Sociology 216MD - Sociology of Media

This course explores the social organization of mass media systems as well as the various factors -- cultural, economic and political -- that have influenced their development. It asks: what is the connection between mass media and the large modern, democratic societies we inhabit? The first part of the course examines the historical development of mass media and the social theories that sought to interpret and explain its social impact. The second part considers the political and economic factors that structure contemporary mass media, paying particular attention to media deregulation and conglomeration. In the third part of the course, we explore the emergence of newer media forms such as the internet and digital/satellite television.

Prereq: SOCI-123.