Digital Society
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
(1) To understand digital society through the application of five broad lenses- politics, economics, work, culture, and history.
(2) To understand how these academic concerns relate to topics in the and to issues of social relevance.
(3) To learn to analyze the visual representation of technological change through the consumption of cinematic artifacts.
(2) To understand how these academic concerns relate to topics in the and to issues of social relevance.
(3) To learn to analyze the visual representation of technological change through the consumption of cinematic artifacts.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will acquire the ability to critically assess and discuss the impact, development and use of digital technologies and their incorporation into social worlds and institutions. The final exam aims to verify the expected learning outcomes in relation to how digital technologies are shaping today's society; the most important theoretical debates around digital societies, culture and economy and the role of technology in everyday life.
Lesson period: First trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
Course syllabus
(1) To understand digital society through the application of five broad lenses- politics, economics, work, culture, and history.
(2) To understand how these academic concerns relate to topics in the and to issues of social relevance.
(3) To learn to analyze the visual representation of technological change through the consumption of cinematic artifacts.
(2) To understand how these academic concerns relate to topics in the and to issues of social relevance.
(3) To learn to analyze the visual representation of technological change through the consumption of cinematic artifacts.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic listening, reading and speaking skills in English.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Teaching Resources
Readings (To Download)
C. Wright Mills, "The Promise."
Sue Halpern, "How He Used Facebook to Win."
S.C. Stokes, "Political Parties and Democracy."
Kate Dommett et. al, "Are Digital Parties the Future of Party Organization?"
Clay Shirky, "Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable."
Philip Napoli, "Media Economics and Media Policy: The Good and the Bad."
Edward Helmore, "The digital media bubble has burst. Where does the industry go from here?"
Brett Danaher et. al. "Understanding Media Markets in the Digital Age: Economics and Methodology."
Thomas Coase, "The Theory of the Firm."
Emma Goldberg, "A Two-Year, 50-Million-Person Experiment in Changing How We Work"
Gina Neff et. al, "Permanently Beta."
Charlie Warzel, "Elon Musk Revealed What Twitter Always Was"
Bruno Latour, "Mixing Humans and Non-Humans Together: The Sociology of a Door Closer."
Ruben Cohn-Gordon, "ChatGPTs Very Inhuman Mind."
Christina Dunbar-Hester, "Glamorous factories of unpredictable freedom": Care, Coalition, and Hacking Hacking.
Daniel Cohen, "To Monopolize our Ears."
Blake Hallinhan et. al, "Recommended for you: The Netflix Prize and the production of algorithmic culture."
Edward Mendelson, "In the Depths of the Digital."
James Carey, "Technology and Ideology: The Case of the Telegraph."
Films
"The Matrix" (1999) ; "War Games" (1983); "The Social Network." (2010)l "Tron" (1982); "The Desk Set" (1957); "Electric Dreams" (1984) ; "You've Got Mail" (1998) ; "Pulse" (2001); "Minority Report" (2002); "Hackers" (1995)
C. Wright Mills, "The Promise."
Sue Halpern, "How He Used Facebook to Win."
S.C. Stokes, "Political Parties and Democracy."
Kate Dommett et. al, "Are Digital Parties the Future of Party Organization?"
Clay Shirky, "Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable."
Philip Napoli, "Media Economics and Media Policy: The Good and the Bad."
Edward Helmore, "The digital media bubble has burst. Where does the industry go from here?"
Brett Danaher et. al. "Understanding Media Markets in the Digital Age: Economics and Methodology."
Thomas Coase, "The Theory of the Firm."
Emma Goldberg, "A Two-Year, 50-Million-Person Experiment in Changing How We Work"
Gina Neff et. al, "Permanently Beta."
Charlie Warzel, "Elon Musk Revealed What Twitter Always Was"
Bruno Latour, "Mixing Humans and Non-Humans Together: The Sociology of a Door Closer."
Ruben Cohn-Gordon, "ChatGPTs Very Inhuman Mind."
Christina Dunbar-Hester, "Glamorous factories of unpredictable freedom": Care, Coalition, and Hacking Hacking.
Daniel Cohen, "To Monopolize our Ears."
Blake Hallinhan et. al, "Recommended for you: The Netflix Prize and the production of algorithmic culture."
Edward Mendelson, "In the Depths of the Digital."
James Carey, "Technology and Ideology: The Case of the Telegraph."
Films
"The Matrix" (1999) ; "War Games" (1983); "The Social Network." (2010)l "Tron" (1982); "The Desk Set" (1957); "Electric Dreams" (1984) ; "You've Got Mail" (1998) ; "Pulse" (2001); "Minority Report" (2002); "Hackers" (1995)
Assessment methods and Criteria
Grades and Exams: ATTENDING
Your grade will be based on 2 components:
(1) To produce a short (1000 word) film review essay, combining the analysis of three chosen films.
(2) Complete an oral exam related to the concepts discussed in class and the assigned readings.
Grades and Exams: NON ATTENDING
Your grade will be based on 2 components:
(1) An essay of 2000 words answering the following question:
a. Which of the 7 frames we discussed in class- politics, economics, work, technology, culture, and history- is the most important when it comes to understanding what it means to live in a "digital society"? Justify your answer by citing at least ten readings from this class. Discuss how this class has changed your understanding of the times we live in, and what was surprising to you.
(2) Complete an oral exam related to the concepts discussed in class and the assigned readings.
Your grade will be based on 2 components:
(1) To produce a short (1000 word) film review essay, combining the analysis of three chosen films.
(2) Complete an oral exam related to the concepts discussed in class and the assigned readings.
Grades and Exams: NON ATTENDING
Your grade will be based on 2 components:
(1) An essay of 2000 words answering the following question:
a. Which of the 7 frames we discussed in class- politics, economics, work, technology, culture, and history- is the most important when it comes to understanding what it means to live in a "digital society"? Justify your answer by citing at least ten readings from this class. Discuss how this class has changed your understanding of the times we live in, and what was surprising to you.
(2) Complete an oral exam related to the concepts discussed in class and the assigned readings.
SPS/08 - SOCIOLOGY OF CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Anderson Christopher
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