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Information
| Unit | FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION |
| RADIO, TELEVISION AND CINEMA PR. | |
| Code | RTS207 |
| Name | Mass Communication Theories |
| Term | 2026-2027 Academic Year |
| Semester | 3. Semester |
| Duration (T+A) | 3-0 (T-A) (17 Week) |
| ECTS | 4 ECTS |
| National Credit | 3 National Credit |
| Teaching Language | Türkçe |
| Level | Lisans Dersi |
| Type | Normal |
| Label | C Compulsory |
| Mode of study | Yüz Yüze Öğretim |
| Catalog Information Coordinator | Prof. Dr. ÖZGÜR İLKE ŞANLIER |
| Course Instructor |
Prof. Dr. NÜKET ELPEZE ERGEÇ
(Güz)
(A Group)
(Ins. in Charge)
|
Course Goal / Objective
The objective of this course is to acquire general knowledge about theory and scientific research, to learn about the development of the concept of mass communication, and to gain an understanding of the fundamental theoretical approaches in the field of mass communication. Within this framework, students are expected to learn about different paradigmatic approaches, analyze the similarities and differences among them, and critically evaluate current ethical, social, and theoretical debates arising from algorithmic communication, generative artificial intelligence, and digital transformation.
Course Content
This course will first focus on the concepts of theory, paradigm, and the scientific method in the social sciences. It will then touch on the historical precursors to mass communication theory and provide an introduction to the two main schools of thought in the field of mass communication: the liberal and critical approaches. In this context, the communication research of the early Chicago School, the strong effects paradigm, and subsequently the limited effects approach will be examined. After discussing mass communication models, critical communication theories will be examined, covering the Frankfurt School, the British tradition of Cultural Studies, and political economy approaches. In the final section of the course, network theory and contemporary approaches to communication practices will be addressed; new technological paradigms and ethical issues brought about by artificial intelligence, the algorithmic public sphere, data surveillance, and generative media will be discussed within a historical and theoretical context.
Course Precondition
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Resources
Burak Özçetin (2018) İletişim, Teknoloji ve Toplumsal Dönüşüm, Kitle İletişim Kuramları: Kavramlar, Okullar ve Modeller (İstanbul: İletişim). Nick Stevenson-Medya Kültürleri: Sosyal Teori ve Kitle İletişimi (Ankara: Ütopya) Deniz Yengin (Ed.) (2025) Yeni Medya ve İletişim: Yeni Yaklaşımlar (İstanbul: AILabs)
Notes
The following fictional and documentary films will be discussed in class. It is recommended that you watch these films either before the course begins or during the semester: *Modern Times (1936, dir. Charlie Chaplin) *Bananas (1971, dir. Woody Allen) *Network (1976, dir. Sidney Lumet) *Taxi Driver (1976, dir. Martin Scorsese) *They Live (1988, dir. John Carpenter) *Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media (1992, dir. Mark Achbar and Peter Wintonick) *Trainspotting (1996, dir. Danny Boyle) *Wag the Dog (1997, dir. Barry Levinson) *The Truman Show (1998, dir. Peter Weir) *The Matrix (1999, dir. Lana and Lilly Wachowski)
Course Learning Outcomes
| Order | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| LO01 | Defines the concepts of theory and model |
| LO02 | Explains liberal and critical theoretical approaches. |
| LO03 | Discusses the mainstream mass communication theories |
| LO04 | Discusses the critical communcation theories |
| LO05 | Analyzes the historical and contextual similarities and distinctions between theories |
| LO06 | Analyzes artificial intelligence, algorithms, and data-driven new media technologies within the context of communication theories. |
| LO07 | It evaluates ethical issues in generative artificial intelligence and algorithmic communication processes. |
Relation with Program Learning Outcome
| Order | Type | Program Learning Outcomes | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLO01 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Defines advanced theoretical and practical knowledge supported by research methods and techniques and other sources in the field of radio, television and cinema. | 5 |
| PLO02 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Graduates know the basic concepts of the field of communication. | 5 |
| PLO03 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Graduates recall knowledge of program production and management related to audio and visual broadcasting. | |
| PLO04 | Beceriler - Bilişsel, Uygulamalı | Graduates design various types of scripts and programs that can be used in cinema, television and radio sectors. | |
| PLO05 | Beceriler - Bilişsel, Uygulamalı | Graduates interpret the field of radio, television and cinema within the framework of critical thinking. | 3 |
| PLO06 | Beceriler - Bilişsel, Uygulamalı | Graduates research different fields of social sciences by adapting them to their own field of specialization. | 3 |
| PLO07 | Beceriler - Bilişsel, Uygulamalı | Graduates explain basic information about program production and management related to audio and visual broadcasting. | |
| PLO08 | Beceriler - Bilişsel, Uygulamalı | Graduates relate art, aesthetics, law and general culture knowledge about the field. | 4 |
| PLO09 | Beceriler - Bilişsel, Uygulamalı | Graduates use broadcasting and production technologies. | |
| PLO10 | Yetkinlikler - Bağımsız Çalışabilme ve Sorumluluk Alabilme Yetkinliği | Graduates work both individually and as a team in the field. | 2 |
| PLO11 | Yetkinlikler - Öğrenme Yetkinliği | Graduates adapt social problems at national and international level to professional studies. | 4 |
| PLO12 | Yetkinlikler - Öğrenme Yetkinliği | Graduates gain the competence of using communication technologies, monitoring changes and continuous self-improvement. | |
| PLO13 | Yetkinlikler - İletişim ve Sosyal Yetkinlik | Graduates participate in various social, cultural and artistic activities in the field. | |
| PLO14 | Yetkinlikler - İletişim ve Sosyal Yetkinlik | Graduates carry out the tasks expected from him/her as a team member in the applications in his/her field with an interdisciplinary perspective. | 2 |
| PLO15 | Yetkinlikler - İletişim ve Sosyal Yetkinlik | Graduates use information and communication technologies together with the computer software required by the field. | |
| PLO16 | Yetkinlikler - Alana Özgü Yetkinlik | Graduates produce visual and audio content with the scientific formation acquired. | |
| PLO17 | Yetkinlikler - Alana Özgü Yetkinlik | Graduates analyze a film, a script or a television program from a technical, aesthetic and ideological perspective. | 1 |
| PLO18 | Yetkinlikler - Alana Özgü Yetkinlik | Graduates are committed to ethical principles in their professional practice, free from prejudice and against discrimination. | 4 |
| PLO19 | Yetkinlikler - Alana Özgü Yetkinlik | Graduates defend the universality of social and cultural rights, social justice awareness and cultural heritage. | 3 |
| PLO20 | Yetkinlikler - Alana Özgü Yetkinlik | Graduates prepare working environments such as studio and set in accordance with quality management processes and occupational health/safety. |
Week Plan
| Week | Topic | Preparation | Methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General introduction of the course | General introduction | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 2 | Theory, paradigm and scientific methodology | Burak Özçetin (2018), 'Kuram ve Bilimi Anlamak', Kitle İletişim Kuramları: Kavramlar, Okullar ve Modeller (İstanbul: İletişim), ss. 21-38. | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 3 | Masses, mass culture and early communication theories | Burak Özçetin (2018), 'Kitle, Kitle İletişimi ve Kitle İletişim Kuramları', Kitle İletişim Kuramları: Kavramlar, Okullar ve Modeller (İstanbul: İletişim), ss. 39-56. | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 4 | Early communication researches: Chicago School | Burak Özçetin (2018), 'Erken Dönem Amerika İletişim Araştırmaları I: Chicago Okulu', Kitle İletişim Kuramları: Kavramlar, Okullar ve Modeller (İstanbul: İletişim), ss. 57-84. | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 5 | Early communication researches: Effects Paradigm | Burak Özçetin (2018), 'Erken Dönem Amerika İletişim Araştırmaları II: Güçlü Etkiler Paradigması', Kitle İletişim Kuramları: Kavramlar, Okullar ve Modeller (İstanbul: İletişim), ss. 85-98. | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 6 | Discussion of effects in communication researches | Burak Özçetin (2018) İkinci Dünya Savaşı Sonrası İletişim Çalışmalarında Etki Sorunu: Sınırlı Etkilerden Güçlü Etkilere, Kitle İletişim Kuramları: Kavramlar, Okullar ve Modeller (İstanbul: İletişim), ss. 99-134. | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 7 | Mass communication models | Burak Özçetin (2018) Kitle İletişim Modelleri, Kitle İletişim Kuramları: Kavramlar, Okullar ve Modeller (İstanbul: İletişim), ss. 135-161. | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 8 | Mid-Term Exam | General reading | Ölçme Yöntemleri: Yazılı Sınav |
| 9 | Critical communication theories: Frankfurt School in its ethical, aesthetic, and ideological dimensions (Adorno, Horkheimer, Marcuse, Benjamin) | Burak Özçetin (2018) Frankfurt Okulu, Eleştirel Teori ve Kültür Endüstrisi, Kitle İletişim Kuramları: Kavramlar, Okullar ve Modeller (İstanbul: İletişim), ss. 161-180. | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 10 | Critical communication theories: Frankfurt School (Habermas ve Kamusal Alan) | Nick Stevenson-Medya Kültürleri: Sosyal Teori ve Kitle İletişimi (Ankara: Ütopya) ss. 85-127. | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 11 | Critical communication theories: British Cultural Studies | Burak Özçetin (2018) İngiliz Kültürel Çalışmaları, Kitle İletişim Kuramları: Kavramlar, Okullar ve Modeller (İstanbul: İletişim), ss. 181-206. | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 12 | Critical communication theories: Political Economy of Media | Burak Özçetin (2018) İletişimin Ekonomi Politiği, Kitle İletişim Kuramları: Kavramlar, Okullar ve Modeller (İstanbul: İletişim), ss. 207-233. | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 13 | Postmodernism and Mass Communication (Baudrillard) | Nick Stevenson-Medya Kültürleri: Sosyal Teori ve Kitle İletişimi (Ankara: Ütopya) ss. 241-297 | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 14 | Technology paradigms | Burak Özçetin (2018) İletişim, Teknoloji ve Toplumsal Dönüşüm, Kitle İletişim Kuramları: Kavramlar, Okullar ve Modeller (İstanbul: İletişim), ss. 233-262. | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 15 | Network Society, New Media and Artificial Intelligence | Burak Özçetin (2018) İletişim, Teknoloji ve Toplumsal Dönüşüm, Kitle İletişim Kuramları: Kavramlar, Okullar ve Modeller (İstanbul: İletişim), ss. 262-265 Nick Stevenson-Medya Kültürleri: Sosyal Teori ve Kitle İletişimi (Ankara: Ütopya) ss. 308-315, 321-337. Erkan Saka (2025) İletişimciler ve Sosyal Bilimciler İçin Yapay Zeka Çalışmaları Üzerine Bir Literatür Çalışması, 1-43. | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 16 | Term Exams | General reading of course material | Ölçme Yöntemleri: Yazılı Sınav |
| 17 | Term Exams | General reading of course material | Ölçme Yöntemleri: Yazılı Sınav |
Assessment (Exam) Methods and Criteria
| Assessment Type | Midterm / Year Impact | End of Term / End of Year Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Midterm Exam | 100 | -20 |
| 1. Midterm Exam | 100 | -20 |
| General Assessment | ||
| Midterm / Year Total | 200 | -20 |
| 1. Final Exam | - | 60 |
| 1. Final Exam | - | 60 |
| Grand Total | - | 100 |
Student Workload - ECTS
| Works | Number | Time (Hour) | Workload (Hour) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Related Works | |||
| Class Time (Exam weeks are excluded) | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Out of Class Study (Preliminary Work, Practice) | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Assesment Related Works | |||
| Homeworks, Projects, Others | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mid-term Exams (Written, Oral, etc.) | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Final Exam | 1 | 18 | 18 |
| Total Workload (Hour) | 109 | ||
| Total Workload / 25 (h) | 4,36 | ||
| ECTS | 4 ECTS | ||