GERM 412 (Lecture) German Media Studies (in English)

Instructor: Ilinca Iurascu
Section: 001

Term: 2
Meets: Tuesday + Thursday, 11 am– 12:30 pm, The Leon and Thea Koerner University Centre, Room 107

Does writing have a future? What can war teach us about media? How did we become subjects of technology? We will introduce key terms and concepts in media studies (analog/ digital, ‘old’/ ‘new’ media, spectacle, reproducibility, consumption, materiality, code, transmission , archive etc.), with a focus on debates surrounding the questions of ‘technological change,’ ‘information’ vs. (social) ‘communication’. By the end of the course, students will be able to identify major currents of thought in media studies, survey theoretical and historical developments in Germany, Canada, and beyond, examine and apply fundamental media-theoretical concepts. There are no prerequisites. All texts and discussions will be in English. Reading materials and a full description of the course will be made available through UBC Connect.