American Studies 225 - COLQ: CORP CAPITALISM,MEDIA,

"Don't hate the media, become the media." The U.S. Constitution recognizes a free press as the lifeblood of democracy, informing citizens and holding the powerful accountable. But as this bumper sticker conveys, there is widespread distrust of the media. This course analyzes the transformation of the press into a corporate enterprise over the past 150 years, and the opposition this has provoked. Examining key developments (the creation of multinational media conglomerates as well as new digital media alternatives) and focusing on case studies such as Occupy Wall Street, we examine the influence of the media on American political, economic, and cultural life. Enrollment limited to 20.