The main aim of the course is providing students with a comprehensive theoric perspective on sociology of communication, starting with classical authors who defined the concept of modernity up to the more advanced concept dealing with digital media. Another aim is offering theoric and practical instruments useful for the social and communicative analysis of contemporary society, seen as a complex object. The students will be provided with base knowledge on the main theories on media, regarding in particular social media, news making and culture, essential issues to understand the contemporary scenario of communication and indispensable for future professionals in the field of communication.

The course, in its general part, wants to introduce the most important classical approaches that used the concept of modernity and its relation with media. Shared this theoretical background, we’ll be dealing with the historical and social evolution of the main theories on communication. Another subject analysed in depth will be the questioning of the role and social meaning of social media, especially in the field of news making, in its use as well as in its production. A recurrent topic will be newsmaking and its changes connected to the evolution of different media. The last part of the course will be on media communication and culture and their role in Italy, developed also with seminars led by experts and professionals working in the field of communication and information.

Students have to reach these goals:

1.     Knowledge and understanding of: forms and languages of communication in the complex society, through the learning of competences on the main models and theories in the communication field.

1.1. Students reach these basic knowledge attending lessons and studying mentioned textbooks.

2.     Use of knowledge and understanding skills: analysing languages of news making and the different ways in which they are used by their publics.

2.2. Students reach these skills by laboratory activities during class hours.

3. Judging skills: critical approach on the evolving dynamics of the relation between new media technologies and society and on present transformations in mediated public interpersonal communication.

3.1. Students reach and demonstrate these skills during debates with the Professor and with the class, during laboratory activities and during the preparation of the final exam.

4. Communication ability: students have to interact during the lesson asking questions, exchanging ideas with the collegues and organizing keynotes while tested. 
4.1. Students reach these skills organizing discussions and excercises. 

5. Learning skills: students have to adopt a critical approach while studying in order to connect theoretical knowledge with empirical analysis, obtaining a personal point of view on the subject. 
5.1. Students strengthen these skills debating with the Professor and the rest of the class. 

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Seminars focused on specific topics, practise exercises and activities during class hours. The teaching material made available by the lecturer can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform.

Teaching

Introductional lessons, seminars on specif topics, practise exercises and activities during class hours.

Attendance

Lesson attending, individual studying of course books.

Course books

1. Mazzoli L., Il patchwork mediale. Comunicazione e informazione fra media tradizionali e media digitali, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2012.

2. Watzlawick P., Beavin J.H., Jackson D.D., Pragmatica della comunicazione umana, Astrolabio, Roma, 1971 (limitatamente ai capp. 1, 2 e 3).

3. Simmel G., Le metropoli e la vita dello spirito, Armando, Roma, 1996.

4. Benjamin W., L'opera d'arte nell'epoca della sua riproducibilità tecnica, Einaudi, Torino, 2011.

5. Mazzoli L., Zanchini G. (a cura di), Info Cult. Nuovi scenari di produzione e uso dell' informazione culturale, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2015.

6. Gorman L., McLean D., Media e società nel mondo contemporaneo, il Mulino, Bologna, 2011.

Assessment

Written exam at the end of the course and oral exam, chosen by the student. The written test will be articulated in an essay and open and closed-ended questions. The student could chose between the written exam, at the end of the course, and the oral exam.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Individual studying of course books.

Attendance

Study of the texts indicated.

Course books

1. Mazzoli L., Il patchwork mediale. Comunicazione e informazione fra media tradizionali e media digitali, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2012.

2. Watzlawick P., Beavin J.H., Jackson D.D., Pragmatica della comunicazione umana, Astrolabio, Roma, 1971 (limitatamente ai capp. 1, 2 e 3).

3. Simmel G., Le metropoli e la vita dello spirito, Armando, Roma, 1996.

4. Benjamin W., L'opera d'arte nell'epoca della sua riproducibilità tecnica, Einaudi, Torino, 2011.

5. Mazzoli L., Zanchini G. (a cura di), Info Cult. Nuovi scenari di produzione e uso dell' informazione culturale, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2015.

6. Gorman L., McLean D., Media e società nel mondo contemporaneo, il Mulino, Bologna, 2011.

Assessment

Oral Exam.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.