Workshop: Communication and Digital Culture

The workshop aims to introduce students to the analytical study of cultural content on social media, with a particular focus on second-generation social media (e.g., TikTok). Specifically, starting with the study of basic digital content analysis techniques, students will be guided by the instructor—through ad hoc practical activities in the classroom—to conduct empirical analyses aimed at analyzing the role of social media algorithms and infrastructure in conveying certain cultural representations (e.g., the body, illness, deviance, etc.).

At the end of this course, students will be able to:
· Practice basic digital content collection and sampling techniques
· Practice basic digital content analysis techniques
· Understand and critically analyze the cultural representations conveyed by social media and their algorithmic and infrastructural apparatuses

At the end of the workshop, students will be asked to produce a small research report to present in class (via a dedicated PowerPoint presentation) for peer review. Students will serve as discussants for their classmates' presentations.

The presentations will then be evaluated by the instructor with a grade of approval.