Professor, Global Studies/Media
Two years of teaching innovative seminar course that views the Global Studies curriculum through a journalistic prism, contrasting the observed realities with which the media present us against the deeper, more objective realities discernible upon closer inspection. Received stellar student evaluations.From the syllabus: "Through their respective media—traditional as well as “evolving,” formal as well as informal—nations and regions constantly disseminate messages about their values, goals and taboos. Working from those messages, what can we discern about the world-views and assumptions of the underlying cultures? We see the stories these media overtly tell us, but what are they telling us implicitly? What is the real significance of the differing ways in which those diverse global media cover the same stories and/or topics? Or, what can we infer by their reluctance to cover certain stories and topic areas? ... Above all, what can those messages teach us about the commonalities of the human condition—and also the 'wedge issues' that would seem to represent impassible chasms in our pursuit of a more prefect (or at least less incendiary) global union? Such are the questions, among others, that this class will seek to answer. The aim of this course is to help you round out your Global Studies major with a series of independent inquiries, classroom exercises and analytical writings that collectively provide a deeper understanding of globalization—its problems, contradictions and opportunities."