SO118-15 Life of Media: Past, Present & Future

We are constantly bombarded with 'presentist' views of media that claim the unprecedentedness of new crises and dilemmas, particularly in relation to the evolving internet and machine learning. It is important to take a historical perspective and understand the specificities of how media is always already implicated in existing social structures, relations and inequalities.

This module emphasises that a history of media is a history of its uses, following the media historian Carolyn Marvin. It will thus offer multiple case studies and examples through which we can situate and analyse the power of media, in context. In this vein, the assessment of the module involves the undertaking of empirical research through an oral history interview, to understand the social significance of media.

For more information, please see the catalogue description here.

Key Information

Optional Module

15 CATS

Summative Assessment: Analysis of oral history (2000 word - 100%)

Teaching: 1 hour lecture & 1 hour seminar per week

Module Convenor: Akane Kanai