Media Culture and Technology 2009

1. Media Culture and Technology2009 Dr. Miya Christensen

2. Welcome to the Course • The purpose of this course is • to offer an overview of the major theories and concepts in relation media culture and technology • To discuss current these theories&concepts in the light of certain examples

3. More specifically, the course will provide a historical overview of technological developments and to explore some of the key figures and topics in the academic analysis of technology and culture.

4. Among the questions considered are: • How has one medium displaced another? And implications. • How has one medium borrowed traditions and conventions from another? • How have the new media diffused through society? • How have the new media been exploited by those in power? • How have issues related with and visions of technology been treated in popular culture and film? • While keeping an inquisitive eye toward technology based on these questions, we will primarily focus on film and popular culture examples.

5. Course Materials • Students are expected to purchase the following reading material for the class: • *Donald MacKenzie and Judy Wajcman. The Social Shaping of Technology • *Paul Heyer and D. Crowley. Communication in History: Technology, Culture, Society • *Manuel Castells. The Internet Galaxy: Reflections on the Internet, Business and Society

6. Articles, web sites, films, etc. are also considered as course material and shall be included within the scope of the exams. • ther readings shall either be online or handed in class.

7. Assignments for the First 5 Weeks • Midterm (30%): There will be one midterm exam to test your knowledge of the course material up to that date. The midterm will take place on April 28 and will cover all material up to that date. The format of the exam will be a series of short answer questions. Further details will be given by the instructor as we go along.

8. Seminar Presentations (20%): Class will be divided into groups of 5 to 7 students, depending on the size of the class. Each group will be responsible for presenting respective course material and to engage the class in a discussion of the topics. Group presentations are expected to be between 40 and 50 minutes. Each group will also be required to produce a one-page outline of their seminar and each member’s contribution.

9. First Presentation • ☼April 9 Thursday The Digital Divide Presentation by Group A • * Castells, M. (2001) Ch 9 “The Digital Divide in a Global Context” in Textbook Castells pp. 247-274 • *Van Dijk, J. (2005) “Introduction” in The Deepening Divide, London: Sage, pp.1-8 Hand-out distributed in class

10. Participation: This is a highly interactive course and all students are required to attend class meetings regularly and engage in class discussions actively. • Class performance will be considered as part of the overall course grade.

11. Class Meetings • Lectures • Hightlight important parts to help us understand the scope. Both theory and analysis • Not ”only” based on readings, but other relevant sources of information • Seminar&Discussion • At the upper division level, it’s important that we “work” with theories/concepts rather than just “read/learn” about them • Therefore, please come to class having done the readings and contribute to discussion.

12. Information Cards • Picture (can be a copy from your ID card) • Name • Home town • Home university • Department/major • Familiarity with media and comm; and culture and technology • Comments/expectations from the course.

13. Thursday’s lecture is UNDERSTANDING CULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY(historical roots of the field)