Communication 490STB - Creator Cultures & Industries

In this course we explore the emerging and dynamic landscape of creator cultures and industries. Over the past decade, user-generated content has grown into a profitable industry of social media entertainment. Bloggers, influencers, YouTubers, and live-streamers have all turned into a new creative class1 by monetizing on their authentic self-branding on social media. Being a creator is a desirable profession for many due to its guiding logic of creativity, perceived autonomy, and glamorous lifestyle. However, creators are constantly affected by algorithms, platform governance, and overall changes in the industry, finding themselves in a precarious situation. In this course, we will examine case studies that illustrate how creators perform their identities, navigate the ever-changing platform economy, participate in politics, and pushback against exploitative platforms and industry norms. By drawing upon recent scholarship in critical platform and creator studies, the ultimate goal of this course is to cultivate critical thinking skills and encourage students to thoughtfully evaluate the current state of platformized cultural production.

Open to Senior and Junior Communication majors only. Open to Senior and Junior Communication majors only.