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 focuses on the new media technologies that have emerged and spread in the wake of the Second World War. A clear emphasis is placed on digital media and network cultures, as well as the broad influence of television. Highlighted themes are the cultural understanding of technological development, convergence culture and intermedial relations. We also discuss the press media environment and the changing conditions for journalism, along with analogue and digital sound media. Finally, we analyse the arguments of some of the most influential late 20th century media theorists such as Raymond Williams and Marshall McLuhan.

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.