Introduction to Media Studies

"We spend 1/3 of our lives immersed in the media."--Ziauddin Sardar, "Introducing: Media Studies"

Genres commonly covered by Media Studies:

• Publishing
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Internet: social media/new media
• Film
• Television
• Music/Leisure 

College programs in Communications or Mass Communication are other names for Media Studies. The fields of Journalism and Film Studies are connected to Media Studies on the artistic side. Media Studies is also connected to Technology, Cultural Studies, and Sociology on the more scientific end. Much of Media Studies is influenced by Political Science, Psychology, Economics, Philosophy, and Education. They're all related.

This course focuses on the content, history, artistry, and philosophical issues the discipline encounters. You will be asked to write creatively, of course, but also to study, learn, and critically think about the role of Media in our lives and how it shapes our culture.

You will also learn more about how publishing works and how to write more journalistically--engaging in writing articles, critiques, essays, memoirs, film, radio and television scripts, creating photo series, ads, PR, podcasting, blogging, game design, and a whole host of other creative writing tasks.

Our major units will include:

• New Media/Internet & Technology
• Journalism & New Journalism
• Creative Nonfiction
• Film & Television
• Radio
• Graphic Novels/Cartoons
• Photography/photo journalism
• Publishing

Please watch the following PREZI about our course and complete the tasks as directed.

At the end of class, we will receive lockers.

HOMEWORK: Please read and annotate the article handout introducing media. We will be discussing this article next class, as well as starting on a research project. Details to follow.

Please share your course criteria sheets with your parents/guardians.