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This is the third course of Specialisation 3:The Power of Culture (English track History).
This course considers the ways in which forms of mass communication – from telegraphy and the newspaper to television and the internet – have influenced and shaped culture and society throughout modern history. Mass media technologies have not only helped to spread the images, ideas, concepts, and values that constitute modernity (such as nationalism, urbanism, and the idea of progress), but they are themselves central symbols of modern culture. Mass media create a sense of connectedness between all parts of the world and contribute to the perception that the pace of life is constantly accelerating. That pervasive influence of mass media can be investigated by cultural historians, asking questions such as: What is the role of propaganda and media populism in the emergence of modern mass democracy? What happens to a society’s culture (its religious, political, cultural texts), when it is increasingly mediated by technical media? How does this effect modern ideas about time, society and identity?
This is a reading intensive course in which students study academic literature about the role of mass media in modern culture. They learn to apply academic concepts such as framing and mediatisation to connect the study of mass media with relevant aspects of modern history such as urbanisation, nationalism, and identity formation. Students also reflect on the role of journalists and media critics.
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