What readings or approaches have been most interesting, challenging, or helpful in allowing you to understand your own media experiences in new ways?

As a reminder, the final exam is structured as follows:
The first page of the exam is Part 1. You will see 3 questions. You must answer 2 of the 3 questions.
The second page of the exam is Part 2. You will see 1 question. You must answer this 1 question.
Please see the full exam instructions included on the course’s E-class homepage.
Note: For the purposes of answering the exam questions, the documentaries ‘Advertising at the Edge of the Apocalypse’ and ‘Coded Bias’ can both be used as course readings in answering questions.

Part 1

This semester we have encountered various ways in which people use media to try to bring about social change, whether that involves using commercial media for activist purposes, or developing alternative forms of media. Outline at least 2 examples of activist media, and explain how such media interventions can be seen as forms of ‘popular culture.’ Be sure to address theories of popular culture in your answer. Your answer must refer to at least three course readings from the second semester (NOTE: each textbook chapter can count as an individual reading, but you should use no more than two chapter
A political economy approach stresses that media are shaped by various market-based or capitalist forces, including advertising/consumer culture, ownership structures, and copyright. Outline two key political economy-related problems identified by media and communication scholars, and explain in detail what policies have been or could be implemented to address these problems. Your answer must refer to at least three course readings from the second semester (NOTE: each textbook chapter can count as an individual reading, but you should use no more than two chapters)
^^^^Advertising at the Edge of the Apocalypse^^^^
Part of the Series: MEF Debt & Consumerism Collection
Graham Murdock argues that we need to take a ‘moral economy’ approach when analyzing the technological dimensions of media systems, including in relation to labor and environmental issues. Explain what Murdock means by ‘moral economy,’ and apply this approach to two case studies or readings from the course. How does a moral economy approach help us to understand and address potential technology-related social issues or problems? Your answer must refer to at least three course readings from the second semester (NOTE: each textbook chapter can count as an individual reading, but you should use no more than two chapters).

Part 2

Academic approaches to Communication & Media Studies can help you to think in new and different ways about the world, about how media work, and about the ways in which your own life is mediated. Looking back over the second semester readings and lectures, what readings or approaches have been most interesting, challenging, or helpful in allowing you to understand your own media experiences in new ways? How specifically have the ideas and approaches you’ve learned in this course shaped your own thinking? Your answer should include detailed explanations of course concepts, and must refer to at least three course readings from the second semester (NOTE: each textbook chapter can count as an individual reading, but you should use no more than two chapters).

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