FRN3260

The media in France: modes of power

A Macdonald

8 points
* 3 hours per week
* First semester
* Clayton

Objectives Students completing the subject should have engaged in a program of close reading of both a body of mediatic texts and a range of critical-cum-theoretical texts in French which have attempted to identify the political power/s of text/s. They should have developed their ability to understand and analyse political, journalistic, critical and theoretical prose and speech in French, and acquired a better-than-basic `literacy' in televisual imagery. They should be able to formulate reading projects as exercises in directed questioning, and produce critical analysis which reads between theoretical texts and mediatic ones.

Synopsis An examination of the textual processes at work in the mediatisation of political debate, display and reportage. An examination, also, of a range of critical-cum-theoretical works enabling the study of media texts. Whilst the traditional question of media `selectivity' will not be neglected, the main focus of activity will be on the semiotics of enunciation and rhetoric in the combative and seductive plays of mediatised political discourse. A mixture of television, radio and press documents will form the corpus of mediatic texts, with emphasis placed upon the televisual. Students will have occasion to acquaint themselves with a selection of significant writings on the politics and semiotics of rhetoric. They will also have an opportunity to familiarise themselves with some current political debates and the language of political speech and commentary as these operate in France and in that politico-mediatic outpost of France, New Caledonia.

Assessment Short essay (1500 words): 25%
* Long essay (2000 words): 35%
* Tutorial presentation (1500 words): 25%
* Class participation (including question dossier): 15%

Prescribed texts

A photocopied selection of articles and chapters from monographs

Recommended texts

Documents from French television, press and/or radio