Investigations into media, knowledge and culture

This reading group will investigate the way the current media landscape uses knowledge and disseminates it through various forms of media: how it is generated, who owns it, who gets access to it, and how and what gets disseminated. We will look at a broad range of articles, films, news videos, social media content and other forms of media. What elements of form (or way of media sharing) impact the media’s ability to share knowledge and truth? How is culture influenced by the way knowledge and truth are shared in fictional media?

Start Date: October 30th, 2022

Meeting Frequency: Sundays at 12:00 pm EST

Application Deadline: October 26th, 2022.

Facilitated by Liam Dousti and Amelia Tyson

World Order in the Media

Join us for a deep exploration of the discourse on world order and its presence in the media today. We will review modern and historical efforts to construct globally integrated worldviews, and ask what it means to live in this time of “the planetization of mankind”.

Each session will begin with a discussion on a reading from our primary text, "Journey to Earthland" by Paul Raskin. The second portion of each session will be an open discussion on related topics and stand alone readings intended to correlate Baha’i teachings on world order with those of some of humanity’s preeminent thinkers. We will consider where such ideas overlap and illuminate one another— and also where they might diverge.

The end of our studies together will culminate with an exchange of ideas on ways this discourse in media may be advanced, in light of the Baháʼí Revelation.

Start Date: November 8th, 2022

Meeting Frequency: Tuesdays at 7:00 pm PST

Application Deadline: October 26th, 2022

Facilitated by Ford Bowers and Samah Tokmachi

Surveillance Capitalism and the Media

The purpose of this group is to explore the effects of a significant shift happening now to our societies and economies, and consider its implications for media industries and professionals. Focused on excerpts from a recent book, we will unpack the concept of "surveillance capitalism," diving into the relationship between labour, media, and economics. Which forces drive the creation and consumption of media? What informs the collection and utilization of data in our industries?

Start Date: November 14th, 2022

Meeting Frequency: Mondays at 5:00 pm PST

Application Deadline: October 26th, 2022

Facilitated by Ben Altair Ingham