Viveca Greene

This course is designed to introduce students to some foundational theories and practices of critical media studies, an interdisciplinary field of inquiry that analyzes the complex interactions between media, culture, politics, and ideology. We will explore a variety of U.S. media texts and platforms in relation to specific issues and events. As the 2024 general election, which is also a presidential election, coincides with the semester, we will devote ongoing, but not exclusive, attention to media-related election issues, and the question "What constitutes 'truth' in a 'post-truth' era?". The course will be discussion-based and writing-intensive, and students will read and write analyses of both cultural theory and specific texts, as well as ultimately produce a final paper on a topic of their choosing.

We will begin this media studies project-based course with discussion, reading, and short writing assignments about three key concepts in media studies--representation, affect, and ideology--before moving into the project-based component of the course. Students can use a variety of sources and expressive modes to engage with the social, political, and cultural power of media, broadly defined. Who is represented, by whom, where, how, and with what effects? What dominant ideologies do media promote, facilitate, and cultivate? What emotion and affect are produced by media, what affective registers can we identify on social media platforms in particular, and what needs and desires might they speak to? How might the concepts of representation, ideology, and affect in critical media studies help us better understand disinformation and conspiracy theories, especially in light of recent general elections and the current presidential election?

Stand up, satirical news, and memes: How do these and other humor-related cultural forms allow both right-wing extremists and the members of the many groups those extremists target (immigrants, racial/ethnic/religious minorities, queer people, women, etc.) to challenge the status quo? What is the power and are the limitations of these cultural forms? In this discussion-based and writing-intensive course, students will grapple with humor's many social and political functions, and in relation to white supremacy, rape culture, and other weighty issues. Course readings will include literature by scholars in communication, media studies, sociology, psychology, political science, and ethnic studies, which we will draw from in analyzing specific performances and platforms. Ultimately students will produce a final research project on a humor-related topic of their own choosing, and present it to the class.

Stand up, satirical news, and memes: How do these and other humor-related cultural forms allow both right-wing extremists and the members of the groups those extremists target (immigrants, racial/ethnic/religious minorities, queer people, women, etc.) to challenge social and political norms? What are the limitations and power of these cultural forms? In this discussion-based and writing-intensive course, students will grapple with humor's social and political functions, and in relation to white supremacy, rape culture, and other weighty issues. Also, we will address humor in light of our Learning Collaborative's question ("How do we decide what constitutes truth in a 'post-truth' era?"). Course readings will span work in communication, media studies, sociology, psychology, political science, and ethnic studies, which we will draw from in analyzing specific performances and platforms. In addition to shorter written assignments, students will produce a final research project on a humor-related topic and present it to the class. [Note: students may not be registered in LCSEM-0127 and HACU 229]