IMS FSV UK – Katedra severoamerických studií

Summer Semester 2019

Tomáš Klvaňa, PhD, MA (Office hours by appointment)


Course	AMERICAN PRESIDENCY IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Class Description	The course is an in-depth study of the changing nature of the presidency of the United States in the new environment shaped by political communication in the digital era. Students will study the basics of political communication in its historical evolution, both campaign communication and presidential communication. They will focus on key presidential powers and look at how they were affected by the digital age. A special focus will be devoted to the presidential campaign and presidency of Donald J. Trump, his political communication and its impact on American society and democratic system. Students will analyze the White House website, twitter accounts, YouTube channel and other platforms. After completing this course students will have acquired a layered understanding of the present nature of U.S. presidency and its impact.

Assessment Components	10% -- Class Attendance and Activity · Discussion moderated by professor based on course reading, films and lectures · Possible short quizzes based on readings 25% -- Teams of students leading class discussions focusing on up-to-date president’s communication on social networks and other platforms 30% -- Written Test (Questions testing knowledge of course theory; closed book and notes: students will not be allowed to use any course or internet resources) 35% -- Final Exam – Book Review (individual) – Students will submit a 6-page double-spaced book review of Fault Lines by Kruse and Zelizer, demonstrating an originality of thought and an ability to apply ideas and concepts internalized in the course A failure to submit or fulfill any of the above would result in the F grade for the course.
Assessment Expectations	Grade A: Excellent work demonstrating a critical and observant approach to the subject, sound research and an ability to express thoughts cogently and persuasively. Grade B: Very good work. Grade C: Satisfactory work. Grade F: Failure to achieve a passable standard.
Grading	A = 91-100, B = 81-90, C = 71-80, F = 70 and below
Required Text(s)	Book Excerpts, Papers and Podcasts · The Tim Ferriss Show ep. 86: General Stanley McChrystal https://tim.blog/2015/07/05/stanley-mcchrystal/ · Levin, Yuval. Congress Is Weak Because Its Members Want It to Be Weak. Commentary, June 2018. https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/congress-weak-members-want-weak/ · Benjamin Moffitt and Simon Tormey –Rethinking Populism: Politics, Mediatisation and Political Style. Political Studies: 2014 VOL 62, 381–397 · Elayan, S., S., Sykora, M.D. and Jackson, T., 2018. ``His tweets speak for themselves'': An analysis of Donald Trump's Twitter be-haviour. Presented at the Fourth International Journal of Press/Politics (IJPP) conference, Oxford, UK, 11-12 October 2018. · Evan Dashevsky – Donald Trump and the “Modern” Twitter Presidency (article) https://www.pcmag.com/article/355726/donald-trump-and-the-modern-twitter-presidency · Nicol Turner-Lee – How the President’s Twitter Account Affects Civil Society (article) https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2017/02/16/how-the-presidents-twitter-account-affects-civil-society/ · Steven A. Seidman (2010) Barack Obama’s 2008 Campaign for the U.S. Presidency and Visual Design, Journal of Visual Literacy, 29:1, 1-27 · Diana Owen, Richard Davis – Presidential Communication in the Internet Era (paper) · Richard M. Perloff – The Dynamics of Political Communication. Media and Politics in a Digital Age (book excerpts) · Richard Ellis, Michael Nelson – Debating the Presidency: Conflicting Perspectives on the American Executive (book excerpts) · Kruse Kevin, Zelizer Julian. Fault Lines. A History of the United States Since 1974. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2018 Films and Videos · The Twitter Presidency (TwiT Netcast Network) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3egI4AXo6rc · Brad Parscale – The Trump Effect One Year On (Worldwide Speakers Group) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZmQfZ5Vg0o Course Schedule 1. February 18 Introduction and Course Requirements 2. February 25 Presidential Character and Leadership Listen before the class session: The Tim Ferriss Show ep. 86: General Stanley McChrystal https://tim.blog/2015/07/05/stanley-mcchrystal/ Reading: Debating the Presidency, Chapter Seven 3. March 4 Presidency and Congress Reading: Levin, Yuval. Congress Is Weak Because Its Members Want It to Be Weak 4. March 11 Populism as Style Reading: Moffitt and Tormey – Rethinking Populism: Politics, Mediatisation and Political Style. 5. March 18 The Twitter Presidency Readings: Elayan, Sykora, and Jackson. ``His tweets speak for themselves''; Dashevsky – Donald Trump and the “Modern” Twitter Presidency; Turner-Lee – How the President’s Twitter Account Affects Civil Society In-Class Video: The Twitter Presidency (TwiT Netcast Network) 6. March 25 Digital / Visual Readings:Seidman—Barack Obama’s 2008 Campaign for the U.S. Presidency and Visual Design; Owen and Davis – Presidential Communication in the Internet Era 7. April 1 WRITTEN TEST 8. April 8 Presidential Campaigns Readings: Perloff, The Dynamics…Chapter 1 & Chapter 11; 9. April 15 Persuasion and Campaigns Reading: Perloff, The Dynamics…Chapter 14 In-Class Video: Brad Parscale – The Trump Effect One Year On (Worldwide Speakers Group)