Children & the Media: Diversity Issues

This course will explore the relationship of children to media in its social context. “Childhood” is a unique time where many images have a dramatic impact on the development of attitudes and perceptions about others. Impressions that may penetrate the subconscious are formed in children through media. This influence will be used to analyze diversity and the resulting stereotypes of religion, gender, age, race, ethnicity, disabilities, socio-economic status, and body image. Children have an innate capacity for empathy, respect and compassion toward others; an examination of the relationship between these qualities and the perceptions of diverse issues created by the media will be completed. (Fulfills Humanities requirement.) Spring/summer semesters