J250

VISUAL COMMUNICATION
Spring 2010
Friday 8-9:40 am, MZ101
Office MZ326. Hours: M 12-2, T 4-5, F 10-11am
(818) 677-2855

Email: david.blumenkrantz@csun.edu

J250 spring 2010 syllabus (word document)

Survey of the most significant techniques and examples of visual communication as employed by the mass media, including newspapers, magazines, television, cinema and advertising. Discussion and demonstration of the tools used in analyzing these techniques.

Among the key issues addressed in this course:

• The physiology and psychology of “seeing,” including theories of perception, and the relationship of images to meaning.  This course is more concerned with how people use the media to transmit messages, rather than how art is made.
• The pervasive influence of the visual components of mass communication, as seen in typography, design, illustration, photography, cinematography, television and advertising. Ethical issues: How and why visual techniques are used, whether consciously or not, to influence public opinion. What is propaganda, and how is it used in the various forms of media?
• As students of journalism, how aware are we of potential bias in the visual content of our own work?

REQUIRED TEXT
VISUAL COMMUNICATION: Images With Messages,
4th edition, by Paul Martin Lester ISBN# 0-534-63720-5

TEXTBOOK COMPANION WEBSITE

COURSE STRUCTURE
J250 is presented through a series of visual demonstrations and lectures, along with various discussion formats, group activities and presentations. All assignments will be posted on this page.

GRADING
Based on written assignments; magazine cover design assignment; group presentations; mid-term & final exam.

LATE WORK Will only be accepted one week after the deadline, and will be worth half credit only.

ATTENDANCE
Three points deducted for each absence; two points deducted for each tardy. Leaving for long periods of time in the middle of class, or bugging out early will count as a tardies, with the resultant two-point deduction applied.

PREREQUISITE
Students must earn a `C’ or better in this class in order to enroll in J331. `C-‘ does not count as a `C.’

COURSE OUTLINE
This outline is tentative, and subject to change. It is important that you regularly check the instructor’s website in order to keep on top of assignments.

Jan. 22: Introduction to the Course/Light

• Readings: Preface, Chapters 1 & 2

Jan 29: Eye and the Brain/Visual Cues: Color, Form, Depth & Movement

• Readings: Chapters 3 & 4 

Feb. 5: Visual Theories: Gestalt, Constructivism, Semiotics, Cognition

• Readings: Chapter 5       

Feb 12: Visual Persuasion: Shock Advertising, Persuasion and Propaganda

• Readings: Chapter 6 
• Writing assignment: The Persuaders (10pts)

Feb 19: Media Stereotyping

• Readings: Chapter 7

Feb 26: Furlough Day (no class meeting)

March 5: MID-TERM EXAM (20 pts)

March 12: ANALYZING VISUAL MESSAGES: SIX PERSPECTIVES

CREATION OF PERSPECTIVE PRESENTATION GROUPS

• Reading: Introduction to Section Four (pgs 111-119)

March 19: Typography/Graphic Design

• Readings: Chapters 8 & 9     
• ASSIGNMENT: Magazine Cover Design (20pts)

March 26: Cartoons (Group presentations)

• Readings: Chapters 10- 11          

April 2: Photography          

• Reading: Chapter 12      

April 9: SPRING BREAK

April 16: Photography    (Group presentations)

• Writing assignment: Ethical issues in photojournalism (10pts)

April 23: Motion Pictures (Group presentations)        MAGAZINES DUE TODAY

• Readings: Chapter 13

April 30: Television and Video (Group presentations)

• Readings: Chapter 14            

May 7: Computers/World Wide Web (Group presentations)

• Readings: Chapter 15/16

May 14: FINAL EXAM (20pts)

Student Learning Outcomes of the Undergraduate and Graduate Programs
The Department of Journalism strives to prepare its students to become well-educated, principled citizens who are capable of initiating careers as skilled journalists, public relations practitioners and other related communication professionals. The department will help students to achieve the following objectives by the end of their program of study:

• Attain competency in writing basics such as grammar and punctuation, word usage and spelling, sentence and story structure and journalistic style.

• Attain competency in the gathering and critical analysis of information using such techniques as interviewing, observation and researching primary and secondary sources.

• Acquire expertise in thinking critically and creatively, while exercising news judgment, the organization and presentation of information in multiple journalistic forms (i.e., print, visual and electronic, and public relations).

• Develop an ethical basis for making journalistic and public relations decisions.

• Develop flexibility in working in evolving mass communication media and environments using a variety of technologies and techniques.

• Understand the historical, theoretical, legal and societal contexts within which journalists and public relations practitioners work.

PLAGIARISM: DEPT. OF JOURNALISM STATEMENT
Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will not be tolerated, and anyone caught cheating will be reported to the dean of students and will receive a failing grade in the course. For a further explanation of disciplinary procedures, consult pages 522-524 of the 2002-2004 CSUN catalog. Please also remember that much of the information posted on the Internet is protected by U.S. copyright laws. Passing this information off as your own is a violation of  CSUN’s plagiarism policy, and carries the penalties outlined above.

JOURNALISM DEPT. POLICY STATEMENT ON CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Students in this course are strongly encouraged to broaden their journalistic experiences, with the instructor’s help, by including in their work people and subjects such as ethnic, racial and religious minorities; the elderly, disabled and poor; gay men and lesbians; and other similar groups. The intent is to ensure that student work reflects the diversity of the community.