ENGL 3778

Last Updated

  • Schedule of Classes - October 15, 2026 7:07PM EDT

ENGL 3778
Free Speech, Censorship, and the Age of Global Media

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

Disinformation, gag laws, de-platforming, violent hate speech, recommendation algorithms, chatbots, image generators. This course will help us make sense of our increasingly volatile public sphere by surveying the history of free speech and censorship from the print revolution to the information age. In democratic societies, freedom of expression is both a cultural value and protected right; yet governments routinely regulate speech through a variety of mechanisms: from direct censorship, to licensing and copyright laws, to high court decisions about what qualifies as speech. We'll track the categories of dangerous speech-blasphemy, pornography, treason, libel-as they've changed over time. And we'll also consider forms censorship that protect freedoms and ensure civil discourse, such as banning racial stereotyping or genocide denial.


Distribution Requirements (CA-AG, LA-AG), (ALC-AS)

Last 4 Terms Offered 2023FA, 2022FA, 2021SP, 2019SP

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Syllabi: none

  •   Regular Academic Session.  Combined with: SHUM 3778

  • 3 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  7683 ENGL 3778   SEM 101

  •  
    • MW
    • Jan 25 - May 11, 2027

    • Kalas, R

  • Instruction Mode: In Person