ENG 2955 - CRIME, MEDIA, AND CULTURE

credits: 3.0
Crosslisted/Same As: MCD 2955
ENG 2955-MCD 2955. Through an exploration of various media genres, including journalism, documentaries, drama series, and podcasts, we will identify relationships between media representations of crime and the cultural and social contexts that produce them. Some particular questions we might ask: What are the limits or opportunities of different media for critiquing our social forms of, or capacity for, justice? How are ideas of gender, race, nation, or class constructed and circulated through narratives of crime? How are cultural representations of crime contingent with their historical contexts? How do innovations in media and communications impact our engagement with crime narratives? What are the ethical implications of crime as a source of popular entertainment (and profits)? This class will introduce students to methods and frameworks of media and cultural studies, building on foundational theories while engaging with contemporary media criticism. Primary and secondary texts will be dominated by the U.S. context, but there may be opportunities for comparative and situational approaches that include non-U.S. perspectives. Learning methods and activities will include a combination of lecture, class discussion, short analysis/response, a research project, and presentations. Objectives: A) Describe relationships between various media portrayals of crime and social issues in US and European contexts; B) Compare images of crime and justice across different forms of media and across different historical contexts; C) Synthesize and analyze a variety of primary and secondary sources related to media representations of crime; D) Apply critical thinking skills in class discussions and submitted coursework; E) Present critical overview of self-defined, relevant topic using information literacy skills. Method of Instruction: Readings, films/media viewing, lecture/slides, discussion, in-class activities related to assignments such as workshops, collaborative work, and peer review; student presentations. Method of Evaluation: Weekly Discussion Posts/Responses: 20%, Critical Analysis (2): 20%, Annotated Bibliography: 20%, Synthesis/Lit Review: 20%, Presentation: 20%. Meets *WEP Distribution Requirement.

Prerequisite(s): WRT 1050 - COLLEGE WRITING:.