GRIID Classes for Winter 2010

We are pleased to announce that GRIID will be offering two classes beginning late January of 2010. The first class that is being offered is one that will explore the current US occupation of Afghanistan. The class will also be a 6-week session where we will explore the recent history of US involvement in Afghanistan, from the Soviet occupation of the 80s, to the rise of the Taliban and the current US/NATO occupation.

The primary text for this book will be Bleeding Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords, and the Propaganda of Silence, but we will also be using online resources, recent reports, independent news & analysis and several documentaries.

The second class being offer is US Media & Propaganda. In this six-week class we will explore how the media functions in the US and what role it plays in society. We will look at the evolution of the public relations industry, the government US of propaganda, the function of journalism and the use of entertainment media as a means of pacification and social control.

There is no text for the US Media & Propaganda class, but we will be utilizing numerous articles, reports, documentaries, media literacy resources, film and current commercial and independent news media.

The cost for each class is $20 and participants are required to get their own copy of the Afghan class book. The classes will be held at 1134 Wealthy in Grand Rapids.

Afghan Class will be Mondays from 6 – 8pm beginning January 25.

US Media & Propaganda will be Wednesdays from 7 – 9pm beginning January 27.

To sign up contact: Mike Saunders outobol@gmail.com or Jeff Smith jsmith@griid.org.