Professor: Nicole Dahmen
4 credits
The phrase "pursuit of happiness," which is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, has become a symbol of American ideals, inspiring social and political movements and shaping discussions about the role of government in protecting individual freedoms and promoting well-being. At the same time, “happiness” has become a commodity that’s been largely exploited and commercialized by the mass media. Happiness is defined as a sense of well-being, joy, or contentment. But, really, what is happiness? How do we get it? And is happiness actually what we want? We’ll explore ”happiness” through critical analysis of mass media content with a focus on research in the social sciences.