Special Topics Title: Critical Studies of Misinformation - This course examines misinformation and disinformation. We will consider how we define these concepts as well as how the identification of “truth” relates to broader struggles around the social construction of knowledge. Our review of these concepts will be informed by history, culture, and politics, and we will pay particular attention to the ways social categories – including race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual identity – shape the dynamics of dis/misinformation. We will explore the role print, broadcast, and digital media play in the creation and spread of mis/disinformation and the corresponding implications for democratic society. Finally, we will explore specific examples of mis/disinformation and consider strategies for combating this complex and evolving social issue.