Media and Modern Childhood

Catalog description

Will explore a range of key themes in children's media and material culture since the nineteenth century. Through readings, screenings, and the close analysis of media objects themselves (including books, toys, film, television, and digital media), the class will investigate a variety of constructions of and attitudes toward children as they are visible in these cultural forms. Will explore several methodological approaches to studying children's media, and will observe how particular values, economic and political interests, and assumptions about childhood are encouraged, discouraged, and variously position children as consumers, active agents, citizens and cultural participants. Enrollment limited to 20.