Face-to-face , first term, 30 hours of theory.

First term
Monday from 09:00 to 11:00 at 43 Botanique 1

French

1. To familiarize the students with the main theoretical approached that have been contributing to the birth and the development of information and communication sciences.

2. To enable the students to classify the main theories, considering not only the theories but also the other disciplines of human and social sciences, in terms of continuity and specificity.

3. To lead the students to think more critically about communication phenomena and social discourses about media in our society.

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- General introduction;
- fundamental concepts (information, communication)
- the context of the emergence of communication studies in the beginning of the 20th century;
- the behaviourist approach to media effects: propaganda;
- the critical theory of the Frankfurt School;
- the functionalist theories of media;
- the mathematical theory of information;
- communication and meaning: the structuralist approach;
- the cultural approach to media;
- reception studies:
- conclusion (reading): “Y a-t-il des objets plus communicationnels que d'autres?” (J.-B. Perret, 2004).

- Lecture;
- audio-visual illustrations;
- quizzes and role play;
- awareness or application exercises (occasionally).

Written examination.

Among plenty of books introducing to the main communication theories, we recommend:

BRETON P. & PROULX S. (1996), L'explosion de la communication, Paris, La Découverte.

HEINDERYCKX F. (2002), Une introduction aux fondements théoriques de l'étude des medias, 2ème éd., Liège, Céfal.

LOHISSE J., en collaboration avec PATRIARCHE G. et KLEIN A. (2009), La communication. De la transmission à la relation, 4ème edition, Bruxelles, De Boeck.

MAIGRET E. (2007), Sociologie de la communication et des médias, 2ème éd., Paris, Armand Colin.

MATTELART A. & MATTELART M. (1995). Histoire des théories de la communication, Paris, La Découverte.

MEUNIER J.-P., PERAYA D. (2004). Introduction aux théories de la communication. Analyse sémio-pragmatique de la communication médiatique, Bruxelles, De Boeck.

A complete syllabus is provided along with the slides for all course chapters.