IN 333 - Power and Public Spheres

Credits: 4
“Civic media” implies all manner of what has been called participatory politics: spanning digital and non-digital technologies, it gestures at the myriad ways to connect, to discuss issues of importance (or not), to reconstruct culture itself. This course explores in-depth the terms “democracy,” “engagement,” and “citizenship” as well as the various theoretical understandings of the media’s role in each. Efforts to shape culture and politics, from citizen journalism to hackers to smart cities and beyond, are explored. Students develop a critical eye to evaluate such initiatives as well as gain a foundation for designing their own.

Course Restrictions: Junior standing
Liberal Arts Perspective(s): Interdisciplinary