Pop Culture and the Public Sphere

Catalog description

This course considers how popular culture and its messages intersect with notions of power. Pop culture - including television, internet, music, and film - are important social and cultural forces and frequently intersect with the public sphere. Over the course of the term, students will analyze the impacts of various forms of popular culture and discuss their effects on how we see ourselves and others. Students will explore the ever-shifting distinctions between high and low culture and the impact of messages across the media ecosystem.