The unparalleled rate at which “new” media emerge makes the study of postdigital cultures exciting yet challenging. This course turns a critical eye toward emerging technologies and their role in a contemporary postdigital landscape filled with societal crises. Acknowledging that all media were once new, we’ll use “newness” as a frame to examine our current experiences of everyday culture, communication, politics, and the social Internet. We will cover the key theories and concepts students need to develop a more critical and informed understanding of digital life. We’ll study everyday digital practices like media streaming, gaming, and WFH life as well as continually emergent tech driven by A.I., like robotics, AR/VR, and algorithmic engagement. Using screenings from science fiction and near-future film and TV, this course considers social life in crisis and uses the upper level writing model to address the following themes: human-machine interaction, the datafied self, history of user-generated content, surveillance and privacy, h/activism, big data, tech solutionism, environmental threat, and digital futures.

Course Requirements:

Students will be assessed based on mandatory attendance and participation, on multiple writing assignments and responses to readings and screenings, and a final screenwriting project. 
 

Class Format:

This course meets twice a week for 80 minutes plus a 1-2 hour at-home or DHC screening every week.