History of Communication

This course provides an introductory overview of the major elements, events and themes in the history of human communication. The weekly topics are organized according to the emergence of specific forms of mass media, including printing, the newspaper, magazines, radio, cinema, television and the internet. The course also addresses the rise of advertising and public relations and their role in the broader history of media. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of technology in mass communication, the convergence between different forms of media, the connection between media and culture, and the role of media in globalizing the processes of communication.