Communication 497RR - ST-Race & Representation

Despite the gains of the last half-century, most Americans still live, work, and go to school in quite segregated conditions. For many, media stories and images are thus our primary encounters with people of different ethnic backgrounds. While race itself is a mythic social construction, the effects of our racial imaginings are all too real. In this course we will explore the history of racial representation in the U.S., ranging from the colonial period to the age of Obama. We will examine a number of different media forms, including print, photography, film and television, popular music, and the Internet. Through course lectures, discussions, and screenings, and a number of exams, writing assignments, and presentations, students will engage in critical analysis of the production, content, and impact of racial representations in U.S. media.

Open to Senior and Junior Communication majors only.