本课程旨在介绍媒体在各时期的变化；也介绍媒体从一个形式到另一个形式的进化（和退化）。我们将用数周的时间集中探讨较为理论性的问题，例如媒体和人类意识之间的不断变化关系，或者在媒体变化中“革命”的概念。其他时间将把重点放在特别的变化时刻及其社会、政治、文化及经济的意义。课程基本上按年代顺序进行，目的不是要建立全面检视两千年来西方媒体改变的假像（这任务是不可能，也不讨好！）。这门课反而应该开启主要是历史性的新观点，帮助更深入了解当今的比较媒体。同时，你们也可从我们的共同探讨中得到一些对硕士论文有帮助的想法和比较。

课程要求

第一次上课时，每个学员要报名参加课堂陈述报告，主题来自共同的阅读材料。报告内容要顾及每堂课的必读和补充阅读材料。此外，学生要仔细阅读每周的必读教材，并准备在堂上和小组分享有意思的问题和观点。最后，每位研讨会成员要准备一篇大约二十页的期末论文。在某些明确的情况下，并征得讲师同意，期末论文可以由一个内容充实的数位专题替代。最后两节课将用于这些专题的口头报告。口头报告及期末论文的指导将在堂上分发。

评分

作业及任务将按下列比例来衡量，从而决定期末成绩：

This class is intended to provide an introduction to changes in media over time; we will also consider moments of "transition" (and regression) from one media form to another. Some weeks will focus on more theoretical questions, such as the changing relationship of media and human consciousness, or the concept of "revolution" in media change, while others will focus on particular moments of transition and their social, political, cultural, and economic implications. We will proceed in a roughly chronological order. Our goal is not to create the illusion of a complete survey of media change in the West over the past two thousand years (an impossible, and thankless, assignment!). Rather, the class should open up new perspectives, primarily historical, that will add depth to your thinking about comparative media today. Some of you may also glean ideas and comparisons from our work together that will be useful for your master's thesis.

Course Requirements

At our first meeting, each participant will sign up for a class presentation on a theme suggested by our common readings. Presentations will take into account required and supplemental reading for each class session. In addition, students are expected to read carefully the required readings for each week, and come to class prepared to share thoughtful questions and comments with the group. Lastly, each seminar member will prepare a final paper of approximately twenty pages in length. In certain well-defined situations, a substantial digital project may, with the consent of the instructor, be substituted for the final paper. The last two class sessions will be devoted to oral presentations of these projects. Instructions for oral presentations and the final paper will be handed out in class.

Grading

Assignments and responsibilities will be weighted as follows in determining the final grade: