Critical Studies of Social Media

3 credits · Undergraduate

(3 hrs Lecture/Seminar) Social media and social networking websites structure many of our experiences of the world, ourselves, and the culture that surrounds us. This course takes a critical, cultural, and rhetorical approach to the study of social media. Topics include the rhetoric of the public profile and persuasive constructions of social media selfhood and identity curation; the language and meaning of social media "friendship" and "publicity;" questions about the rhetoric of privacy under conditions of constant surveillance; the relationship between discourse, algorithms, and platform logics; and the role of social media in framing the world of meaning and public discourse. Requisite Courses: Any section of Academic Writing or exemption from the writing requirement and completion of 24 credit hours [prerequisite(s)].