OVERVIEW

The course analyzes the role and function of the media as sites of discourse construction, that is, devices that through the production, proliferation and interweaving of communicative acts mediated by material, electronic or digital media, more or less participatory, give rise to representations, imaginaries, and frames of meaning with which our vision of the world and reality interacts, constantly. 
Beginning with a brief historical survey of the reasons that stimulated the emergence of mass communication tools and, later, social media, we will proceed with the analysis of some case studies, using the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) approach, to investigate how a given medium constructs the representation of a specific topic. 

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at developing the analysis of the role of the electronic media in contemporary societies

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with a conceptual framework on which to base a sociological reading of the media environment and the ability to critically analyze the process of meaning-making that through the media device can become (or not become) dominant. 

In addition to the specific training objectives indicated below, the acquisition of the skills necessary to structure a written paper (subject of evaluation in the exam) with an articulated, coherent and consequential logical structure, appropriately integrating the theoretical, empirical and analytical levels, while respecting the formal conventions inherent in the use of bibliographic sources, will be solicited. 

The course will be structured as follows:

• A theoretical part that will refer to the literature on the subject. At each lecture, one of the articles included in the bibliography will be illustrated and commented on, as an example of analytical construction with a sociological slant, with the aim of bringing students closer to the academic article as a model of reflective structure and argumentative writing.

• A didactic laboratory part that will see students and students experimenting with a case study. Divided into groups of 2/3 people, they will be asked to choose a topic and a platform (digital or otherwise), to critically analyze the construction of the discourse that is produced in that environment.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For those attending: 

Assessment will be made on an individual or collective paper, written or possibly audiovisual (to be agreed with the lecturer), which will focus on a case study of the student's choice, containing explicit references to the literature suggested in the bibliography and to other studies on the specific topic, independently identified by the students. More specific directions will be posted on the course aulaweb page.
Bibliographical references to generalist material, websites, literature not related from a disciplinary point of view (psychology, marketing) are NOT allowed, unless justifying the choice in explicit and argued terms.
Papers should be sent to the lecturer by the Monday before the exam. In case a preliminary opinion is desired they should be sent at least two weeks before the exam. 
They will be presented during the exam session to the audience of those present. 

For non-attenders:

Also in the case of non-attending students, the assessment will be on a final paper (agreed with the lecturer), constructed and submitted in the same manner as above. It is recommended, however, to participate as much as possible in the life of the course through the dedicated page on aulaweb, which will be kept as updated as possible. 

Bibliography 

Free downloadable articles on the website: https://www.rivisteweb.it:

Giovanna Cosenza, Jennifer Colombari, Elisa Gasparri (2016)
Come la pubblicita italiana rappresenta le donne e gli uomini. Verso una metodologia di analisi semiotica degli stereotipi
Versus (ISSN 0393-8255) Fascicolo 2, luglio-dicembre 2016
(doi: 10.14649/85507)

Saveria Capecchi (2021)
Le campagne di femvertising e le reazioni delle audience online. Le contraddizioni del femminismo
Rassegna Italiana di Sociologia (ISSN 0486-0349), Fascicolo 1, gennaio-marzo 2021
(doi: 10.1423/100624)

Domenico Talia (2023)
Il potere disciplinare della governamentalià digitale
Rivista di Digital Politics (ISSN 2785-0072), Fascicolo 3, settembre-dicembre 2023
(doi: 10.53227/113108)

Elisa Giomi (2023)
I media oggi. Tecnologie, mercati, profili socioculturali e risposte normative
Problemi dell’informazione (ISSN 0390-5195), Fascicolo 3, dicembre 2023
(doi: 10.1445/109254)

Massimiliano Panarari (2021)
Il Leviatano digitale e il neototalitarismo soft
Rivista di Digital Politics (ISSN 2785-0072), Fascicolo 2, maggio-agosto 2021
(doi: 10.53227/101950)

Massimo Airoldi (2016)
Studiare i social media con i topic models: Sanremo 2016 su Twitter
Studi culturali (ISSN 1824-369X), Fascicolo 3, dicembre 2016
(doi: 10.1405/85342)

Books:

Noam Chomsky (2014)
Media e potere
Bepress, Lecce

Lazarfeld P.F., Merton R. K. (2020)
Comunicazione di massa, gusto popolare e azione sociale organizzata.
Armando Editore, Roma 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ENRICO FRAVEGA (President)

CHIARA LANINI (President Substitute)