ENG 4938 Spring 2020 Edwards

This seminar investigates media theory in case studies drawn from television and popular music in particular but also from film, advertising, and digital media. We will focus on contemporary media in the era of media convergence, in which old media (broadcast, analog, print) and new media (interactive digital media) merge in ever more complex ways. We will investigate how theories from literary studies and media studies can help illuminate key developments. We will pay particular attention to examples of what Henry Jenkins terms "transmedia storytelling," or stories that cross multiple media platforms in a coordinated way. This media trend places a renewed importance on storytelling, and we will examine innovative narrative techniques. Drawing on theories of textual analysis and visual culture, we will study methodologies for thinking about convergence culture. Assignments include Canvas discussion posts, a midterm exam, two shorter essays, and the longer final essay.