Good professor. I came into the class without much interest in the topic but Rossman made it engaging. He clearly knows his stuff and does a great job at explaining things intuitively/colloquially. The class was also easy to navigate (simple assignments/exams, etc.).
- Asynchronous lectures (covid-19 remote learning)
- 5 reading memos, 1200 words each, you can choose which weeks to turn them in
- 1 midterm and 1 final, just short answers summarizing a few concepts we learned in lecture
- Partnered term paper, 5000 words, 4 topics

Pretty difficult when it didn’t need to be, too many elaborate concepts that required a lot of explanation to do well on tests. Unless you’re a whiz, I wouldn’t recommend this class.

The tests are HARD- just 4 long essays on lecture material and 5 MC from the readings. The memos are excessively long, you have to write 5 1200 word memos (4-5 pages each) on the readings which are usually vague or confusing. I never went to lecture because it was at 8am but do this at your own risk because I highly doubt you will listen to all of the Bruincasts or retain the info well. Discussion really helps- my TA would just give us a full 50 min summary of everything important in every lecture and it's what got me through the class with a B. I can't really recommend this class to anyone unless you are really intrigued in the topic.

Professor Rossman is quite funny, candid, and extremely intelligent. He gives multiple real life examples and applications of the concepts in various industries to help you understand it more clearly in the creative industries sector. His lectures are bruincasted and the content of his lectures are very significant to the midterm and final. Because they are bruincasted, it is very tempting to not go to lecture, but if you can, definitely go to lecture instead. Otherwise, trust me, you may get lost in the bruincast because of the lack of visual figures he presents in lectures and the length of the lecture may be torturous as you try to capture every detail instead of understanding the big picture that is better illustrated and easier to understand in person and in class. You'll probably save more time if you go to lecture instead of listening to the Bruincast and it's more interesting that way as well. It is still good to review with the Bruincast though. There are 5 memos, a midterm, and a final. The exams consist of free response questions which are entirely lecture-based and about 5 multiple choice questions about the readings. These MC questions are detail-specific so review your memos or read your friends' memos.

Class lectures are interesting and to the point. There's one midterm, one final, and memos that require analysis of the chapters you're assigned to read. Tests have about 4 multiple choice questions based on the readings and 3 essays.
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I loved this class! The workload is manageable as long as you make sure to stay on top of the assignments. There are six weeks of the ten that you must type a memo which consists of a summary and analysis of a week's readings. This comes out to around 4-5 pages and can be a large load if you wait until week five to start them. This is because you can only turn in one per week and therefore starting week five means completing a memo for each week until finals. These memos are very helpful. I suggest writing a memo for every week only because it helps you thoroughly read each week's readings and understand concepts explained in class. The midterm and final are easy as long as you attend class every day and take notes. Study those notes! You can succeed and you will have a great time listening to this man. Rossman is awesome. (Also don't come in late and don't leave early. Be respectful because this is all Rossman asks. Also no computers are allowed for notetaking, and if he sees you on your phone he WILL tell you to put it away.)

It isn't too inconceivable to believe his 20 lectures still aren't enough to disclose both the mundane and outlandish inner-workings of the mass media and the production of culture. There could have been plenty of more ammo left within his unique, machine gun- like oratory tendency. A well-informed professor with an impressive expertise of topics both germane and irrelevant, Rossman uses the lens of a simple magnifying glass to provide a breathtaking glimpse into the field in which he studies so deeply. And irrespective of the fascinatingly ostentatious display of his comprehensive knowledge, there really does exist some valuable substance within the course that goes well with his overall style. Stories, charts, historical anecdotes, and real-life examples all provide an effective illustration of the course concepts that can erroneously be deemed dense and/or merely theoretical.
More compellingly, he places significance on the process and mechanism that is responsible for highlighting the unrecognized difference between success and failure within popular culture. Rossman's Soc M176 leaves you with an invaluable understanding of popular culture that wonderfully distinguishes itself from any other course within the sociology department.
A worthwhile course for any undergraduate student.

Soc M176 with Rossman was an interesting and straightforward class. It was definitely one of the most engaging soc classes that I've taken so far, covering a lot of different topics. The workload isn't huge, just weekly memos, a midterm, and final. Rossman used to give out pop quizzes in lecture, but fortunately he switched to the weekly memo system which made things exponentially easier for students. Lecture and discussion are a must if you want to do well in the class, since the tests are just essay questions asking about what he was lecturing on (TAs help to clarify and reemphasize topics in discussion).

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