Media Theory and Ai
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
Students will gain in-depth knowledge and expertise in an ongoing debate on the philosophical and biopolitical implications of the contemporary mediascape and in particular of AI-enabled technologies.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will acquire the ability to:
- critically analyse arguments in aesthetics
- discuss and compare different philosophical positions in aesthetics
- reflect on complex and articulated philosophical arguments, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses;
- take their own position in a philosophical debate and to put forward arguments in support of it;
- communicate the results of their research effectively, also using multimedia techniques to represent information with possible applications in teaching;
- use relational, communicative and organisational skills also in highly complex contexts and in the management of group work;
- transmit the skills obtained also in non-specialist contexts;
- reflect on their own skills and evaluations;
- autonomously research the philosophical sources of a debate or a school of thought;
- independently investigate a philosophical position or theoretical thesis.
- critically analyse arguments in aesthetics
- discuss and compare different philosophical positions in aesthetics
- reflect on complex and articulated philosophical arguments, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses;
- take their own position in a philosophical debate and to put forward arguments in support of it;
- communicate the results of their research effectively, also using multimedia techniques to represent information with possible applications in teaching;
- use relational, communicative and organisational skills also in highly complex contexts and in the management of group work;
- transmit the skills obtained also in non-specialist contexts;
- reflect on their own skills and evaluations;
- autonomously research the philosophical sources of a debate or a school of thought;
- independently investigate a philosophical position or theoretical thesis.
Lesson period: First semester
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 semester
Course syllabus
Images in Times of Polycrisis: Humanitarian Visuality Across Digital and Algorithmic Media
What does it mean to see? What does it mean to see like an algorithm? How do AI-generated images affect our perception, our visual habits, and our ways of understanding the world? How can AI redistribute regimes of visibility and invisibility, redefining the boundaries of what can be seen, ignored, or made operational?
The course investigates the ongoing transformations of visual culture in the age of artificial intelligence and algorithmic media. Through a theoretical approach and the analysis of selected case studies, it will focus in particular on the contemporary media exposure of crisis, which has dramatically reshaped humanitarian visual culture through the remediation of borders, wars, migration, displacement, and different forms of political violence.
What does it mean to see? What does it mean to see like an algorithm? How do AI-generated images affect our perception, our visual habits, and our ways of understanding the world? How can AI redistribute regimes of visibility and invisibility, redefining the boundaries of what can be seen, ignored, or made operational?
The course investigates the ongoing transformations of visual culture in the age of artificial intelligence and algorithmic media. Through a theoretical approach and the analysis of selected case studies, it will focus in particular on the contemporary media exposure of crisis, which has dramatically reshaped humanitarian visual culture through the remediation of borders, wars, migration, displacement, and different forms of political violence.
Prerequisites for admission
None
Teaching methods
The course aims to introduce, through lectures, case study presentations, and Q&A sessions, the theoretical framework and key tools of media theory, aesthetics and visual culture for critical analysis. Students will be constantly encouraged to actively contribute and participate in the examination of materials and documents through collective discussion and cooperative interaction tools. The final part of the course will be devoted to practising the critical analysis of media phenomena as well as visual and audio-visual content, through individual and group work in which students will be able to put their acquired skills to the test.
Teaching Resources
ATTENDING STUDENTS (6 CFU / 48 hours) are required to study:
P. Conte, A. C. Dalmasso, M. G. Dondero, and A. Pinotti, eds., Algomedia: The Image at the Time of Artificial Intelligence, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2026.
Available here through access via Institution with unimi credentials: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-08726-3?page=2#toc
One book of their choice from the following, to be read in full:
M. Pasquinelli, The Eye of the Master: A Social History of Artificial Intelligence, Verso, 2023.
J. E. Dobson, The Birth of Computer Vision, University of Minnesota Press, 2023.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS (6 CFU) are required to study:
K. Crawford, Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence, Yale University Press, 2021.
P. Conte, A. C. Dalmasso, M. G. Dondero, and A. Pinotti, eds., Algomedia: The Image at the Time of Artificial Intelligence, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2026.
Available here through access via Institution with unimi credentials: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-08726-3?page=2#toc
One book of their choice from the following, to be read in full:
M. Pasquinelli, The Eye of the Master: A Social History of Artificial Intelligence, Verso, 2023.
J. E. Dobson, The Birth of Computer Vision, University of Minnesota Press, 2023.
P. Conte, A. C. Dalmasso, M. G. Dondero, and A. Pinotti, eds., Algomedia: The Image at the Time of Artificial Intelligence, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2026.
Available here through access via Institution with unimi credentials: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-08726-3?page=2#toc
One book of their choice from the following, to be read in full:
M. Pasquinelli, The Eye of the Master: A Social History of Artificial Intelligence, Verso, 2023.
J. E. Dobson, The Birth of Computer Vision, University of Minnesota Press, 2023.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS (6 CFU) are required to study:
K. Crawford, Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence, Yale University Press, 2021.
P. Conte, A. C. Dalmasso, M. G. Dondero, and A. Pinotti, eds., Algomedia: The Image at the Time of Artificial Intelligence, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2026.
Available here through access via Institution with unimi credentials: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-08726-3?page=2#toc
One book of their choice from the following, to be read in full:
M. Pasquinelli, The Eye of the Master: A Social History of Artificial Intelligence, Verso, 2023.
J. E. Dobson, The Birth of Computer Vision, University of Minnesota Press, 2023.
Assessment methods and Criteria
For attending students, assessment will be based on a final oral examination on the bibliography and course materials (50%), individual and group work carried out during the course (30%), and active class participation, as demonstrated through participation in class discussion, engagement in workshops or group activities, and regular attendance (20%). Self-assessment tools will be provided during the course. For non-attending students, assessment will be based solely on a final oral examination on the course bibliography and additional materials specifically assigned to non-attending students.
For both attending and non-attending students, the final oral examination will consist of a 20-minute discussion aimed at assessing students' knowledge and understanding of the main concepts introduced during the course, clarity of exposition, ability to make connections among the different topics and issues addressed, critical thinking, appropriate use of theoretical vocabulary, and capacity to analyse case studies with critical awareness.
For both attending and non-attending students, the final oral examination will consist of a 20-minute discussion aimed at assessing students' knowledge and understanding of the main concepts introduced during the course, clarity of exposition, ability to make connections among the different topics and issues addressed, critical thinking, appropriate use of theoretical vocabulary, and capacity to analyse case studies with critical awareness.
Professor(s)
Reception:
Thursday 4-6 p.m. Please contact me to schedule an appointment
Festa del Perdono campus or Microsoft Teams