Disaster! Environment & Media in Contemporary Society
SYG 4930, Section 6009
Semester: Fall 2014
Meeting Times and Location: MWF 4th (10:40-11:30)
Instructor: Lauren N. Griffin
E-mail:
Classroom: Little 121
Office Hours: Monday 11:40-12:40, Wednesday 11:40-1:40 and by appointment
Course Description
This course will use sociology and media theories to examine how the media shapes our understanding of the environment and environmental problems. It focuses on the media as a social structure and powerful institution in changing how we think about nature and the natural world. Students will examine print publications, nature documentaries, cinema, and social media to uncover the environmental discourses permeating modern media. The course is designed to be both theoretical and hands-on, giving students the opportunity to critically evaluate the cultural messages surrounding the environment.
Course Goals
By the end of the course, you should: 1) Be familiar with both sociology and media studies theories 2) Be able to discuss the ways in which media helps construct the environment and environmental problems, and 3) Understand the social forces surrounding the construction of the environment in modern media.
Required Text
Environment, Media and Communication by Anders Hansen (2010). ISBN-10: 041542576X
Other readings will be posted on Sakai for you to download. You may find it helpful to print out the articles and bring them to class, but this is not required. The course website can be found through Sakai at this web address: The course site contains the assigned readings for each week, as well as grades and other class updates.
Assignments
Readings:
Readings will be assigned each week, and you are expected to complete readings BEFORE class. Readings will generally consist of a chapter from the book and an article from an academic journal. The goal of this is to give you practice reading academic works and pulling out the relevant information.
Reflection Essays:
You will be responsible for writing 10 reflection essays on the course readings over the course of the semester. In your essay (about 650 words long), you should give a critical response to the material presented.
- The first paragraph should summarize the week’s readings.
- The second paragraph should make connections between the readings and the course’s theme of environment and media. How do the readings suggest that media impacts our understanding of the environment?
- The third paragraph should critically evaluate the readings. How do the arguments add to our understanding of the topic? How are they similar or different to other readings we’ve done?
You are only allowed to write one reflection essay each week, but it’s up to you which ten weeks you submit a reflection. Essays written for a given week must be turned in on Sakai by the beginning of class on Monday. Reflections will be worth 10 points each, and will make up 24% of your final grade. No essays will be accepted late! Points will be deduced for essays not in Word format, essays that do not meet the length requirement, and essays submitted on the wrong readings. You are not allowed to write extra essays for extra credit, or to “make up” for a lower score.
Leading Discussion:
You will be responsible for leading discussion once during the semester. During the second week of class, you will form groups of 3 - 4 students, and you will pick one week to lead discussion. It is your responsibility to check your schedule to make sure that you will be in town the week you lead discussion, and no make-up discussion sessions will be allowed.If you miss your discussion session or are late to class, your grade will be significantly reduced. Leading discussion will consist of three parts:
1) As a group, pick one media example (up to 5 minutes of video, or an article or game to share) which illustrates the points covered in the week’s readings.
2) Come up with 5-7 discussion questions about the week’s topics for the class’s consideration.
3) E-mail me both your media clip and your discussion questions by Thursday at noon the week your group presents.
Student discussions will typically occur on the Friday of each week (unless otherwise noted). During class, you’ll be responsible for presenting your questions to the class, showing your media clip, and facilitating class discussion. Leading discussion will be worth 50 points towards your final grade. While this is a group project, you will receive an individual grade based on my assessment of your contribution to the final group project.
You will be graded on the following:
- Turning in your questions and media clip on time: 10 points
- Coming up with thoughtful discussion questions, appropriate media clip: 10 points
- Understanding of the sociological concepts in the unit: 10 points
- Facilitating discussion (including communicating effectively with group members): 10 points
- Overall presentation/professionalism: 10 points
Media Analyses:
Each Wednesday, we will be examining media artifacts relating to the week’s topic. We will start class by viewing the media artifacts. You will be responsible for filling out a media analysis worksheet critically evaluating the media as you watch the media. We will then discuss our responses to the media as a class. You are responsible for doing eight total analyses over the course of the semester. Analyses are worth 10 points each for a total of 80.
Extra Credit
Environmental Media Clips
During the semester, you may submit up to three environmental media clips relating to the course readings. Clips may be scenes from television shows or films, songs, excerpts from books, pieces of social media, etc. You may only submit one clip for each topic, and only one of your clips can be a news story. You will receive five bonus point towards your final grade for each clip you submit for a total of fifteen possible bonus points.
Final Paper:
To wrap up the semester, you will be required to write a final paper using the theories and ideas presented in the course to analyze some aspect of environmental media. The final paper is due the last day of class and should be turned in on Sakai under the Assignments tab. Final papers should be about 6-7 pages long, double spaced.
Before you begin writing your final paper, you must send me a topic paragraph (at least 100 words) describing your topic. The paragraph should include the area of media and environment you plan on examining, the theories you’ll use, and the argument you’ll be making in your paper. More information will be given about the final paper later in the semester.
Grading Scale and Grade Breakdown
Points / Percent / Grade430-399 / 100-93 / A
398-387 / 92-90 / A-
386-374 / 89-87 / B+
373-356 / 86-83 / B
355-344 / 82-80 / B-
343-331 / 79-77 / C+
330-313 / 76-73 / C
312-301 / 72-70 / C-
300-288 / 69-67 / D+
287-270 / 66-63 / D
269-258 / 62-60 / D-
Less than 257 / Less than 59 / F (E)
Leading Discussion: 50 points
Weekly Reflections: 100 points
Media Analyses: 80 points
Final Paper: 200 points
Total: 430 points
If you feel an error has been made on any of your scores, you will be permitted two weeks from the time the score was posted for a review of the exam/assignment. After this time the score will be entered as a permanent grade. It is the student’s responsibility to check and review each of his/her scores. You need to be checking Sakai regularly to review your exam and assignment scores and make sure that they appear correct. If believe an error has been made, you need to contact me as soon as possible so we can review the score.
Course Policies
Attendance:
Attendance for this class is not required, but it is strongly encouraged. Much of the class is structured around discussion and conversation, and some materials may be presented in class that is not covered by the readings. You must be in class the day your group leads discussion or you will receive a zero.You are responsible for all material covered in class, regardless of whether you are present or not. I understand it’s not possible to make it to each class, and accommodations will be made for excused absences. If you find yourself in a situation that requires you to miss class for an extended period of time, please let me know beforehand and we’ll work something out. You may be asked to provide written confirmation of your situation (e.g. a doctor’s note, coach’s note, etc.). If you cannot provide this confirmation, your absence will be counted as unexcused.
- Excused Absences include (but are not limited to): illness, serious family emergencies, university-sanctioned events (e.g. professional conferences, athletic competitions, etc.), military obligations, religious holidays, and legal obligations (e.g. jury duty).
- Unexcused Absences include (but are not limited to): sleeping in, missing the bus, vacations, non-University sanctioned trips, events for your fraternity/sorority, meetings with advisors/bosses, club events, and car troubles.
Classroom Behavior:
In general, my policy is that class is a time for learning. As such, only come to class if you are prepared to pay attention and actively participate. If you’re looking for a time to socialize, read the paper, or sleep, don’t come to class. If you are disruptive in class, you will be asked to leave the classroom. If you have to be asked to leave the classroom more than once, you will not be allowed back into the classroom and you will automatically fail the course. The following behaviors are considered disruptive and grounds for immediate expulsion from the classroom:
- Loud conversations held during class
- Answering your cell phone during class
- Talking back to the instructor
- Rudeness, either to the instructor or to another student
- Other extreme behaviors, as deemed by the instructor
Cell phones are not allowed out during class for any reason whatsoever. Keep your phone off and in your bag or pocket. If you phone rings, or I see you texting during class, you’ll be asked to leave. Likewise, keep your headphones off during class time.
Respect:
Some of the topics we’ll be discussing this semester are controversial, and can lead to heated discussion. Discussion is encouraged, and engaging with people who have different views than your own is one of the best ways to learn. It’s NOT okay, however, to be disrespectful to other students or to your instructor. No personal attacks- in any form- or racist, sexist, classist, homophobic, etc. remarks will be allowed in this classroom, period. I reserve the right to ask you to leave the classroom if I feel you’re being disrespectful to other students or your behavior is inappropriate. This is done to ensure that the classroom environment remains friendly, open, and comfortable for everyone.
University Policies
Incomplete Grade Policy for CLAS:
Information regarding incomplete grades can be found on the University’s website: From the website: "I" grades should be assigned only after the instructor and the student have explicitly arranged, before the final exam for the course, to have the student complete exams or other required course work after the semester is over. The "I" arrangement should be used only when the student is doing passing work ("D" or better) in the course at the time of the arrangement.
Accommodation Policies for Students with Disabilities:
Information regarding UF’s policy on students with disabilities can be found here: Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requestingaccommodation.
Academic Honesty:
All students are expected to abide by the academic honesty standards set out by the University: Failure to comply with these standards will result in disciplinary action. Students caught cheating on any assignment for this class will be given a failing grade for the assignment, or, at my discretion, a failing grade for the course. Incidents of possible cheating will be reported to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs. If you have questions about how to cite a work, how to complete an assignment, or whether something constitutes academic dishonesty, please ask me, and I’ll be more than happy to help.
Course Evaluations:
Students are expected to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course based on 10 criteria. These evaluations are conducted online at Evaluations are typically open during the last two or three weeks of the semester, but students will be given specific times when they are open. Summary results of these assessments are available to students at
Gordon Rule:
This course is not designed to fulfill a university writing requirement (Gordon Rule).
Course Schedule
Week / Topic / Reading / NotesWeek 1: August 25th / Introduction
Week 2: September 2nd / Theories of Media / - Chapter 1in Environmental Risks and the Media
- Gamson et al. Media Images and the Social Construction of Reality / No class Sept. 1st
Reflection due Wed. Sept. 3rd
Week 3: September 8th / Social Construction of the Environment / - Hansen Chapter 2: Communication and environmental issues
- Burmingham’s A Noisy Road or Noisy Residents?
- Fine’s Naturework and the Taming of the Wild: The Problem of “Overpick” in the Culture of Mushroomers
Week 4: September 15th / Formation of Environmental Attitudes / - Corbett’s Chapter 2: A Spectrum of Environmental Ideologies
- Theodori and Luloff’s Position on Environmental Issues and Engagement in Pro-Environmental Behaviors
- Delshad and Raymond’s Media Framing and Public Attitudes Towards Biofuels
Week 5: September 22nd / Politics and the Environment / - Hansen Chapter 7: Media, publics, politics and environmental issues
- Kahan’s Cultural cognition of scientific consensus
- Kahan’s Why We are Poles Apart
Week 6: September 29th / News and the Environment / - Hansen Chapter 4: The environment as news
- Boykoff’s We Speak for the Trees
- Vevea et al.’s Portrayals of Dominance
Week 7: October 6th / Climate Change in the News / - Boykoff and Boykoff’s Climate change and journalistic norms
- Brulle, Carmichael, and Jenkins Shifting public opinion on climate change
Week 8: October 13th / Environment as Commodity / - Hansen Chapter 6: Selling ‘nature/the natural’
- Corbett’s Chapter 6: Faint-Green: Advertising and the Natural World / No class Oct. 17th
Discussion on Oct. 15th
Week 9: October 20th / Greenwashing / - Pleck’s Greenwashing Consumption: The Didactic Framing of ExxonMobil's Energy Solutions
- Wilson’s A Critical Review of Environmental Sustainability Reporting in the Consumer Goods Industry: Greenwashing or Good Business?
Week 10: October 27th / Pop Culture and the Environment / - Hansen Chapter 5: Popular culture, nature and environmental issues
- Sturgeon’s Chapter 4: “The Power is Yours, Planeteers!”
Week 11: November 3rd / Environment in Film / - Lieserowitz’s Before and After The Day After Tomorrow
- Kirby’s Science Consultants, Fictional Films, and the Triumph of the Spectacle
Week 12: November 10th / Nature Documentaries / - Richards’ Global Nature, Global Brand
- Bagust’s Screen Effects
- San Deogracias and Mateos-Perez’s Thinking about television audiences
Week 13: November 17th / Animals in the Media / - Gerber, Burton-Jeangros, and Dubied’s Animals in the media: New boundaries of risk?
- Bagust’s Spectacle, entertainment, interactivity, and the ‘big bird’ races of 2004-2005
Week 14: November 24th / Open discussion / No readings / No class Nov. 26th or 28th
Week 15: December 1st / Social Media and the Environment / - Cox Chapter 7: Social Media and the Environment Online
- Camay, Brown, and Makoid’s Role of Social Media in Environmental Review Process
- Nwagbara’s The effects of social media on the sustainability activities of oil and gas multinationals in Nigeria
Week 16:
December 8th / Working days / No readings- open office hours / Final paper due Wednesday, Dec. 10th
Note: The instructor reserves the right to change or alter the syllabus/schedule at any time. You will be notified ahead of time if changes occur (both in class and on Sakai), and deadlines will never be moved up, only extended. Films, readings, guest lectures, and all other course materials are subject to change, and classes may be cancelled. It is your responsibility to keep track of any changes announced.