Documenting International Affairs

  • NINT 5241 - Documenting International Affairs (Fall 2009)

Section A/CRN 6197 (syllabus)
Sean Jacobs
Wednesday 8.00pm - 9.50pm

Mass media have become integral to how we gain knowledge and information about world events.  This course covers a range of media outlets: news media, Hollywood films, documentaries, "fictional documentaries,"graphic novels and television dramas. Topics discussed include the "War on Terror," the media legacy of the Vietnam War, the Rwanda Genocide, and charity politics.  Some of the questions raised in this course include:  What is the "CNN Effect"? Does the mainstream media still set policy and news agendas or has the advent of new media technologies (especially social media, blogs and) ended that monopoly? Can news media be held accountable for the outcomes of political events? Are documentary films reflective of "real life" or what famed documentarian John Grierson called "the raw material of actuality"?  Can graphic novels pass as historical documents? The readings will be complemented by a number of film screenings, especially documentaries, both inside and outside the classroom.  We will also host two guest speakers.

Concentration:Media and Culture