In an essay of at least eight pages, do a close, comparative analysis of two works: one new media, one old media.

Because they are realized in different styles of media, the texts will obviously contrast, and so they should have some basis on which they can be compared. Both, for example, may be meant for the same audience (e.g., teen-aged girls), have the same purpose (satiric, journalistic, or self expressive), or even be by the same author (New York Times paper and online editions).

Use this comparison/contrast to discuss, interrogate, complicate, and even challenge some of the principles of new media defined in our readings. The idea is to say that, yes, these defining principles of New Media are useful and revealing as far as they go, but that a sustained, detailed comparison of a pair of new/old media texts suggests more subtle continuities and parallels, or finer, more nuanced differences.

You may well decide that a given theorist’s principle of New Media is a valid and useful in distinguishing New from Old, but that the act of comparing two texts made you understand the distinction in a more subtle way. If so, make us understand that as well. Or you may use your comparison to critique one theorist’s definitions of New Media, and to support and extend another’s.

Questions

• In what ways do New Media texts (ironically) depend on the formal and procedural conventions of Old Media?
• In what ways have Old Media (ironically) always used the forms and procedures that are claimed as special to New Media? What are the problems of distinguishing Old and New Media from one another?
• Which theorists’ defining ideas of New Media are most problematic?
• Which theorists’ defining ideas of New Media are most fundamental?
• How do both the New and Old Media refer to/play off the other to bolster their authority and “cultural capital”?

Citation and Documentation

Your essay should include parenthetical citation of all quotations and paraphrased ideas and a "Works Cited" section at the end—both in MLA format.

Screen Shots

You will want to use screen shots and images to illustrate what you discuss in the essay, but don't count the space taken by the images in your page count.