Social Theories for Communication Sciences

Recommended Prerequisites

A good knowledge of written english is recommended.

Teaching Methods

Presentation and discussion of the readings scheduled for each session and of the texts chosen by the  doctoral students.

Learning Outcomes

This seminar proposes to analyze the theories that establish an explanation of the social, cultural, political and construction of common meanings, starting from the ideas of some of the leading authors who provide the roots of communication in the social sciences and humanities. To this end issues will be addressed in order to establish some of the backdrops for sociological, political, cultural and communication research.

The course will organize its content in different modules that seek on one hand, to provide the major conceptual bases proposed in each issue and, secondly, as far as possible, to articulate theoretical approaches to issues specific interests expressed by doctoral candidates at the time of application. This latter approach will be fulfilled in allowing students the selection particular bibliography to be studied and discussed.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Introduction: Communication and Social Theory

2. Communication and power

• Critical theory and mass communication research

• Political economy and Ideology

3. Communication interventions in contemporary social theory

• Habermas and Fraser: mass culture and the public sphere

4. Communication and post-structuralism

• Discourse and power: Michel Foucault

• Bourdieu: theories of habitus and field

5. Central Issues in Contemporary Social Theory

• Identity politics: Gender and sexuality

• Social Theory in the Information Age.

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria João Rosa Cruz Silveirinha

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Research work: 50.0%
Synthesis work: 50.0%

Bibliography

Bourdieu, P. (2010) A Distinção. Edições 70.

Carter, C., L. Steiner and L. McLaughlin (2014) The Routledge Companion to Media and Gender, London: Routledge

Correia, J. C. (1998), Jornalismo e Espaço Público, Covilhã: Labcom.

Curran, J., N. Fenton e D. Freedman (2012), Misunderstanding the Internet, London: Routledge

Esteves, J. P. (2012), Sociologia da comunicação. Lisboa: Gulbenkian.

Foucault, M. (1997). A Ordem do Discurso. Lisboa: Relógio de Água

Fraser, N., K. Nash, ed. (2014), Transnationalizing the Public Sphere, Polity

Fuchs, C. (2008), Internet and Society. New York: Routledge.

Habermas, J. (1989) The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere Cambridge: Polity.

Hesmondhalgh, D. e Jason T., ed. (2008) The Media and Social Theory, New. York, NY: Routledge.

Laughey, D. (2007) Key themes in media theory, Maidenhead: Open University Press

Layder, D. (1994) Understanding Social London: Sage.

Storey, J. (1997) Cultural Theory and Popular Culture, Routledge.