Intercultural Communication
Cod: 42008
Department: DCSG
ECTS: 7
Scientific area: Communication Sciences
Total working hours: 182
Total contact time: 36

Social relations changes require, currently, new communication skills to promote an inclusive and plural citizenship. Therefore, in first place, we propose an analysis of important theoretical models used in the study Intercultural Communication. Secondly, we associate the processes of identity construction to alterity relations, and then we explore the sociocultural and dialogical theory. Subsequently, we consider the globalization and the role of media in the construction of representations of ethnicity and migrants, focusing on the mediating role of cultural industries in interpersonal and group relationships. Finally, we study cultural and communicative dynamics verified in the network-society and, in particular, in cybercommunities; afterwards, we will explore the potentialities of these dynamics in the creation of networks of migrants in Portugal.

Communication
Intercultural Dialogue
Culture
Identity

At the end of this unit the student should be able to:
• Apply, in a critical way, theoretical, conceptual and epistemological knowledge to evaluate situations, attitudes and behaviors in multicultural communicative contexts.
• Identify strategies to produce and appropriate discourses about ethnicity and migration phenomena, particularly in the media.
• Identify uses and potentialities of Internet in the construction of minority groups’ identity.
• Participate in the definition of plans designed to valorize cultural diversity and intercultural communication.

1. Theoretical discourses Intercultural Communication: Agents, intentions and contexts.
2. From interpersonal communication to mass communication: mediations and resistances.
3. Globalization, communication and identities: paradoxes of identity discourse in multicultural societies.
4. Media constructions of ethnicity and migration.
5. Network - Society and cybercultures: from virtual communities to intercultural dialogues.

 

Alsina, R. (1999). Comunicación Intercultural. Barcelona: Anthropos.
Castells, M. (2004). A galáxia Internet. Reflexões sobre Internet, Negócios e Sociedade. Lisboa: Gulbenkian.
De Lucas, J. (2003). Globalización e Identidades. Barcelona: Cataluña Hoy.
Martín, J.; Nakayama, T.; Flores, L. (2001). Readings in Intercultural Communication: Experiences and Contexts. McGraw-Hill.
Mattelart, A. (2006). Diversidad Cultural y Mundialización. Barcelona: Paidós.
Prats, E. (coord.) (2007). Multiculturalismos y Educación para la Equidad. Madrid: Octaedro OEI.
Thompson, J. (1998). Los media y la modernidad. Barcelona: Paidós (2ª ed.).

E-learning

Evaluation is made on individual basis and it involves the coexistence of two modes: continuous assessment (60%) and final evaluation (40%). Further information is detailed in the Learning Agreement of the course unit.

- To have access to a computer with Internet connection
-  Knowledge of English language.