.

Course Objectives and Content

Media influences our thoughts and actions in many ways.  Some influences are subtle, and others more obvious.  The first step in media literacy is becoming aware of media influences in our daily life.  During this class we will attempt to answer the following questions: 

• What is mass media? 
• What is media literacy?
•   How does mass media impact the individual and society? 
• How does mass media reflect our social, personal, and political values? 

.

This course is designed to prepare you for the rigors of college course work through close reading, extensive critical analysis, lively discussion and insightful written work.

This course will teach you:

.

1. to identify, define, and apply terms and the essentials elements of mass media in advertising, film, print and television
2. to become an informed spectator, aware of how the media works
3. to recognize and investigate the artistic and technical components of media
4. to analyze how advertising, print, TV and film shape the image of ourselves
5. to develop skills in written media analysis

• Weekly Reading and Homework 
• Handouts
• Resources