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 New York University Department of Media, Culture, and Communication Media and the Environment MCC-­‐UE 1027.001 COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will investigate the dominant critical perspectives that have contributed to the development of Environmental Communication as a field of study. This course explores the premise that the way we communicate powerfully impacts our perceptions of the “natural” world, and that these perceptions shape the way we define our relationships to and within nature, as well as how we define and solve environmental problems. The goal of this course is to access various conceptual frameworks for addressing questions about the relationship between the environment, culture and communication. Students will explore topics such as consumerism, representations of the environment in popular culture and environmental activism. This is a praxis-­‐based course, meaning that a major, hands-­‐on communication project will be based on critical theory. LEARNING OBJECTIVES The course will address the following questions: How are environmental problems discussed and mediated within the public realm? How do these rhetorical and visual discourses structure our relationship to environmental crises? How can students create a communication strategy that frames environmental problems in a specific way in order to align the problem with appropriate solutions. By the end of this course, students will: Identify the role of discourse, rhetoric and representation in shaping the way we think about the natural world. Describe how communication plays a significant role in the framing and discussion of environmental problems and solutions Explain the way representations of nature and the environment are politically, socially, and economically constructed. Analyze and engage in debates about local, national and global environmental disputes. Critically examine the way recent environmental concerns, such as global warming/ climate change are represented to the public. Interpret how conflicting discourses about the environment depend upon different values and views of nature and the human place in nature. Critique contemporary debates about environmentalism by framing them from the perspective of cultural analysis. Synthesize critical theory in order to create an environmental communication strategy for an environmental cause. 1
REQUIRED TEXTS R. Cox. Environmental Communication and the Public Sphere. Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi: Sage, 2010. James G. Cantrill & Christine Oravec, eds. The Symbolic Earth: Discourse and Our Creation of the Environment. University Press of Kentucky, 1996. ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION You are responsible for the material covered in lecture and in the reading. You will be evaluated on (1) the level of your engagement with the class materials (as evidenced in your written work and class participation) (2) your capacity to explain your ideas and analysis in articulate and well-­‐ written forms (3) and your ability to creatively explore these theories and methodologies. These criteria will be evaluated according to the ACUPCC“Defining Success in Student Learning,” which will be distributed in the first class. All of your written and project work will be graded on two primary evaluative scales (1) how well it demonstrates an understanding of the theories and methodologies of the class (2) how well it structures and articulates its argument. The form (2) and content (1) of the work should work together. Students are expected to do all readings in preparation for class and to participate fully in class discussions and on Blackboard. Written work for the class will consist of weekly blog posts that the readings and topics to your chosen environmental issue, one midterm exam (which will be short essay questions) and a final group communication project on an approved topic of your choosing related to the course materials. Please note, a brief proposal with short bibliography for the final project will be due at midterms. Final evaluation of students’ performance will be made on the basis the following criteria. In class participation 10% Blog posts 20% Midterm 20% Project Proposal 10% Final Project 40% Evaluation Rubric See extra sheet, attached. COURSE POLICIES Absences and Lateness More than two unexcused absences will automatically result in a lower grade. Chronic lateness will also be reflected in your evaluation of participation. Regardless of the reason for your absence you will be responsible for any missed work. Travel arrangements do not constitute a valid excuse for rescheduling exams. There are no extra credit assignments for this class. Format Please type and double-­‐space your written work. Typing improves the clarity and readability of your work and double-­‐spacing allows room for me to comment. Please also number and staple multiple pages. You are free to use your preferred citation style. Please use it consistently 2
throughout your writing. When sending a document electronically, please name the file in the following format Yourlastname AssignmentName.doc Grade Appeals Please allow two days to pass before you submit a grade appeal. This gives you time to reflect on my assessment. If you still want to appeal your grade, please submit a short but considered paragraph detailing your concerns. Based on this paragraph I will review the question and either augment your grade or refine my explanation for the lost points. General Decorum Slipping in late or leaving early, sleeping, text messaging, surfing the Internet, doing homework in class, eating, etc. are distracting and disrespectful to all participants in the course. Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/policies/academic_integrity See extra handout. Student Resources Students with physical or learning disabilities are required to register with the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities, 726 Broadway, 2nd Floor, (212-­‐998-­‐4980) and are required to present a letter from the Center to the instructor at the start of the semester in order to be considered for appropriate accommodation. Writing Center: 411 Lafayette, 3 FL. Schedule an appointment online at www.rich15.com/nyu/ or just walk-­‐in. 3
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES, READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS WEEK ONE – Introducing Environmental Communication Class 1: Introductions, Overview Class 2: Introduction to the field Read: Tema Milstein, “Environmental Communication Theories,” in Stephen W. Littlejohn and Karen A. Foss, eds. Encyclopedia of Communication Theory. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2009. Pp. 344-­‐49. Cox, R. Environmental Communication and the Public Sphere. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2010. (Introduction & CH1, “Studying Environmental Communication, pp. 1-­‐43) WEEK TWO – Origins of Environmentalism & Environmental Communication Class 1: Major Frames: Conservationism, Preservationism and Sustainability Read: Christine Oravec, “Conservationism vs. Preservationism: The ‘Public Interest’ in the Hetch-­‐Hetchy Controversy,” Quarterly Journal of Speech, 70, 444-­‐58. Elizabeth Kolbert, “Turf Wars,” New Yorker, July 21, 2008: http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2008/07/21/080721crbo_books_kolbert Class 2: Major Frames: Outside of America Read: Guha, R. and J. Martínez Alier (1997). Varieties of environmentalism : essays North and South. London, Earthscan Publications. (selection) WEEK THREE-­‐-­‐ Social/ Symbolic Constructions of Nature Class 1: Social Construction Theory Make groups for Final Project Read: Neil Everndon, The Social Creation of Nature, pp.1-­‐39 Cox, CH2: “Social/ Symbolic Constructions of ‘Environment,” pp. 45-­‐70 Class 2: The Newsmedia and the Framing of the Environment Read: Alison Anderson, Media, Culture and the Environment (CH4) Hannigan, J (1995) 'News media and environmental communication' in Hannigan, J (1995) Environmental Sociology. London. Routledge pp 58-­‐75 4
WEEK FOUR-­‐-­‐Environmental Discourse Class 1: Environmental Rhetoric Read: Killingsworth, M. & Palmer, J. (1992). Ecospeak: Rhetoric and environmental politics in America. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press. (Introduction & CH1) Cantrill, J. G., & Oravec, C. L. (Eds.). The Symbolic Earth: Discourse and our Creation of the Environment. Lexington: University of Kentucky Press, 1996. (Introduction, pp. 1-­‐5) Recommended: John Opie and Norbert Elliot, “Tracking the Elusive Jeremiad: The Rhetorical Character of American Environmental Discourse” in Oravec, The Symbolic Earth Class 2-­‐-­‐Discourses of Consumption Read: Glenn, C. B. (2004). “Constructing Consumables and Consent: A Critical Analysis of Factory Farm Industry Discourse.” Journal of Communication Inquiry, 28(1), 63-­‐81. Dauvergne, P. (2008). The Shadows of Consumption: Consequences for the Global Environment. Cambridge, Mass., MIT Press. (selection) WEEK FIVE-­‐-­‐Scale Class 1: Communication, and the scalar link between problems and solutions Read: Sayre, N. F. (2005). "Ecological and geographical scale: parallels and potential for integration." Progress in Human Geography 29(3): 279-­‐290. Kris Belden-­‐Adams, “Time Implosion in NASA’s Whole-­‐Earth Photographs,” Spectator 28.2 Fall 2008. Class 2: Scalar falacies Discussion of Final Project Proposals Read: El Hadu Jazairy, New Geographies, 4: Scales of the Earth (selections) WEEK SIX-­‐-­‐ -­‐-­‐The Environment in Crisis Class 1: Urban Disaster Proposal for Final Project Due Read: Mike Davis, "The Dialectic of Ordinary Disaster" and "How Eden Lost its Garden" in Ecology of Fear. Class 2: Apocalypse Scenarios and the Media Read: 5
Christina R. Foust and William O’Shannon Murphy. “Revealing and Reframing Apocalyptic Tragedy in Global Warming Discourse.” Environmental Communication: A Journal of Nature and Culture 3.2 (July 2009): 151-­‐167. WEEK SEVEN-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐ A Case of Climate Change Class 1: Global Warming Read: Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus. The Death of Environmentalism: Global Warming Politics In a Post Environmental World. 2004. (selection) Class 2: Visual Renderings of Climate Change Read: Cox, pp. 66-­‐70. Finis Dunaway. “The Ecological Sublime.” Natural Visions: The Power of Images in American Environmental Reform. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005. 194-­‐21 2 Julie Doyle. “Seeing the Climate? The Problematic Status of Visual Evidence in Climate Change Campaigning.” Ecosee: Image, Rhetoric, Nature. Eds. Sidney I. Dobrin a nd Sean Morey. Albany: SUNY Press, 2009. 279-­‐298. WEEK EIGHT-­‐-­‐ Environmental Justice Class 1: Environmental Advocacy Read: Cox, CH 7, “Environmental Advocacy Campaigns,” pp.225-­‐254. Michael Pollan. “Farmer In Chief.” New York Times Magazine 12 October 2008. Class 2: Organizing for Change Read: Cox, CH 8 “Environmental Justice/ Climate Justice: Voices from the Grassroots,” pp. 263-­‐ 297. Kevin Michael Deluca, Image Politics: The New Rhetoric of Environmental Activism, Intro & Ch. 4: “The Possibilities of Nature in a Postmodern Age: The case of environmental justice groups” WEEK NINE –Radical Environmentalism Class 1: Ecotopianism Read: Killingsworth, M. & Palmer, J. (1992). Ecospeak: Rhetoric and environmental politics in America. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press. (CH6) 6
Bron Taylor, “The Tributaries of Radical Environmentalism” Journal for the Study of Radicalism 2.1 (2008) 27-­‐61 ***Screening: If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front dir. Marshall Curry Class 2: Ecofeminism Read: Greta Gaard, “Toward a Queer Ecofeminism,” in Stein, New Perspectives on Environmental Justice. Connie Bullis, “Retalking Environmental Discourses from a Feminist Perspective: The Radical Potential of Ecofeminism,” in Christine Lena Oravec, The Symbolic Earth: Discourse and our Creation of the Environment (Lexington, KY: The University of Kentucky Press, 1996) WEEK TEN-­‐-­‐ Green Consumerism Class 1: Green Marketing Read: Cox, CH 10, “ Green Marketing and Corporate Advocacy,” pp. 331-­‐65 Jimmie Killingsworth and Jacqueline Palmer, “Liberal and Pragmatic Trends in the Discourse of Green Consumerism,” in Oravec & Cantrill Class 2: Environmental Commodification on the Internet Read: Elizabeth R. Dorsey, H. Leslie Steeves & Luz Estella Porras, “Advertising Ecotourism on the Internet: Commodifying Environment and Culture”, New Media & Society, December 2004 WEEK ELEVEN-­‐-­‐ Alternative Media and EcoActivism Class 1: EcoCulture Jamming Read: Sandlin, J. A., & Milam, J. L. (2008). Mixing pop (culture) and politics: Cultural resistance, culture jamming, and anti-­‐consumption activism as critical public pedagogy. Curriculum Inquiry, 38(3), 323-­‐350. Class 2: Visualizing Activism Read: Lisa D. Slawter. “TreeHuggerTV; Re-­‐Visualizing Environmental Activism in the Post-­‐Netw ork Era.” Environmental Communication: A Journal of Nature and Culture 2.2 (July 2008): 212-­‐228. WEEK TWELVE— Final Projects: work in class 7
WEEK THIRTEEN—Final Projects: work in class WEEK FOURTEEN—Final Projects: work in class WEEK FIFTEEN—Final Projects Due & Presentations SUPPLEMENTAL BIBLIOGRAPHY/SUGGESTED READINGS Cajete, G. (1999). Reclaiming Biophilia: Lessons from Indigenous Peoples. In G. A. S. D. R. Williams (Ed.), Ecological Education in Action: On Weaving Education, Culture, and the Environment. Albany: State University of New York Press. Cantrill, J.G. & C. L. Oravec (Eds.), The Symbolic Earth: Discourse and Our Creation of the Environment (pp. 38-­‐57). Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. Carson, R. (2002). Silent Spring. Boston, Houghton Mifflin. Chawla, L. (2002). Spots of Time: Manifold Ways of Being in Nature in Childhood. In P. H. Kahn, Jr. & S. Kellert (Eds.), Children and Nature: Psychological, Sociocultural, and Evolutionary Investigations (pp. 199-­‐226). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press Cronon, W. (Ed.), Uncommon Ground: Rethinking the Human Place in Nature (pp. 19-­‐22). New York: W.W. Norton & Co. Davis, Susan, “Another World: Theme Parks and Nature,” in Spectacular Nature: Corporate Culture and the Sea World Experience (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997), 19 – 39. Delicath, John W. & Marie-­‐France A. Elsenbeer, (Eds.) Communication and Public Participation in Environmental Decision Making. (pp. 13-­‐33). New York: State University of New York Press. De Steiguer, J.E. Origins of Modern Environmental Thought, University of Arizona Press, 2006. Dunlap, Riley. 'Public opinion and environmental policy' in Lester, JP (1997)(ed) Environmental Politics and Policy (Second Edition) Durham. Duke University Press pp 63-­‐114. Dunwoody, S and Griffin, R (1993) 'Journalistic strategies for reporting long-­‐term environmental issues: a case study of three Superfund sites in Hansen, A (1993) 'The mass media and environmental issues'. Leicester. Leicester University Press. pp 22-­‐50 Durfee & Corbett, “Context and Controversy: Global Warming Coverage” : http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/article/100594/Context-­‐and-­‐Controversy-­‐Global-­‐ Warming-­‐Coverage.aspx Ereaut,Gill and Nat Segnit. Warm Words: How Are We Telling the Climate Story and Can We Tell It Better? Institute for Public Policy Research. August 2006. Evans, M.M. & R. Stein (Eds.), The Environmental Justice Reader: Politics, Poetics, and 8
Pedagogy (pp. 181-­‐193). Tucson: University of Arizona Press. Friedman, Thomas L. Hot, Flat and Crowded. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008. Gomes, M.E. & A. D. Kanner (Eds.), Ecopsychology: Restoring the Earth, Healing the Mind (pp. 316-­‐324). San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. Haraway, D. J. (1989). Primate visions: gender, race, and nature in the world of modern science. New York, Routledge. Hatley, James (2002). Where the Beaver Gnaw: Predatory Space in the Urban Landscape. In Backhaus, G. & Murungi, J. (Eds.), Transformations of Urban and Suburban Landscapes: Perspectives from Philosophy, Geography and Architecture (pp. 35-­‐53). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. Krimsky, S and Plough, A (1988) Environmental hazards: communicating risk as a social process'. Dover MA. Auburn House. Milstein, T. (2009). ‘Somethin’ tells me it’s all happening at the zoo:’ Discourse, power, and conservationism. Environmental Communication: A Journal of Nature and Culture, 3(1), 24-­‐48. Milstein, T. (2008). When whales “speak for themselves”: Communication as a mediating force in wildlife tourism. Environmental Communication: A Journal of Nature and Culture, 2(2), 173-­‐ 192. Murphy, P. C. (2005). What a book can do: the publication and reception of Silent spring. Amherst, University of Massachusetts Press. Pezzullo, P.C. (1997) Toxic Tourism: Rhetorics of Pollution, Travel and Environmental Justice. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. Pyle, RM (2002). Eden in a vacant lot: Special places, species, and kids in the neighborhood of life. In PH Kahn, Jr. & SR Kellert (Eds.), Children and nature: Psychological, sociocultural, and evolutionary investigations (pp. 305-­‐327). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. Rivoli, P. (2009). The travels of a T-­‐shirt in the global economy: an economist examines the markets, power, and politics of world trade. Hoboken, N.J., John Wiley. Rogers, R. A. Overcoming the Objectification of nature in constitutive theories: Toward a transhuman, materialist theory of communication. Western Journal of Communication, 62, 244-­‐ 272. Rogers, H. (2005). Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage. New York; London, New Press: Distributed by W.W. Norton & Company. Royte, E. (2008). Bottlemania: how water went on sale and why we bought it. New York, Bloomsbury: Distributed to the trade by Macmillan. 9
Starosielski, Nicole. “’Movements that are drawn’: A history of environmental animation from The Lorax to Ferngully to Avatar,” International Communication Gazette, February 2011, Vol. 73 no. 1-­‐2, 145-­‐63. Sturgeon, Noel. “’The Power is Yours Planeteers!’ Race, Gender and Sexuality in Children’s Environmental Popular Culture,” in Stein, New Perspectives on Environmental Justice, pp.262-­‐ 277. Sturgeon, N. (2009). Environmentalism in popular culture: gender, race, sexuality, and the politics of the natural. Tucson, University of Arizona Press. Stein, Rachel, ed. New Perspectives on Environmental Justice: Gender, Sexuality, and Activism. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2004. Stibbe, A. (2001). Language, power, and the social construction of animals. Society and Animals, 9(2), 145-­‐161. Valladolid, J., & Apffel-­‐Marglin, F. (2001). Andean cosmovision and the nurturing of biodiversity. In J. A. Grim (Ed.), Indigenous Traditions and Ecology: The Interbeing of Cosmology and Community (pp. 639-­‐670). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Press. Walker G. B. & Daniels, S. E. (2004). Dialogue and deliberation in environmental conflict: enacting civic science. In Senecah, S. L. (Ed.), The Environmental Communication Yearbook, Volume 1 (pp. 135-­‐152). Mahwah NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. Warren, K.J. (Ed.), Ecofeminism: Women, Culture, Nature (pp. 327-­‐355). Bloomington: Indiana University Press. Wilson, A. (1992). The Culture of Nature: North American Landscape from Disney to the Exxon Valdez. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell. Chapter 1, “The View from the Road: Recreation and Tourism” (pp. 19-­‐52) World Wildlife Fund. Weathercocks and Signposts: The Environment Movement at a Crossroads. April 2008. Also see the Journal of Environmental Communication: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/renc 10