Material culture in and of media (MS2112.01)

Maia Nichols

This course will focus on material culture: clothing, objects, art, tools, machines, toys, crafts and the physical stuff in and of media. By focusing on the material cultures of television, film, and images, the physical and material things in movies and photographs, and the beliefs and practices related to mediation through objects, students will gain knowledge in anthropological, and cultural studies methods of analyzing objects that they can then contribute to their study of the technologies of exhibition, media texts, and cinema. This course will help students build a foundation in an interdisciplinary approach to media studies that forges connections to neighboring humanities fields through foregrounding objects and materiality.


Learning Outcomes:
• Develop collaboration and interpersonal skills with peers through peer writing feedback, and presentation skills
• Students will be able to include an analysis of media that considers media as and through its stuff and materiality
• Students will develop familiarity with key material culture theorists that may complement other humanities courses
• Students will develop the ability to analyze media through material culture
• Improve critical thinking and writing skills with regular writing assignments throughout the semester
• Development of leadership, speaking and thinking skills in leading seminars
• Consistent development of writing, critical thinking and reading skills throughout the semester with opportunities for feedback from professor and peers
• Develop presentation, and speaking skills by presenting to peers multiple times in the semester
• Further understanding of anthropology, critical theory and cultural studies in relation to media studies, visual studies and art history


Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Course Level: 2000-level
Credits: 4
M/Th 3:40PM - 5:30PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 16
Course Frequency: One time only

Categories: 2000 , All courses , Four Credit , Fully In-Person , Media Studies , New Courses , Updates
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