Overview of Course

This course is designed to help students understand the role of media as a communication
platform used and shapes society. In the age of a global digital divide, the media landscape varies based on the technological infrastructure that a country possesses and cultures adapt based on the media affordances. Students will first learn the development and history of media in the United States, and how the media landscape varies across the globe. Comparisons will be made with each of the countries visited during the voyage with insights of the role of culture in the development of media, and how media is utilized for various functions (e.g. entertainment, social norms, understanding the world etc.). Students will take on a cultural lens to better understand and reflect the use of media on each stop of the voyage. Critical discussions such as the role of media shaping society and vice versa will be discussed at length across multiple cultures and contexts during the semester. Students will also participate in discussion on issues such as free speech, governance, media use and cultural interactions of the media while learning skills for critical media analysis, literacy and gain a broader cultural understanding the role of media.