Ateneo - UPO

The course is intended as an introduction to media and communication with a sociological approach. Following the adopted texts structure, the course will focus on relationships, identity and knowledge in a digital environment. Furthermore, the role of media and political communication in migration policies will also be investigated.

Paccagnella e Vellar, "Vivere online. Identità, relazioni, conoscenza", Bologna: il Mulino, 2016 Pogliano, "Media, politica e migrazioni in Europa. Una prospettiva sociologica", Roma: Carocci, 2019 (chapters 1 and 2).

The main educational goals are about the application of sociological knowledge in understanding digital media, journalism and communication.

No preconditions are required.

The course will employ a mix of teaching methodologies, including direct teaching, open discussions, collective analysis of videos and news narratives.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The examination consists of a two-hour written test with open questions. Students will be required to show their skills in both synthetically framing an issue or a book and debating critical and more specific aspects, using appropriate concepts. Their ability to create analogies with other issues will also be appreciated.

The course is intended as an introduction to media and communication with a sociological approach. Following the adopted texts structure, the course will focus on relationships, identity and knowledge in a digital environment.
By studying relationships in a digital context we'll discuss social capital and the etwork society structure. Identity will be discussed as both individual new form of identitarian performances and collective actions and collective identities. The kowledge issue will allow to introduce concepts such as big data, information overload, echo chaambers aand fake news.
Furthermore, a specific form of knowledge production and ideological reproduction will be investigated: the role of media and political communication in the shape of mainstream narratives on migration.
During the course, the issue of the gender dimension will be addressed, both with reference to representations of migration, with reflections on how gender is an important axis of difference for understanding the logic of power in journalistic representations, and by analysing and discussing representations of violence against women.

Being able to debate the main theories connected to the framing practices and processes; being able to use theories and concepts borrowed from cultural and cmmunication studies when analysing contemporary social problems; being able to recognize the power of discourses and frames in the organization of social lives and collective and profesisonal behaviours; being able to critically focus on social and political risks and opportunities in the digital arena; understanding a few key mechanisms in opinion formation and in the manufacturing of consent.