Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with mediastudies

Make me fortunate indeed

drea — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:33:05 -0800

Please help me look for a statement by Craig Calhoun: Mediation reminds the spectator that he/she is fortunate. What book or article? I've been looking through tons of articles already (mostly on solidarity) and haven't come up with anything. I'm helping out my lecturer doing his phd. Google isn't helping much, either, and I hope you've come across this line somewhere. Thanks so much.

MediatedExperienceFilter

Alterscape — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 16:17:46 -0800

I'm looking for scholarly research and writing on the topic of experience mediated through recording devices, with an emphasis on cell-phone still/video cameras, point-and-shoots, etc -- casual, frequent media gathering activities performed by nonprofessionals in support of blogging and other personal storytelling. As part of grad-school prep, I've been reading a lot of papers regarding everyday storytelling using multimedia (think blogging, flickr, youtube skits, etc). One aspect these specific papers haven't touched is how the use of recording equipment for media-gathering affects the individual's experience of events, as opposed to experiencing the same events as a spectator without intent to record. Is anybody doing research on these issues from a technical or anthropological perspective? If not, why not?

For the record, as a film studies undergrad, I'm aware of the extensive body of work surrounding ontology and documentary filmmaking theory (cinema verite, direct cinema, etc), but I'm interested specifically in non-professionals recording photo/video/audio media for personal (or at least non-'old media') use.

Where should I go to grad school?

ChasFile — Fri, 08 Apr 2005 17:05:02 -0800

Where should I go to graduate school? Program 1 is about a decade old, is pretty good match for me, and is well respected within the field. Program 2 is several decades old, is an even better match for me, is even more respected within the field, and is located in a much better environment for internships, off-campus jobs, post-graduation employment prospects, and so forth. So what's the problem? Program 1 has offered a full tuition scholarship, while program 2 has offered only less than a third of its tuition. Disclaimer/excuse: I think this is a good question for AskMe since doubtless many other people are making similar decisions right now: School 1 for cheap or School 2 for nor not cheap but the better program? However, in the interest of getting the best answer to my question, here are some specifics:

Program 1: Communication, Culture, and Technology at Georgetown University
Program 2: Media Ecology in the Department of Culture and Communication at New York University

I've heard said many times in reference to postgraduate eductation, "If you have to pay for it, you shouldn't be doing it." I'd much rather enroll in program 2; its the better department in the better school with the better resources in the better location etc etc etc. But I'd have to be insane to turn down a full tuition scholarship, right? No M.A. program is worth $30k in debt, right?

Media Studies Programs

Gucky — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 13:51:00 -0800

RetreatingIntoAcademia filter: I've decided to go back to school to study and teach Media Studies. Except I have no idea how to find the perfect school/program for me. Suggestions? [mi] I've already got two degrees -- a BS in Advertising (Communications) and an MFA in Advertising Design -- copywriting concentration. In addition to working a marketing job as a writer (heavy strategy, linguistics and analysis), I've been teaching grad school at night.

I enjoy teaching grad students far more than anything else I'm doing. The things I seem to excel at and enjoy are analyzing cultural context and meaning.

I don't want to go back for a PhD in advertising, as I want to take a broader perspective -- all media or mass media. And I don't want to study industry or production -- I've had enough of that from the inside.

I’ve got some school rankings and googled “media studies” and “phd”, but there seems to be almost no way to find the kind of degree I want to get.

I'll take recommendations of:
* Other majors besides Media Studies that will accomplish the same sort of program (Humanities? Mass Communications? Semiotics?)
* Ways to find a school like this (most search sites are geared to undergrad and media studies doesn't seem to be very prevalent as a PhD level
* Schools that I might want to look into
* What I should keep in mind going back to school after working for 5+ years
* People calling me crazy

My dream school has:
* A PhD program that doesn’t make me get an MA along the way, although I realize I’ll have to do lots of MA-level work
* Strong TA/funding so I get to teach right away and don’t add to my student loans
* Urban setting, because I’ve done the cornfield thing and I’m not down with that