CMN 476

Credit: 3 OR 4 hours.

Explores the influences of advertising and commercialism and their role in defining our political culture, social institutions, and personal lives. Through readings, written reflection, visual presentations, and class discussions, the course explores a wide range of advertising and consumer issues and discusses how consumers negotiate these forces. The first part of the course is devoted to a historical overview; discussing the risk and evolving nature of advertising throughout the 20th century. Having established a historical framework, the course offers six contemporary topics to be discussed in the remainder of the semester. Topics may include, but not be limited to: the commercial mass media; the public relations industry; gender in advertising; commercialization of childhood; the commercialization of medicine and science; contemporary consumer society; advertising in schools; and food, advertising, and body image.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.