BC 375: The Evolution of Communication Media

Overview

New modes of communication have consistently been integral to historical changes in the political world, business, social structure, the shared experience of community and culture, and even human thought processes. This media history course traces the relationship of communication technologies to the unfolding complexity of human experience. The course will explore ongoing themes of cultural evolution from a communication-centered perspective. Students will emerge with a stronger sense of the central role communication technologies have played in the trends and events of history.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and describe the major historical advances in communication technologies and processes.
• Describe the influence of political and economic institutions on how particular media were developed and put into use.
• Describe the technological foundations of major media innovations.
• Identify the creative and expressive possibilities and processes that each new medium introduced.
• Identify and explain the origins and character of new media texts made possible by media technologies and the cultural conditions in which they emerged.
• Describe the roles media innovations have played in audience culture.
• Describe the roles media innovations play in contemporary business environments and identify the origins of those roles.
• Make connections between past, present and future within the study of communication and between communications and other fields.
• Develop an integrated "big picture" view of history and communication.

Course Requirements

A microphone and Web cam (can be purchased at any discount retailer)

Required Texts
BC 375 texts are available from the JIU/MBS bookstore