Media and Area studies

The MA in Media and Area Studies (MARS) is based on a constructive dialogue between Media Studies and Area Studies, and between the Institute of Communication Studies and Journalism and the Institute of International Studies. This groundedness in Prague, the Czech Republic, Central Eastern Europe and the European Union enables for two particular spatial focal points, which provide the backbone of the MARS programme, namely Central and Eastern Europe and the European Union. This backbone is combined with and strengthened by two main components: A theoretical component, which consists out of a combination of post-colonial theory, media sociology, memory studies and political geography. Moreover, also a methodological component provides the required support. These two focal points and the theoretical and methodological components structure the MARS programme. At the same time, the programme aims to avoid an exclusive focus on Central Eastern Europe, and offers (mostly but not exclusively through the electives) knowledge about other European regions, or about Europe as a whole. A second extension relates to more transnational and transcultural approaches, moving away from the logics of nation-state homogeneity, with emphasis on internal conflict and exclusion.