Course content

Communications through text, sound and image are discussed in their mutual relation to economic, cultural, political and social change. Basic concepts and perspectives of Media History are introduced. The course adopts a broad definition of media and the idea that individual forms of media must be understood in relation to each other.

The course is an introduction to the subject of Media History. Important points of departure will be the broad concept of media, media and historical philosophy and the relation between old and new media. Chronologically the module covers pre-historic time, and proceeds to, and ends with, the 16th century. Important themes are the first writing systems around the globe, the relation between oral and writing based cultures, and the introduction of the printing press, its connections with the religious conflicts of the time and the formation of nation states.

Course design

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and exercises, carried out both in the classroom and at our digital platform Canvas. You will practise your skills in writing in papers and in digital forums. Together with your fellow students you will explore historical source material and secondary literature and improve your ability to make oral presentations.

Further information

The course is given in our humanities and theology centre, LUX. This offers an exciting campus environment with a vibrant student life. Lund University has one of Sweden’s oldest and largest research libraries, and the library at LUX is one of 26 libraries within this network.

The course is a free-standing course for beginners. It is given as a full-time course once a year, during the autumn semester (daytime). The course can be part of the first level course in Media History. It can be included in a first or second-cycle degree.