124264 KO Critical Media Analysis (2012W)

The class begins with the origins of tourism in the19th century great walking tours of Europe and the World Exhibitions, and describes the link with class, empire, nation-building and anthropology. We follow the evolution of collection and display from freak shows and curio shops, to the institution of national museums, to the recent advent of inter-active cultural theme parks and Disneyland. The course is underpinned by theories and concepts of social semiotics, surveillance (Foucault), the heritage industry (Bennett), national icons (Hobsbawm and Ranger; Anderson), tourism (MacCannell), authenticity (Clifford), and takes its position from the cultural turn of the 1960s which relativises and decentres history and culture. During the semester we will have one class trip to a museum. Time and place to be decided.