Media Arts and Culture

MAAC3435Media, Culture, and Change (O)3 ch (W)
This course examines the relationship between residual, in-use, and emergent media technologies with a focus on the influence of these interactions on culture and identity. Drawing from works by Indigenous, anti-racist, queer, feminist, and environmental media scholars, we will discuss the frequent association of media technologies with major societal upheaval. This course looks at various media, including the quipu and printing press, video games, and twitter, to examine key moments when changing media ecologies influence wider social, political, and economic spheres. Topics may include orality, colonialism, innovation, technological determinism, medium theory, and speed. A key aim of the course is to analyze the materiality of various media technologies. To fullfill this goal, we will particpate in a series of in-class activities and experiments, which may include storytelling, using photosensitive paper, creating flipbooks, or other residual technologies.