Media and Communication Before the Printing Press

Epic traditions, the call to crusade, public curses, music of the troubadours and trouveres: this course examines oral tradition and music--the "viral media" of pre-modern Europe--while tracing the impact of new recording technologies: manuscript production, early musical notation, and book production. The course will emphasize close reading of original sources, and students will hone skills in learning to place documents in their wider social, political, economic, religious contexts. Students are expected to attend lectures and discussion sections, and to participate actively in the latter. Weekly readings range from 50-100 pages. But even when readings are short, don't be fooled! You're expected to read carefully and, like a medieval monk or nun, to ruminate--to chew on and digest--the text.