Film Studies 260 - NEW MEDIA/PARTICIPATORY CULTUR

PENDING CAP APPROVAL Among theoretical claims made for the newness of new media, one of the most central is that new media are interactive, turning passive consumers into active, engaged participants. Such participants can shoot and edit their own movies with digital tools, write online critiques of their favorite TV shows to influence other fans and even the shows' creators, or rally support for a political cause by posting activist videos on YouTube. This course will explore the shape of this technologically-enabled "participatory culture," its impact on American culture, and crack in the foundation of the "digital utopia." Enrollment limit: 20.