He graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Broadcast Communication Arts and Sociology, and from University of Oregon with an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Telecommunication and Film. He teaches courses in media, particularly popular culture, television production, and media criticism, and received the University award of Distinguished Teaching Humanist for 2004-2006. Author of Monopoly Television: MTV’s Quest to Control the Music, published by Westview Press, Dr. Banks’ research interests focus on media ownership and its impact on how and what is presented in the media as well as on representations of race, class, sexuality, and gender in the media, especially on film and television. His current research project looks at the portrayal of gay sexuality in popular culture.