Time Schedule:
Robin R Oppenheimer
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
This course explores new media as cultural phenomena and introduces the concept of “mediacology” that views communication systems as ecological environments connected to global and local communities of diverse cultural practices. “New media” technologies and their convergences (cell phones, GPS, and video games) are examined through relevant historical, theoretical, and critical texts that include postmodern and post-colonial theories, along with issues of access and democracy in the context of globalization. Case studies of media in diverse (sub)cultural communities such as YouTube and Anime will be researched. Students will learn to interpret, negotiate, and engage with new media in diverse mediacologies, and gain an understanding of the multicultural dimensions of the expanding media environment.
Student learning goals
1. Define and distinguish new media from old.
2. Understand the concepts and ideas around “mediacology” as ecological communication systems.
3. Identify and understand how media forms are converging in an expanding media environment.
4. Define and understand key historical, critical and theoretical approaches to new media.
5. Apply these approaches across a range of culturally-specific new media case studies.
6. Synthesize the approaches and case studies to develop a deeper understanding of new media practices in a global context.
General method of instruction
The course will consist of class discussions, student presentations of papers and final project research and presentations. Internet resources such as YouTube, Wikipedia, and other culturally-specific Web sites and phenomena will be identified and discussed.
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
Students will participate in classroom discussions based on readings, write two essays, and research and present a final project. The project will be focused on an in-depth exploration and presentation of a student-selected case study of a culturally-specific new media phenomenon – hardware, software, artistic work, games, Japanese animation, culturally-based social networks such as YouTube, etc.
Class participation - 25% Class papers - 40% Final project - 35%
