This class explores various models of media emergence and its influence in a global context. How do accelerating and expanding media affect changing social values, political beliefs, identities and behaviors? What are the conditions for technological innovation and popular cultural adoption of various media? The focus of the course will be on examining episodes in media development, from early forms to their modern implementations, and the changing scope of local media to global media.

This fall the class focuses on issues of globalization. In pursuing that subject we will meet with the IBM GIO initiative for a roundtable. The class will also have guest presenters from the Media Lab/Next Lab global cell phone group as well as guest speakers from the Harvard Berkman Center for Internet research. We will look at existing test cases in global media initiatives and develop original research projects.