There are few topics, beyond communication itself, which better reflect our interconnected humanity than “the environment.” Mediated environmental messages surround us, whether about expansive issues like climate change or the newest, organic or sustainable product. These mediated messages often come together or diverge around conceptualizations of our environment
hinging on risks and uncertainties about the fundamentals of contemporary society. This course will look at the study and practice of the environment and media through a range of concepts, ranging from the “sacrificial landscape” reflected in television shows such as the first season of HBO’s True Detective to the “growth machine,” as a persistent framework to understanding risk
amid the imperative of economic growth in contemporary capitalism.