WGS 3420 - Gender, Race, and the Media

Credits: 4

In this hands-on course, students will examine theories of gender, race, class, ethnicity, and sexuality in mainstream and independent media. They will study who controls the media, whose story is told, and from what perspective. A focus will be on the historical and current impact racial and gender stereotypes in the media have on individuals and communities. The course will examine how oppressed groups worldwide are portrayed in mainstream media and how they are using the media to tell their own stories. Students will learn how various audiences interpret the media differently. The course will address issues of social inequality in the media and forms of resistance and explore alternative media, global media, media literacy and media democracy. Finally, students will put theory into practice and create group videos.
Fulfills: Social Science distribution requirement. SOSC requirement and D in LS Core.