From the consolidation of Hollywood as a corporate powerhouse to today’s algorithmic control systems, mass media has been central to both the promise and the crisis of democracy. This course examines how media industries and technologies have shaped political life, creating spaces of culture and participation but also of surveillance, monopolisation, deregulation, and control. We will explore the historical rise of corporate
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This course investigates the entangled history of mass media and democracy, asking how media systems have enabled public participation while also reinforcing power and control. Beginning with the rise of Hollywood as a corporate media industry in the 1920s and the growth of public relations and advertising as tools of persuasion, we will trace how mass media has been theorised as a panoptic force of discipline (Foucault), as symptomatic of a deregulated neoliberal economic environment (e.g. the rise of Murdoch’s Sky empire in the UK; the conglomeration and monopolisation of media networks globally), as a mechanism for “manufacturing consent” (Chomsky and Herman), or as an arena for spontaneous popular activist movements like the Arab Spring (Castells). We will then examine the digital turn, where data, algorithms, and surveillance capitalism reshape the public sphere and pose urgent threats to democratic life.
What will we cover?
The rise of Hollywood and the consolidation of corporate media industries in the 20th century
Public relations, advertising, and the shaping of consumer culture and political legitimacy
Propaganda, ideology, and the “manufacturing of consent” (Chomsky & Herman)
Mass media, surveillance, and discipline: Foucault’s panopticon and Deleuze’s “societies of control”
Neoliberal deregulation, global conglomerates, and the reconfiguration of media power
Surveillance capitalism: data extraction, algorithms, and new forms of social control
Disinformation and the crisis of democracy in the digital age
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Explain the historical development of mass media industries and their political functions
Critically engage with theoretical frameworks (Chomsky, Foucault, Deleuze, Zuboff) to understand media and power
Evaluate the impact of surveillance capitalism and digital infrastructures on democracy
Reflect on the challenges and possibilities for democratic participation in a media-saturated world
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills, just an interest in media, history, and culture.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Short clips from the films will be provided, as well as reading materials. The class will be structured around a combination of PowerPoint presentations, readings, clips, and class discussions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please look for other courses on our City Lit website: https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities
Dr Jean-Baptiste de Vaulx has taught at Royal Holloway, University of London, and currently is an associate lecturer at University College London. His fields of teaching and research focus on world cinema, international film history, film festivals and cinephile film cultures. He has published articles and book chapters on varied topics including child characters in Iranian cinema, the theme of home in the films of Lucrecia Martel, the Japanese new wave director Hiroshi Teshigahara, and the history of world cinema programming on Channel Four.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/mass-media-and-democracy2996294Mass Media and Democracyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/m/a/mass-media-and-democracy-hf421-1080.jpg139139GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/TV & media studies22851177158020971228511771580<p>From the consolidation of Hollywood as a corporate powerhouse to today’s algorithmic control systems, mass media has been central to both the promise and the crisis of democracy. This course examines how media industries and technologies have shaped political life, creating spaces of culture and participation but also of surveillance, monopolisation, deregulation, and control. We will explore the historical rise of corporate mass media and public relations, the ways in which media has manufactured consent and disciplined societies, and the transition to a digital environment dominated by surveillance capitalism, misinformation, and algorithmic governance, as topical threats to our contemporary era’s understanding of democracy.</p>003071422Mass Media and Democracy139139https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/m/a/mass-media-and-democracy-hf421-1080_2.jpgInStockEveningFriKeeley StreetAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2027-02-26T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allFeb 2027Culture, history & humanitiesHF421139139Mass Media and Democracy13990139Jean-Baptiste de Vaulxmass-media-and-democracy/hf421-2627<p>From the consolidation of Hollywood as a corporate powerhouse to today’s algorithmic control systems, mass media has been central to both the promise and the crisis of democracy. This course examines how media industries and technologies have shaped political life, creating spaces of culture and participation but also of surveillance, monopolisation, deregulation, and control. We will explore the historical rise of corporate mass media and public relations, the ways in which media has manufactured consent and disciplined societies, and the transition to a digital environment dominated by surveillance capitalism, misinformation, and algorithmic governance, as topical threats to our contemporary era’s understanding of democracy.</p>0000-Available|2027-02-26 00:00:00<p>This course investigates the entangled history of mass media and democracy, asking how media systems have enabled public participation while also reinforcing power and control. Beginning with the rise of Hollywood as a corporate media industry in the 1920s and the growth of public relations and advertising as tools of persuasion, we will trace how mass media has been theorised as a panoptic force of discipline (Foucault), as symptomatic of a deregulated neoliberal economic environment (e.g. the rise of Murdoch’s Sky empire in the UK; the conglomeration and monopolisation of media networks globally), as a mechanism for “manufacturing consent” (Chomsky and Herman), or as an arena for spontaneous popular activist movements like the Arab Spring (Castells). We will then examine the digital turn, where data, algorithms, and surveillance capitalism reshape the public sphere and pose urgent threats to democratic life.</p><p>From the consolidation of Hollywood as a corporate powerhouse to today’s algorithmic control systems, mass media has been central to both the promise and the crisis of democracy. This course examines how media industries and technologies have shaped political life, creating spaces of culture and participation but also of surveillance, monopolisation, deregulation, and control. We will explore the historical rise of corporate mass media and public relations, the ways in which media has manufactured consent and disciplined societies, and the transition to a digital environment dominated by surveillance capitalism, misinformation, and algorithmic governance, as topical threats to our contemporary era’s understanding of democracy.</p><ul><li>The rise of Hollywood and the consolidation of corporate media industries in the 20th century</li><li>Public relations, advertising, and the shaping of consumer culture and political legitimacy</li><li>Propaganda, ideology, and the “manufacturing of consent” (Chomsky & Herman)</li><li>Mass media, surveillance, and discipline: Foucault’s panopticon and Deleuze’s “societies of control”</li><li>Neoliberal deregulation, global conglomerates, and the reconfiguration of media power</li><li>Surveillance capitalism: data extraction, algorithms, and new forms of social control</li><li>Disinformation and the crisis of democracy in the digital age<br> </li></ul><ul><li>Explain the historical development of mass media industries and their political functions</li><li>Critically engage with theoretical frameworks (Chomsky, Foucault, Deleuze, Zuboff) to understand media and power</li><li>Evaluate the impact of surveillance capitalism and digital infrastructures on democracy</li><li>Reflect on the challenges and possibilities for democratic participation in a media-saturated world<br> </li></ul><p>The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills, just an interest in media, history, and culture.</p><p>Short clips from the films will be provided, as well as reading materials. The class will be structured around a combination of PowerPoint presentations, readings, clips, and class discussions.</p><p>The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.</p><p>Please look for other courses on our City Lit website: https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities </p>Film studiesTV & media studiesvirtual13913990HF421NONEFri26/02/27 - 19/03/2718:00 - 20:0018:0020:004 sessions (over 4 weeks)41 to 4 weeksEveningWeekdayKSKeeley StreetJean-Baptiste de VaulxBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2027-02-26T00:00:00+00:00Feb 2027Culture, history & humanities139139Mass Media and Democracymass-media-and-democracy/hf421-2627<p>From the consolidation of Hollywood as a corporate powerhouse to today’s algorithmic control systems, mass media has been central to both the promise and the crisis of democracy. This course examines how media industries and technologies have shaped political life, creating spaces of culture and participation but also of surveillance, monopolisation, deregulation, and control. We will explore the historical rise of corporate mass media and public relations, the ways in which media has manufactured consent and disciplined societies, and the transition to a digital environment dominated by surveillance capitalism, misinformation, and algorithmic governance, as topical threats to our contemporary era’s understanding of democracy.</p>0000-Available|2027-02-26 00:00:00<p>This course investigates the entangled history of mass media and democracy, asking how media systems have enabled public participation while also reinforcing power and control. Beginning with the rise of Hollywood as a corporate media industry in the 1920s and the growth of public relations and advertising as tools of persuasion, we will trace how mass media has been theorised as a panoptic force of discipline (Foucault), as symptomatic of a deregulated neoliberal economic environment (e.g. the rise of Murdoch’s Sky empire in the UK; the conglomeration and monopolisation of media networks globally), as a mechanism for “manufacturing consent” (Chomsky and Herman), or as an arena for spontaneous popular activist movements like the Arab Spring (Castells). We will then examine the digital turn, where data, algorithms, and surveillance capitalism reshape the public sphere and pose urgent threats to democratic life.</p><p>From the consolidation of Hollywood as a corporate powerhouse to today’s algorithmic control systems, mass media has been central to both the promise and the crisis of democracy. This course examines how media industries and technologies have shaped political life, creating spaces of culture and participation but also of surveillance, monopolisation, deregulation, and control. We will explore the historical rise of corporate mass media and public relations, the ways in which media has manufactured consent and disciplined societies, and the transition to a digital environment dominated by surveillance capitalism, misinformation, and algorithmic governance, as topical threats to our contemporary era’s understanding of democracy.</p><ul><li>The rise of Hollywood and the consolidation of corporate media industries in the 20th century</li><li>Public relations, advertising, and the shaping of consumer culture and political legitimacy</li><li>Propaganda, ideology, and the “manufacturing of consent” (Chomsky &amp; Herman)</li><li>Mass media, surveillance, and discipline: Foucault’s panopticon and Deleuze’s “societies of control”</li><li>Neoliberal deregulation, global conglomerates, and the reconfiguration of media power</li><li>Surveillance capitalism: data extraction, algorithms, and new forms of social control</li><li>Disinformation and the crisis of democracy in the digital age<br> </li></ul><ul><li>Explain the historical development of mass media industries and their political functions</li><li>Critically engage with theoretical frameworks (Chomsky, Foucault, Deleuze, Zuboff) to understand media and power</li><li>Evaluate the impact of surveillance capitalism and digital infrastructures on democracy</li><li>Reflect on the challenges and possibilities for democratic participation in a media-saturated world<br> </li></ul><p>The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills, just an interest in media, history, and culture.</p><p>Short clips from the films will be provided, as well as reading materials. The class will be structured around a combination of PowerPoint presentations, readings, clips, and class discussions.</p><p>The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.</p><p>Please look for other courses on our City Lit website: https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities </p>Film studiesTV & media studiesconfigurable
20971580TV & media studieshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/film-studies/tv-media-studies1/2/285/1177/1580/20971/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/TV & media studies
