"This course introduces students to foundational concepts and approaches in the critical analysis of mass media. Drawing on historical studies and contemporary critiques, the course builds an understanding of different forms of media, including photography and cinema; television and video; the internet, AI, and other digital technologies, in order to better understand their roles and impact on our history, our future, our culture, and ourselves. Because media function as technology, art, entertainment, and industry all at once, it is important to study them from a deep, interdisciplinary perspective. Readings for this course are essential and reflect this interdisciplinary approach, drawing on the work of important thinkers and theorists in the field. This course satisfies one of the Introductory requirements for the Culture and Media and Screen Studies majors and is equivalent to LCST 2450. [Students must register for both the lecture and discussion section for this course. Students must register for both the lecture and discussion section of this course. [This ULEC is in category 3, Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Arts & Humanities.]