Explore how the presentation of information is used to protect and challenge institutions of power.
In today's world of social media and 24-hour news cycles, more information is available to more people than ever before. Yet, in many ways, analyzing this barrage of information to make informed conclusions has never been more difficult, or more important.
In this Pathway, students will learn to think critically about media, rhetoric, communication, information and visual culture, and learn to communicate ethically and effectively through a variety of media. This Pathway poses important questions about how we collect, analyze and disseminate information, including: How does one recognize when information is being used to advance narrow interests? How does ownership of media affect the interpretation and framing of controversy? How do particular technologies impact access to information? How have advertising, marketing and branding affected our perceptions and choices? How does one participate in public conversations to achieve desired policy goals?
While students construct their own animating questions, some possible examples include:
- How does one recognize when information is being used to advance narrow interests?
- How does ownership of information media affect the interpretation and framing of controversy?
- How do particular media technologies impact access to and dissemination of information?
- What influence do media technologies have on our perception of reality, and what are the consequences of altered and multiple realities?
- How have advertising, marketing, and branding affected our perceptions and choices?
- More personally, how does one intervene in public conversations to achieve desired policy goals?
Global/Local Engagement
Connecticut College offers several study-away programs designed to focus on media, rhetoric and communication, including opportunities in theater at the National Theater Institute, in film studies and film production through CET and in Prague, in journalism at American University, in creative writing at Ashesi University in Ghana, and in media studies and communication at several universities in New Zealand and Australia. In addition, there are several established study-away locations with coursework and field study opportunities ideally suited for projects in media, rhetoric and communication.
The College also has an extensive network of alumni in communications and media all over the world, and we partner with these alumni to provide students College-sponsored internships in communications, journalism, social media and outreach.
On campus and in the local community, there are numerous opportunities for student involvement in communication, media outreach and rhetorical presentations, including student publications, moot court competitions, student government, student advisory boards and club athletics, and partnerships with Story Matters, the Eugene O’Neill Theater, Spark Makerspace and New London Main Street.
