Alternative text to Downing et al, "Questioning the Media"

From: Thomas B. Grochowski <[email protected]>

I'm teaching a junior-level course in media criticism, and for years I've used the Downing et al text, Questioning the Media: A Critical Introduction. I still find it the most useful thing I do for introducing the theoretical perspectives to cover in the course (semiotics, audience studies, feminism, etc.), but the one weakness of the book is that the most recent edition is nearly 20 years old, and I believe that I need to find something like it but more contemporary. I'm not too crazy about the larger anthologies because they tend to be absurdly expensive. And just to give you a similar title that I used to like: the Dines and Humez Gender Race and Class in Media was a useful supplement and even a possible alternative, but more recent editions have been frankly disappointing. That's the kind of thing I'd like, if I could get one reasonably priced. I have been supplementing the Downing with additional relevant readings, which I would be okay doing again this summer, but I was curious as to what anyone else would suggest. Thanks.

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