The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) recognizes the central role that communication has taken in interpersonal relationships, the workplace and in society as Communications Week begins Oct. 16.
In the days leading up to this week, the college will host a faculty lecture about indirect communication as illustrated in a popular television show, and the college will host a statewide conference with the theme “Communication in the Digital Age” for communication professionals, educators and students.
“Communication is a necessary skill to be successful in the workplace and in interpersonal relationships,” said CSM Professor Denise Gilmer-Knudson. “Communication is critical to reach understanding, agreement and consensus which is increasingly important in today’s world.”
A faculty lecture on Oct. 13 will be presented by Dr. Sheri Dean Parmelee, an adjunct faculty member at CSM since 2006. Parmelee’s lecture, which is part of the CSM Faculty Excellence Lecture Series: Provocations, considers how ideas are communicated in the television show, “House, M.D.,” which aired for eight seasons, from 2004 to 2012. The free lecture will be presented at the La Plata Campus.
Parmelee will discuss how indirect communication devices used in the television show such as sarcasm, metaphor and deception shape our world views and provoke us to thought. Parmelee’s dissertation, published in 2015, is a close textural analysis of the television series, and her lecture will stem from ideas formed from that analysis.
Parmelee said she hopes that people attending her lecture will gain a deeper understanding of the “message behind the message” in popular culture.
On Oct. 14, the Prince Frederick Campus will host the 33rd Annual Maryland Communication Association (MCA) Conference: Communication in the Digital Age. Cost to attend the conference is $65, which covers registration and a MCA membership fee. The conference will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 in the B Building.
“MCA’s theme, ‘Communication in the Digital Age,’ will promote discussion surrounding the intersection of human communication and social technology by exploring current communication practices, methods and trends,” said Gilmer-Knudson, MCA First Vice President, who, along with the assistance of CSM communication colleagues, planned and implemented this year’s conference.
The conference will feature research projects by college faculty and students about topics like the effect of social media on interpersonal relationships, media literacy and digital technology in the communication classroom. In addition to breakout sessions, the event will feature keynote speaker Dr. Kehbuma Langmia, Fulbright Scholar and professor and chair in the Department of Strategic, Legal and Management Communication in the School of Communications at Howard University.
“People are using new ways to connect with others,” said Gilmer-Knudson. “From social movements and political activism, to the way we get our news and information, digital communication has changed the way we interact. I think it’s important to raise questions about the opportunities and dangers of digital communication. While we have new tools to engage politically, participate in social movements, and connect with others, these same tools can be used to promote bullying, hate speech and misinformation.”
Communications Week is a cross-industry celebration of the public relations, communications and media industries. The inaugural week consisted of inspirational, informational and social events for those interested in these industries, taking place in New York City and online. This year’s theme is “Truth in Communications.”
For information about Communications Week, visit www.commsweek.com. For information on studying communication, arts and humanities at CSM, visit www.csmd.edu/programs-courses/credit/academic-divisions/cah/.
Calendar
CSM Faculty Excellence Lecture Series: “Provocations.” 7 p.m., Oct. 13, College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, Learning Resource Center (LR Building), Room 102, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. CSM Adjunct Instructor of Communication Dr. Sheri Dean Parmelee will give a talk, “‘House, M.D.,’ and Indirect Communication: Provocation to Thought,” where, referencing the television program, Parmelee will discuss how indirect communication devices such as sarcasm, metaphor and deception shape our world views and provoke us to thought. Free. 301-934-7578.