Film and Media Studies 270: Transmedia Cultures

According to Henry Jenkins, media industries are increasingly trying to engage viewers by spreading narratives across a variety of media. He explains that this “transmedia” storytelling “represents the integration of entertainment experiences across a range of media platforms. A story like Heroes or Lost might spread from television into comics, the web, alternate reality or video games, toys, and other commodities […].” This course examines how transmedia franchises and narratives are produced, distributed, and consumed. We will explore issues related to transmedia culture, including how media franchises are developed and sustained, audience perceptions of transmedia narratives, forms of transmedia participation by fans, and the influence of transmedia narratives and media franchises on other forms of media. This class will combine lectures, discussion, presentations, and writing assignments.