova Iorque: McGraw-Hill.
Mattelard, A.; Mattelard, M. (2002) - História das Teorias da Comunicação. Porto: Campo das Letras.
Mattelart, A. e Neveu, E. (2006). Introdução aos Cultural Studies. Porto: Porto Editora
McLuhan, M. (2006). Os Meios de Comunicação como Extensões do Homem. São Paulo: Cultrix.
McQuail, D. (2003). Teorias de Comunicação de Massas. Lisboa: F. C. Gulbenkian.
Santos, J. R. (1992). O Que é Comunicação. Lisboa: Difusão Cultural.
Serra, J.P. (2007). Manual de Teoria da Comunicação. Covilhã: Labcom.
Sousa, J. P. (2006). Elementos de Teoria e Pesquisa da Comunicação e dos Media. Porto: UFP.
Wolf, M. (2005). Teorias da Comunicação. Lisboa: Presença.