Digital technology has transformed the news environment and diversified how public opinion is formed and expressed. This course is designed to offer a framework for understanding the broad impact of these changes on citizens as well as the democratic system. We will discuss foundational theories of political communication and address emerging issues in the digital news environment, ranging from the use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom to the changing perceptions of information credibility. This course fulfills the IE (Integrative Experience) requirement at UMass Amherst.

An exploration of the counter-cultural movements of the 1960s and 70s and later, hosted by someone who was there and lived to tell the tale. Through the medium of documentary and fiction films, we will delve into the musical, sexual, artistic, political and spiritual upheavals that rocked America and Europe back then and that continue to reverberate today. This course satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-Comm majors.

An exploration of the counter-cultural movements of the 1960s and 70s and later, hosted by someone who was there and lived to tell the tale. Through the medium of documentary and fiction films, we will delve into the musical, sexual, artistic, political and spiritual upheavals that rocked America and Europe back then and that continue to reverberate today. This course satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-Comm majors.

Semiotics is the study of meaning within society. It deepens our understanding of culture, communication and philosophy, and provides us with a theoretical and practical framework for analyzing the world. The course will introduce and develop the semiotic approach, using literature, politics, film, TV, music, and our everyday surroundings and conversations.

This course will explore media justice work through a feminist lens and engage with communication strategies and media tools to subvert media misrepresentation and marginalization. Through community-based research/ community service learning projects, students will develop action-research media analysis, work with community partners on digital media empowerment, and promote media advocacy for policy change.

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.

This course is a workshop-style ?hands-on? class in digital film production, in which we will take a deep dive into advanced techniques and aesthetics of cinematography. Utilizing a state-of-the-art high-end professional 4K camera, students will learn how to master technical settings, including exposure, aperture, shutter speed, focus, ISO, depth of field, white balance, gamma assist, recording formats and codecs.

This course is a workshop-style class in digital film production, in which we will take a deep dive into advanced techniques and aesthetics of cinematography, lighting, sound recording and editing. Through hands-on exercises and production of two short films, students will develop a solid practice in the technical skills needed to create visually and aurally compelling moving images and sound. Students will learn how to manage and organize large amounts of raw footage, edit sequences and create engaging story structures using Adobe Premiere.

We will view, analyze, and discuss films from the recent past and present from a filmmaker?s perspective, along with some limited hands-on work in pre-production techniques. Students will view, analyze, and critique works from modern documentary masters such as Betsy West & Julie Cohen ("RBG"), Michael Moore ("Where to Invade Next"), Questlove ("Summer of Soul"), Robert Kenner ("Food Inc."), and others to further their understanding of the documentarian's art and craft.

We will view, analyze, and discuss films from the recent past and present from a filmmaker?s perspective, along with some limited hands-on work in pre-production techniques. Students will view, analyze, and critique works from modern documentary masters such as Betsy West & Julie Cohen ("RBG"), Michael Moore ("Where to Invade Next"), Questlove ("Summer of Soul"), Robert Kenner ("Food Inc."), and others to further their understanding of the documentarian's art and craft.