Facebook, Twitter, You Tube. We are surrounded and immersed in media. They shape our work and friendships, give us information about the world, tell us what to consume, and contribute to our national, local, and transnational identities. Some argue that they facilitate dissent in authoritarian regimes, others that they are a powerful tool of those regimes. Is any of this new? This course will take a historical and global look at media and think about how they and their users have interacted over time and across space. From newspapers and the telegraph to television and your telephone, we will examine the social and political implications of technologies that deliver information, with attention to how we have made them, and how they have made us. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the website and look at the syllabus and modules. These will guide you through the course, so it is important that you feel comfortable navigating this site. Also, remember that ultimately its your site, and you will be welcome (and expected) to contribute, comment, post, etc. I’m very excited to be teaching this course, and am looking forward to a terrific couple of weeks.
