| Course Title: Advanced Courses in History and Theory: 'Cases in Media Law' |
| Start Date: 01/27/2026 End Date: 05/12/2026 |
| Term: Spring Semester 2026 |
| Description: What's the deal with the "TikTok ban"? Why does it matter whether or not "The Pitt" is a spinoff of "ER"? In this class, we look closely at a series of case studies in the history of media regulation and legislation, including the Paramount Decrees of 1948 that banned Hollywood studios from owning their own theaters; Supreme Court cases around journalistic freedom of expression; the PATRIOT Act which enabled a vast surveillance infrastructure; the recent antitrust case against Google; and recent cases around intellectual property. Along the way we study how these legislative and legal decisions shape the media we consume and how we consume them. |
| Distribution(s): I - Humanities , WI - Writing-Intensive , TP - Topics Course |
| Academic Level Of Course: Undergraduate | Credits:4.00 |
| Faculty | Phone | Email address |
| Hannah Goodwin | hgoodwin@mtholyoke.edu |
| Meeting Dates | Method | Meeting days | Meeting times | Building name | Room | Frequency |
| 01/27/2026 - 05/12/2026 | Seminar | Tuesday and Thursday | 10:30AM - 11:45AM | ART - Art | 219 | Weekly |
| Requisite Courses | ||
| Prereq: 8 credits in Film Media Theater or 8 credits in Politics. Students with a declared Nexus in Law, Public Policy, and Human Rights should contact the instructor for permission. | Take previously | Required |
| Comments |
| Additional Comments |
| Course Tags | ||
| FMT0004 | FMT-CR: Critical Studies | This course has been approved to count towards the Film, Media, Theater major in the Critical Studies area. |
| NXLAR0001 | NXLAR: Nexus in Law, Public Policy, and Human Rights | This course is approved for the Law, Public Policy, and Human Rights Nexus track. |
| NXJRN0001 | NXJRN: Nexus in Journalism, Media, and Public Discourse | This course is approved for the Journalism, Media, & Public Discourse Nexus track. |
| Cross-listed Sections |
| None |
| Course Availability | ||||
| Section status: Closed | Capacity: 18 | Enrollment: 20 | Available: 0 | Waitlist: 0 |
BOOK INFORMATION
| Book List | Required | Publisher Full Price |
| To be determined. |
| Additional Book Comments |
| This is NOT the complete book list for this class. |