Fundamentals of New Media

A project-based, experiential, synchronous learning course dealing with the technical, aesthetic, psychological, and commercial principles of creating, producing, distributing, and monetizing digital content. This class takes a critical approach to understanding the relationship between the centralized media landscape of the 20th century, to that of the democratized New Media economy of the 21st century; the Internet, search engines, websites, social media; picture, audio, and video sharing sites, etc. Emphasis is on the global influence of digital technologies in communication and media, the unique properties of New Media and how it works, the history of New Media from theory to practice; success strategies of New Media pioneers, influencers, and thought leaders, the financial rewards and ethical responsibilities of New Media use, and the intellectual property challenges of New Media in open source communities.