MXP-433 Communication, Culture and Identity in New Zealand

Travel study program to New Zealand examining the role of mass media in shaping and reviving the identity of its inhabitants as Maori, Pakeha, and New Zealanders. Readings will help to understand the historical context for the emergence of these identities. Students will visit museums, education centers, and Maori cultural sites, as well as radio and television stations in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. They will also meet with prominent scholars and with New Zealand politicians who make broadcast policy. These contacts, along with the assigned readings, will prepare students for writing assignments in which they analyze the impact of media institutions and practices on the creation of identity. May Experience ONLY. May Experience ONLY. 2 credits.