Political communication can include any media or communication exchange having to do with the allocation of power and resources. In this seminar we will look at the nature and role of political communication in political campaigns, social movements, advertising, literature, and popular culture. We will study alternative forms of political discourse such as theatre, music, and direct action. We will take a close look at contemporary media politics. While the course will focus on U.S. political communication, it is expected that international students in the class will contribute a global perspective. Students will be required to keep political media journals with regular entries and commentary, complete readings as assigned, participate in class discussions both onsite and online, and write three 5-7 page papers during the course of the semester: one paper on a political speaker, one paper analyzing the one or two key media sources, and one paper or media project on a course-related topic of your choice.