| Description | This course is designed to introduce students to some
foundational theories and practices of critical media studies, an
interdisciplinary field of inquiry that analyzes the complex
interactions between media, culture, politics, and ideology. We
will explore a variety of U.S. media texts and platforms in
relation to specific issues and events. As the 2024 general
election, which is also a presidential election, coincides with
the semester, we will devote ongoing, but not exclusive,
attention to media-related election issues, and the question
"What constitutes 'truth' in a 'post-truth'
era?". The course will be discussion-based and
writing-intensive, and students will read and write analyses of
both cultural theory and specific texts, as well as ultimately
produce a final paper on a topic of their choosing. |