Media Cultures of the Cold War

Graduate / Professional

This course examines the intersection of politics, aesthetics, and new media technologies in the United States between the end of World War II and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Topics include the aesthetics of “thinking the unthinkable” in the wake of the atom bomb; Abstract Expressionism and “modern man” discourse; game theory, cybernetics, operational research, and emergent art practices; the rise of television, intermedia, and the counterculture; and the continuing influence of the early cold war on contemporary media aesthetics. Readings are drawn from primary and secondary sources, and from the fields of art history, communication, and critical theory. Open to graduate students only, with priority given to History of Art students. Enrollment is by permission only; please contact the instructor for more information. M 9:25am-11:20am