COMM 451 - Media Theory

This course focuses on the media aspect of communication, and it aims to provide students with a replete understanding of media as one of the most defining elements of life at any time. From ancient wall paintings to AI generated commercials, messages have been conveyed through various ways of production and delivery that we call media. By enabling creation and dissemination of ideas, mediated communication has saturated our individual and shared experiences. Given the unavoidable presence of media in our lives, course discussions will naturally encompass a long list of fundamental conditions throughout history. We will learn about how media have shaped, or have been influenced by, our sense of identity, social systems, values, politics, economy, beauty, ethics, and technology. We will also examine various forms of media text to understand different characteristics of media content. A study of media theory will help us make sense of our world, a world that is unimaginable without the role and presence of media.

Credits: 3
Terms Offered: Fall
Prerequisites: COMM 101, COMM 151, COMM 260 or COMM 270, COMM 280