Posted: March 22nd, 2017

Compare and contrast at least two scholarly approaches for understanding media audiences. Outline the approaches and discuss their relative strengths and weaknesses

Essay Topics

1. Discuss the context in which Frankfurt School scholars coined the term “Culture Industry” and how they used the concept to critique mass culture. Your essay should include your own Marxist analysis of a media text that has not been discussed in detail in the lectures or required readings.

2. Chart how what André Bazin describes as the “mummy complex” lies at the origin of painting, photography, and cinema. In your essay you should discuss the ontology of a contemporary media text or technology that has not been discussed in detail in the lectures or required readings.

3. Compare and contrast at least two scholarly approaches for understanding media audiences. Outline the approaches and discuss their relative strengths and weaknesses. Your essay should include your own audience analysis of a media text that has not been discussed in detail in the lectures or required readings.