American Digital Media and Oppression

elective courses

There are two opposing points of view according to which digital media came to be recognized as either revolutionary or oppressive. On the one hand, in the early 1990s, the Internet symbolized unlimited possibilities of development and a means of equalizing and democratizing relations. On the other hand, taking into account recent criticism of google search engine as reinforcing stereotypes and racism against people of color, new media can be seen as oppressive. This course will revolve around contemporary digital media as well as scholarly debates circulating around the ways in which they can be oppressive or quite to the contrary, liberating.

There are two opposing points of view according to which digital media came to be recognized as either revolutionary or oppressive. In the early 1990s, the Internet symbolized unlimited possibilities of development and a means of equalizing and democratizing relations. On the other hand, taking into account recent criticism of google search engine as reinforcing stereotypes and racism against people of color, new media can be seen as oppressive. This course will revolve around contemporary digital media as well as scholarly debates circulating around the ways in which they can be oppressive or quite to the contrary, liberating. Each class will focus on a particular topic and these will include: google search engine and its racism, filter bubble and echo chambers, polarization, BLM, social change, Capitol riots and alt-right mobilizations, Wikinomics, online extremists etc.

Selected critical readings:

Andrew Marantz, Anti-Social Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation

Sofija Umoja Noble, Algorithms of Oppression How Search Engines Reinforce Racism

Andrew Keen, The Cult of the Amateur How Today's Internet is Killing our Culture

Knowledge

-possesses knowledge regarding the dual impact of new media on culture.

-distinguishes between the ways in which new media can oppressively and liberatingly influence culture.

-recognizes the dynamics and consequences of changes in defining the influence of new media on culture and politics.

Skills:

-can effectively utilize critical tools.

-is able to formulate critical arguments regarding a variety of phenomena.

- is capable of using theoretical knowledge to analyze specific issues and phenomena.

Competences

- is able to work in groups and take part in discussions

- is open to different interpretations and opinions of specific texts

- is able to formulate and defend his/her opinions coherently

Final grade components:

-active in-class participation and attendance (20%)

-in-class readings quizes ( in between 2-4) (20%)

-four response papers (40%)

-final essay (20%)

Grading scale:

0-60 – 2

60-70 – 3

71-75 – 3,5

76-85 – 4

86-90 – 4,5

91-95 – 5

96-100 – 5!