In Dead Media Class, Students Research Life Before Cell Phone

Created by Ben Kafka and Alex Galloway of the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication, Dead Media Research Studio is a course devoted to media archaeology. Students undertake historical research into forgotten and obsolete media technologies. The semester begins with a display of the single lens reflex camera, which the professors use to demonstrate the sound of an authentic shutter 'click.' "We talk about how cell phones, iPods, and digital cameras make that same sound even though there's no mechanical or functional reason behind it," says Kafka. Students work collaboratively to create dossiers, which are posted online. Among the dead media dossiers: pneumatic tubes, magic lanterns, 3-D television, Zuse palimpsest, and the typewriter. For more information, visit www.cultureandcommunication.org/deadmedia.