ZUR589g Urban Communication: Image, Space, and Media

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2014
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Tae-Sik Kim, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jana Ježková (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jiří Pavelka, CSc.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Bc. Pavlína Brabcová
Supplier department: Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 15:15–16:45 Studio 527
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 15 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/15, only registered: 0/15
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course examines communication patterns in the urban environment. A city is a typical interdisciplinary space where humans, technologies, and cultures interactively form a variety of communicative actions. Grounded in the understanding of the role of urban space as media, this course looks closely at how urban spaces represent (are represented by) everyday communications. This course covers a variety of issues in urban communication, ranging from urban branding to neoliberal exclusion in urban space. Throughout the course, students will discuss how urban spaces connect/disconnect/reconnect people. By reading a variety of research articles assigned in the course and participating in class discussions, students learn to widen their perspectives on urban space, society, and communication and to develop their own research projects focusing on communicative activities in the urban environment.

 Comprehend the role of urban space as media.
 Develop strategic ways of thinking to improve urban communicative capability.
 Review and analyze a variety of research articles on urban communication.
 Find important themes and methods of urban research.
 Lead insightful discussions.
 Develop a research project by applying sociocultural experiences.
Syllabus
  • Week 1. Course introduction
  • Week 2. Urban Communication: Theories and Practices
  • Week 3. Theme 1. Urban Branding – 1) Making a Place Attractive
  • Week 4. Theme 1. Urban Branding - 2) Sustainable Urban Space
  • Week 5. Theme 1. Urban Branding - 3) Urban Branding and the Media
  • Week 6. Theme 2. Urban Representation – 1) Urban Semiotics
  • Week 7. Reading Week
  • Week 8. Workshop: Group Strategic Planning, Short Presentations and Discussions
  • Week 9. Theme 2. Urban Representation - 2) Urban Borders
  • Week 10. Theme 3. Media and Urban Space - 1) Media and Cities
  • Week 11. Theme 3. Media and Urban Space - 2) Cyber(urban) Space
  • Week 12. Conference 1
  • Week 13. Conference 2
Literature
    required literature
  • Kavaratzis, Mihalis, and Gregory J. Ashworth. "City branding: an effective assertion of identity or a transitory marketing trick?." Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie 96.5 (2005): 506-514.
  • Georgiou, M “Media and the city: Making sense of place” International Journal of Media and Cultural Politics 6.3 (2010)
  • Crang, Mike. ’Cyberspace as the new public domain.’, in Urban diversity : space, culture and inclusive pluralism in cities worldwide. (2010) Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press ; Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, pp. 99-122. Hud
  • Kokosalakis, Christina, et al. "Place image and urban regeneration in Liverpool." International Journal of Consumer Studies 30.4 (2006): 389-397.
  • Cronin, Anne M. "Researching Urban Space, Reflecting on Advertising A Photo Essay." Space and Culture 14.4 (2011): 356-366.
Teaching methods
# The format of the course is a combination of brief lectures and controlled discussions of various assigned readings.
# All students are expected to read all articles assigned and to develop appropriate discussion questions.
# Students submit a group research paper with 2-4 colleagues (topic of student’s choice in consultation with instructor; minimum 20 pages including references, figures, and tables)
Assessment methods
1. Response Paper (30 x 8 = 240) (Summarize Required Articles and Develop 2 discussion questions. Submit by noon the day before each class with the exception of Week 1, 8, 12, and 13 / No Late Paper Accepted)
2. One Discussion Leader (100)
3. One Presentation (60): Week 12 or Week 13
4. Group Branding Project (200, Work with 2-4 Colleagues, Branding Your City or Brno, Visual materials are welcome. A 3-4 page statement should be submitted, PPT should be provided)
5. Research Paper (400): Due- Midnight, Monday 12. January. 2014 (Late Paper – Subtract 5% for each day after the due date)

Total: 1000
A: 900-1000
B: 800-899
C: 700-799
D: 600-699
E: 500-599
F: -499
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2013.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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