Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0255 - Media, Affect & Ideology:Supported Projects

We will begin this media studies project-based course with discussion, reading, and short writing assignments about three key concepts in media studies--representation, affect, and ideology--before moving into the project-based component of the course. Students can use a variety of sources and expressive modes to engage with the social, political, and cultural power of media, broadly defined. Who is represented, by whom, where, how, and with what effects? What dominant ideologies do media promote, facilitate, and cultivate? What emotion and affect are produced by media, what affective registers can we identify on social media platforms in particular, and what needs and desires might they speak to? How might the concepts of representation, ideology, and affect in critical media studies help us better understand disinformation and conspiracy theories, especially in light of recent general elections and the current presidential election?

Media and Technology This course can be used to fulfill the Division II Project requirement and is appropriate for Division III students. Prerequisite: At least one college-level media studies and/or cultural theory course completed prior to Sept 2024. Note: As there will be some degree of overlap with the professor's lower-level course, HACU 180, students should enroll in one or the other (depending on their divisional level) but not both. Students should expect to spend 12 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time