New Reference Books at ASC

The Sage Handbook of Rhetorical Studies, edited by Andrea Lunsford, Kirt Wilson, and Rosa Eberly (Sage, 2009). Brings together top scholars and researchers from across disciplines--composition, speech communication, English, philosophy, education, sociology, African-American studies--who are doing work in rhetorical studies; addresses fundamental issues and pivotal questions about the role of rhetoric in history and in today's society. PN 175 S15 2009

The New York Times on the Presidency 1853-2008, edited by Meena Bose (CQ Press, 2009). Contains a variety of news articles, editorials and data from The Times selected by a noted Presidential scholar who supplies context and commentary. Presidents go from Franklin Pierce to George W. Bush. JK 554 B67 2009

The Sage Handbook of Child Development, Multiculturalism, and Media, edited by Joy Keiko Asamen, Mesha L. Ellis, and Gordon L. Berry (Sage, 2008). "I suspect that this Handbook may become a ‘definitive’ text as we seek to include the perspectives of all types of people, to reach beyond the boundaries that have separated people of one culture from those of another, and to socialize our youth to be more multiculturally sensitive."
-Carolyn Stroman, Howard University

Encyclopedia of the First Amendment, edited by John R. Vile, David L. Hudson Jr., and David Schultz (CQ Press, 2009). Two-volume reference comprehensively examines all the freedoms in the First Amendment, including free speech, press, assembly, petition, and religion; covers the political, historical, and cultural significance of the First Amendment. KF4770 E53 2009

The Postgraduate Research Handbook, by Gina Wisker (Palgrave, 2008). An accessible guide through research for all postgraduate students, including international students, involved in MA, MPhil, EdD and PhD study. LB2371 W576 2008

Dictionary of Media and Communications, by Marcel Danesi (M.E. Sharpe, 2009). Complete listing of media concepts, figures, and techniques with illustrations and historical commentaries. Features an introduction by Arthur Asa Berger; also includes terms related to psychology, linguistics, aesthetics, computer science, semiotics, culture theory, anthropology, and more that relate to media studies. P87.5 .D359 2009

Toronto School of Communication Theory : Interpretations, Extensions, Applications, edited by Rita Watson & Menahem Blondheim (Hebrew University Magnes Press, 2007) "This collection aims to re-assess the existence and re-evaluate the contribution of the Toronto School of Communication. Both editors and contributors are to be commended for assembling a well researched and timely study featuring excellent papers, insightful views, and vigorous critical assessment. The Toronto School of Communication Theory will certainly appeal to media students and scholars, as well as anyone interested in the individuals who come under discussion." -- Derrick de Kerckhove, Director of the McLuhan Program in Culture & Technology, University of Toronto P90 .T67 2007

Television Studies: the Key Concepts, by Neil Casey, Bernadette Casey, Justin Lewis, Ben Calvert, and Liam French (Routledge, 2008). The authors cover approximately 70 key concepts relating to TV studies and each entry is at least 2 or 3 pages. Includes bibliography. PN1992.5 .T385 2008

Key readings in media today : mass communication in contexts, edited by Brooke Erin Duffy and Joseph Turow (Routledge, 2009). "Provides both historical and contemporary analyses of each of the major media industries: book, newspaper, magazine, sound recording/radio, motion picture, television, new media, advertising, and public relations. The volume places an emphasis on convergence, looking at the ways boundaries between these media industries are blurring in surprising new ways. Section introductions and headnotes for each article offer valuable critical and historical context." --Publishers' website P91.25 .K49 2009

Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 Through 2007, by Vincent Terrace (McFarland, 2009). This work represents decades of research and spans televisions entire history of television from the leading researcher in television reference. "While documentation regarding cast and personnel is now often found online, descriptions of the shows from authoritative sources are still not widely available. Terrace fills that gap with this work, which covers over 9,100 shows (including pilots!) and constitutes the most comprehensive documentation of TV series ever published. All the traditional genres are here along with show genres not well covered elsewhere--including children's programming, talk shows, game shows, stage plays, women's programming, dance, and more."--Publisher's website PN1992.3.U6 T463 2008

Handbook on Communicating and Disseminating Behavioral Science, edited by Melissa K. Welch-Ross and Lauren G. Fasig (Sage, 2007) . Gives a picture of the communication and dissemination of behavioral science, the main actors, contemporary themes and approaches, key challenges, and the broader conditions that influence whether and how the work occurs.
BF77 .H27 2007

The Presidents on Film: A Comprehensive Filmography of Portrayals from George Washington to George W. Bush, by Sarah Miles Bolam and Thomas J. Bolam (McFarland, 2007). Though already outdated given new films on the scene such as Frost/Nixon and W, this book does the hard work, collecting movies you never heard of about presidents you haven't thought about since memorizing their names back in middle school American History.
PN 1995.9 P678 B65 2007

President Obama Election 2008: Collection of newspaper Front Pages Selected by the Poynter Institute (Andrew McMeel Publishing, 2008). "The morning-after newspaper, with the huge headlines reserved for historic events, continues to be seen as the indispensable keepsake--one that can forever evoke and refresh a deeply consequential memory." --G.B. Trudeau, from the Introduction E 907 P74 2008

Rand Report on Effects of Adolescent Exposure to Sex on TV

Recently published research from the Rand Corporation on the effects of adolescent TV exposure to sexual content and pregnancy rates has garnered a lot of attention in the media of late. The research appears in the latest issue of Pediatrics.

Does Watching Sex on Television Predict Teen Pregnancy? Findings From a National Longitudinal Survey of Youth by A. Chandra, SC Martino, RL Collins, MN Elliott, SH Berry, and DE Kanouse, and A Miu, Pediatrics 2008;122: 1047-1054.
Abstract:
Objective There is increasing evidence that youth exposure to sexual content on television shapes sexual attitudes and behavior in a manner that may influence reproductive health outcomes. To our knowledge, no previous work has empirically examined associations between exposure to television sexual content and adolescent pregnancy.
Methods Data from a national longitudinal survey of teens (12-17 years of age, monitored to 15-20 years of age) were used to assess whether exposure to televised sexual content predicted subsequent pregnancy for girls or responsibility for pregnancy for boys. Multivariate logistic regression models controlled for other known correlates of exposure to sexual content and pregnancy. We measured experience of a teen pregnancy during a 3-year period.
Results Exposure to sexual content on television predicted teen pregnancy, with adjustment for all covariates. Teens who were exposed to high levels of television sexual content (90th percentile) were twice as likely to experience a pregnancy in the subsequent 3 years, compared with those with lower levels of exposure (10th percentile).
Conclusions This is the first study to demonstrate a prospective link between exposure to sexual content on television and the experience of a pregnancy before the age of 20. Limiting adolescent exposure to the sexual content on television and balancing portrayals of sex in the media with information about possible negative consequences might reduce the risk of teen pregnancy. Parents may be able to mitigate the influence of this sexual content by viewing with their children and discussing these depictions of sex.

New York Amsterdam News, 1922-1993

The digitized version of the New York Amsterdam News, one of the U.S.'s leading black newspapers and one of New York's most influential black-owned institutions, is the latest addition to Penn's growing menu of historical online newspapers. Search articles, advertisements, obituaries, cartoons, etc. documenting first-hand the major news and cultural topics of the 20th century from the perspective of African-Americans.

Penn also subscribes to Chicago Defender (1905-1975) and Pittsburgh Courrier (1911-2002), two other prominent black historical papers brought to us by ProQuest Historical Newspapers.

As usual, access these titles from your favorite Library homepage.

December CommQuote

There were many good scenes in the 1999 Oscar winning film, American Beauty, directed by Sam Mendes. This was one of them. Excerpted from the screenplay by Alan Fall.


INT. FITTS HOUSE - RICKY'S BEDROOM

On VIDEO: we're IN an empty parking lot on a cold, gray day. Something is floating across from us... it's an empty, wrinkled, white PLASTIC BAG. We follow it as the wind carries it in a circle around us, sometimes whipping it about violently, or, without warning, sending it soaring skyward, then letting it float gracefully down to the ground...

Jane sits on the bed. She watches Ricky's WIDE-SCREEN TV, her brow furrowed, trying to figure out why this is beautiful.

From a chair across the ROOM, RICKY watches, smiling.

RICKY: It was one of those days when it's a minute away from snowing and there's this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it, right? And this bag was like, dancing with me. Like a little kid begging me to play with it. For fifteen minutes. And that's the day I knew there was this entire life behind things, and ... this incredibly benevolent force, that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid. Ever.

A beat.

RICKY: (cont'd) Video's a poor excuse. But it helps me remember... and I need to remember...

--Alan Ball, American Beauty screenplay