It is widely claimed that we now live in digital societies. This module introduces students to a range of issues in the relationship between digital mediation and society and provides the tools for further independent inquiry into the status and nature of society and social change at a time of ubiquitous digital mediation. As digital networked media are key aspects of change and continuity in communications/society, the module will address issues such as their origin, political economy, their uses and adaptation. The module will introduce theory, topics and methods for understanding and evaluating digitally mediated society. It will move from analysis of large-scale institutions such as the economy, politics and media to the everyday social experience of Community, Identity and Inequality relative to emergent digital media services, existing digital media sectors and autonomous digital media practices.
The module will primarily draw upon sociology of the media, political economy, social shaping of technology, medium theory, and infrastructure and platform studies to explore digital media in the social world in which they are embedded.
Introduction of key issues and questions related to the module and the relationship between media, technologies, society and social change.
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From the Information Society to Data Colonialism Overview and consideration of the contexts and historical development of the Internet and the key theoretical positions on its macro-social implications.
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Digital Citizenship, Digital Economies and Media Industries Analyzing co-evolution in the social institutions of the economy, politics and mass media.
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Identity and new media: theories, concepts and research Theories of digital identity: from cyber culture to web 2.0
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Community and digital media: theories, concepts and research From community to networks in social life
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Inequality and new media: theories, concepts and research From class to the digital divide: some key concepts around inequality and the development and diffusion of new media
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Surveillance and new media: theories, concepts and research The relationship between authority, commerce and digital media
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Researching Digital Media: overview of developments in media/communications research into digital media.
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Lectures, in-class discussion, screenings, presentations and break out groups.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |