How to Explain MCC to non-MCC folk:
As a senior in MCC, I find that I have a hard time explaining what MCC is to interviewers, friends, and even family. The abbreviation itself is not always known by other NYU students and staff. Even after clarifying that MCC stands for Media, Culture, and Communications, many people are still confused. I’m often asked, “So is that like journalism?”or “What kind of job can you get with your degree?”. It seems that there is ambiguity about the definition of media as well as general lack of understanding about what studying media and communications entails. Add to the fact that NYU’s MCC program is purposefully flexible and expansive makes giving a concise explanation nearly impossible. Maybe you’re also struggling to grasp what it is you’re learning since it’s easy to forget what the purpose of all those long readings and papers sometimes are. Use this handy guide to figure out how to answer the question, “what even is MCC?”:
What is Media
The short answer: TV, radio, film, newspapers, books, websites, social media platforms
Most people readily think of mass media so don’t waste your time explaining the affordances of paper like you learned from History of Media.
What is Communications
The short answer: the ways in which ideas, feelings, or messages are sent and received
What is Culture
No need to bring up Horkheimer and Adorno because most people already have an understanding of what culture is. It’s what keeps society in place -- the common narratives and logics that affect our perspectives. Media influences culture and vice versa.
So what does that make MCC?
MCC is a mix of theoretical disciplines like politics, philosophy, economics, gender studies, cultural analysis and can include practical skills like coding, writing, content production. Your MCC path is what you make of it and the fields of study you choose largely dictate the kind of things you focus on. Whether you’re engaged in the theoretical or the practical, you’re gaining well-rounded knowledge on the relationship between media and society.
Why is this important?
Now is the time to be studying media! We’re living in a time of great social, technological, and economic change. It’s turbulent and no one really knows where we’re headed. However, MCC gives you the tools to understand what is happening in the world around you especially in relation to the digital space. Understanding the implications of Facebook in politics, the representation of minorities in films, and the transformation of the cable industry are just some relevant examples of the context MCC gives you to the things happening in real life. It’s like we know a little about a lot because we’re multi-disciplinary in nature, so own that!
What can I do?
The number 1 thing parents and other adults wonder is how you can apply all this knowledge into finding a job. Lucky for you, the MCC degree opens up so many possible opportunities! Assure them that you can and will find a job in any sector you choose because communication is important! Depending on your goals, being an MCC major can lead to careers in entertainment, production, journalism, PR, marketing, advertising, strategy, business, research, or policy. Being in New York gives us the opportunities to work for major media conglomerates, nonprofits and a variety of other organizations as well. MCC can be anything or everything you want it to be, it’s just up to you to figure that out.
Hopefully this guide has broken down and simplified some of the more abstract parts of MCC to help you explain yourself to others. Never forget what you’re learning is valid, important, and useful to apply to the real-world. Next time you’re asked, don’t be stumped by how to answer.
