Introduction to Media Studies

Here are the class notes from today’s discussion.

Sturken and Cartwright, “Reproduction and Visual Technologies” (reader)
Benjamin, “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”

Williamson, from Decoding Advertisements (reader)
Stuart Hall: Representation and the Media (in-class video)

Here are the class notes from today’s discussion.

Brummett, “Rhetoric and Popular Culture” (reader)
Kellner, “Cultural Studies, Multiculturalism, and Media Culture”

I hope that we’ll use this space for two purposes: to continue discussions that are left incomplete in class, and to begin discussions that you intend to continue as part of your in-class presentations. Any time you’d like me to post a discussion question for you, simply email it to me; to respond to a discussion in progress, click on “comments” below the entry.

How will this class function? Who are the people in it? And — most importantly — why study the media?

The first day of class will be Wednesday, January 19.

This will be where I post readings, assignments, and information about the class.
Use the menu at the top to navigate to specific sections (like the syllabus and the course outline), and the calendar on the left to find materials related to a specific class meeting date.