Time Schedule:
Susan Juanita Harewood
BIS 313
Bothell Campus
Examines a variety of issues involved in understanding different forms of media and their impact on our lives, in contexts spanning from local to global, using a wide range of theoretical, disciplinary, and methodological approaches.
Class description
How important is popular culture to our political life? There are those who would argue that popular culture is “just entertainment” and thus has little or no impact on politics. However, in this class students will have an opportunity to closely examine the political issues that are contested through popular culture. The main focus of the class will be on mass mediated popular culture and students will explore how power is contested in the way that media policies and regulation defines popular culture and access to popular cultural messages; in the ways that media organizational practices shape popular cultural representations; and in the ways that individuals, groups, activists and mainstream politicians use popular culture to articulate their political viewpoints and motivate people to political action.
Student learning goals
Compare and contrast theories that posit a relationship between popular culture and politics
Analyze popular cultural representations of political issues
Evaluate the uses made of popular cultural practices by political figures and groups
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
