YouTube: Content and Culture

Catalog description

YouTube, one of the most well-known and widely discussed examples of participatory media in the social media environment, is the first generally popular platform for user-created video. Blending theory and practice, this course examines the social, cultural, economic, and political implications of YouTube; the empowerment and pitfalls of the user-generated content it relies on; and the implication of the participatory media which has transformed passive viewers into active producers. Students will learn the historical roots of YouTube, become familiar with modes of media production, and study legal, ethical, and social justice issues related to the creation of channels and videos for YouTube. While the course has a significant theoretical component, students will engage directly in participatory practices by designing and creating course related content for YouTube. Through this course, students will gain a critical understanding of and a greater appreciation for the impacts of user generated video content on social and political participation locally and globally.