RTVF 5121: NEW MEDIA THEORIES

Spring 2014 Dept. of Radio, Television, & Film University of North Texas Professor: Dr. Jacqueline Vickery Class Meets: Tuesdays, 5:00-7:50, RTFP 264 Office Hours: Tuesdays 2:00-4:00 / RTFP 237 Contact: jacqueline.vickery@unt.edu / @JacVick Course Description This graduate level seminar critically examines key theoretical approaches to understanding and analyzing the role of digital and interactive media in contemporary society and culture. The course is designed to introduce students to theoretical ideas that can be used as analytical tools for understanding, explaining, and predicting media development, control, and practices. The theories and concepts also provide ways to make meaning out of everyday interactions with media technologies and cultures. The course takes an historical perspective that situates new media and theory within broader understandings of technology and its relationship to culture and social change. Theories and literature draw from multiple disciplines and perspectives including media studies, communication, anthropology, sociology, computer science, science and technology studies, cultural and critical studies, economics, and law. The course is divided into three distinct, yet related sections. Section I Foundations and Theories of Media, Technology, and Society - provides an historical and foundational xkcd.com/1289 understanding of the relationship between media technology and society. It introduces key big picture theories and provides the imperative groundwork for discussing all other aspects of the course. Section II - Using the Network - theorizes specific media practices and engagement with media platforms. Section III Controlling the Network considers the different modes of power, control, and regulation that shape media development, practices, and access. Course Objectives By the end of the course students will be able to: Critically assess and synthesize media theories, analytical approaches, and practices Connect disparate theories and understand their development and contribution to the field of media studies Critique and contribute to debates about digital media ownership, economics, intellectual property, regulation, privacy, identity, sociality, infrastructure, and equity Integrate key theories into an evaluation of a media text or as part of an historical or contemporary example of media practices, users, development, and regulation

Required Texts 1. 2. 3. 4. Understanding Digital Culture, Vincent Miller Spreadable Media: Creating value and meaning in a networked culture, Jenkins, Ford, & Green The Culture of Connectivity: A critical history of social media, Jose Van Dijck Mobile Interfaces in Public Spaces: Locational privacy, control, and urban sociability, de Souza e Silva and Frith 5. Digital Disconnect: How capitalism is turning the internet against democracy, Robert McChesney All other readings will be made available via the class Dropbox folder and need be accessible to you during class (i.e. printed out or available on a personal device you can bring to class). Course Assignments & Evaluation Response Papers (10 papers, 3 points each = 30 points) You will choose one reading (if entire books is assigned choose the introduction plus an additional chapter) every week and write a response paper that is approximately 500-700 words (3 pages). This is NOT just a summary of the article, but must also demonstrate serious engagement with the claims and perspectives of the text. All papers should: 1. 2. 3. 4. concisely identify and summarize the main argument(s) or perspective(s) defend at least one aspect of the authors argument, claim, or perspective offer one critique and/or discuss one weakness of the perspectives, claims, or arguments pose at least one question that either (a) furthers the discussion and understanding of the claims and/or (b) attempts to cumulatively connect the text to other theories discussed in class

You will write a total of 10 response papers throughout the semester. Papers will be assessed on strength of understanding and analysis, ability to engage with the theory or perspective, clarity, and contribution to the discussion. Papers will be evaluated as excellent + (3/3 points), good (2.55/3 points), fair - (2.25/3 points), or unacceptable - (1.95/3 points). All papers are due by 9:00 p.m. Monday prior to class. Late papers will be docked a full grade and will not be accepted after 8:00 a.m. Tuesday. Lead Class Discussion (twice, 5 points each = 10 points) Twice throughout the semester you will be responsible for leading a 45 minute discussion of at least one of the readings assigned for that week. Assume everyone has read the article, however you should provide a brief introduction to the reading (e.g. background information, author perspective, etc.), concisely summarize the main argument(s) and perspective(s), and identify the articles contribution to the field. This should be brief; the majority of your time should be spent leading a discussion. You should come prepared to pose 4-6 discussion questions that will lead to further debate, critique, contextualization, and/or defense of the claim(s). You may use whatever handouts, activities, examples (e.g. film, TV) or presentation material that aids in your discussion, be creative! Questions must be submitted to Dr. Vickery by 9:00 p.m. on Monday. Research Proposal (10 points) You will develop a 2-3 page proposal of a research project that you would like to explore throughout the semester. Your proposal should state your question, the reason why you are interested in it, its significance, and a working bibliography. The question can change over the course of the semester. You will present the proposal to the class and revise it based on feedback. Proposals are due in class on March 4.

Final Paper (50 points) You will research and develop a final paper (17-20 pages) that deals with one or several of the themes discussed in the class. Papers can be empirical research or theoretical; all papers must make original contributions to the field and further our understanding of the literature. Papers must be fully and accurately cited. Papers are due by 12:00 p.m. May 6. Participation & Attendance: Students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the topics, concepts, and readings for each assigned week. Students should be prepared to answer questions posed by the instructor and presenter and, likewise, should come to class prepared with talking points and questions based on the weeks readings and theme. Students are expected to engage and participate in class discussions. You will be docked points for coming to class unprepared, for not actively contributing to the discussions on a weekly basis, and for arriving late/leaving early. Students are granted one free absence; other absences will adversely affect your overall grade in the course. *All assignments must be completed to receive a passing grade in the course* 30 points - Weekly Response Papers 10 points - Lead Class Discussion 10 points Research Proposal 50 points - Final Paper 100 points total A = 90-100; B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D= 60-69; F = fewer than 60 points ODA Notification: The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323. Academic Integrity: Any suspected case of Academic Dishonestly will be handled in accordance with the University Policy and procedures and will result in an automatic F for this course. Further sanctions may apply to incidents involving major violations. Categories of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, forgery, fabrication, facilitating dishonesty, sabotage, turning in the same assignment for more than one class without permission, and any act designed to give a student an unfair advantage on an assignment or in the course. You will find the policy and procedures at: http://vpaa.unt.edu/academic-integrity.htm. Religious holy days sometimes conflict with class and examination schedules. If you will miss a work assignment or other project due to the observance of a religious holy day you will be given an opportunity to complete the work missed within a reasonable time after the absence. If you are going to miss an assignment, please let me know at the beginning of the semester.

Course Schedule Week 1 January 14 Introductions Section I: FOUNDATIONS AND THEORIES OF MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY, & CULTURE Week 2 January 21 Historical Foundations of New Media: What is Technology? As We May Think - Vannevar Bush What is New Media? - Lev Manovich What Else is New? - Steven Shapin Lessons from the History of the Internet - Manuel Castells Week 3 January 28 What is new about New Media?: Digitization, Remediation & Convergence Networks of Remediation (chapter 3 in Remediation: Understanding New Media) - Jay Bolter and Richard Grusin New Media from Borges to HTML - Lev Manovich Key Elements of Digital Media - Vincent Miller Convergence and the Contemporary Media Experience- Vincent Miller Week 4 February 4 Theories of Media Technology Pt. 1: Technological Determinism, Social Construction of Technology, Social and Technical Affordances, Diffusion of Innovation Technologies, Texts and Affordances - Ian Hutchby The Idea of Technology and Postmodern Pessimism - Leo Marx Making New Media Make Sense (chapter in in Making Personal Connections in the Digital Age) Nancy Baym Determination and Contingency in New Media Development: Diffusion of Innovation and Social Shaping of Tech ology Perspectives Leah Lievrouw

Week 5 February 11 Theories of Media Technology Pt. 2: Information Society The Information Society Revisited - Frank Webster Three Propositions on Informational Cultures(chapter 1 in Network Culture) Tiziana Terranova Infoglut and Clutter-Cutting(intro to Infoglut: How too much information is changing the way we think and know) -Mark Andrejevic Googles Ways and Means: Faith in aptitude and technology (chapter 2 in The Googlization of Everything) Sida Vaidhyanathan Week 6 February 18 Theories of Media Technology Pt. 3: Network Society, Networked Individualism, Social Networks The New Social Operating System of Networked Individualism(chapter 1 in Networked) - Lee Rainie and Barry Wellman The Social Network Revolution (chapter 2 in Networked) Lee Rainie and Barry Wellman Network Dynamics (chapter 2 in Network Culture) - Tiziana Terranova Social Has a Shape: Why Networks Matter(chapter 5 in NetSmart) - Howard Rheingold Section II: USING THE NETWORKS Week 7 February 25 Social Production of Knowledge Everyone is a Media Outlet (chapter 3 in Here Comes Everybody) - Clay Shirky Users Like You? Theorizing the agency of user-generated content, Jose Van Dijck Social-Digital Know-How: The arts and sciences of collective intelligence(chapter 4 in NetSmart) - Howard Rheingold The Participation Divide: Content creation and sharing in the digital age- Ezter Hargittai and Walejko Week 8 March 4 Research Proposals DUE Creative Cultural Production Spreadable Media: Creating value and meaning in a networked culture - Henry Jenkins, Sam Ford, and Joshua Green Week 9 March 11 Spring Break No class have fun!

Week 10 March 18 Identity Formation The Body and Information Technology, Vincent Miller Digital Identity, Vincent Miller Digital Racial Formations and Networked Images of the Body (intro to Digitizing Race) Lisa Nakamura Gender Trouble in Web 2.0: Gender relations in social network sites, wikis, and weblogs Tanja Carstensen Week 11 March 25 Sociality & Connectivity The Culture of Connectivity: A critical history of social media - Jose Van Dijck Week 12 April 1 Locative & Mobile Media Mobile Interfaces in Public Spaces: Locational privacy, control, and urban sociability - Adriana de Souza e Silva and Jordan Frith Section III: CONTROLLING THE NETWORKS Week 13 April 8 Governance of Infrastructures and Platforms The Politics of Platforms - Tarleton Gillespie Designed to Effectively Frustrate: Copyright, technology, and the agency of users - Tarleton Gillespie Long Live the Web: A call for continued open standards and net neutrality- Tim Berners-Lee Code is Speech: Legal tinkering, expertise, and protest among the Free and Open Source Software developers- Gabriella Coleman Digital Inequality: Social, political and infrastructural contexts - Vincent Miller Week 14 April 15 Surveillance and Privacy Everyone is Watching: Privacy and surveillance in digital life Vincent Miller The Work of Watching One Another: Lateral surveillance, risk, and governance Mark Andrejevic Eroding Accountability (chapter 5 in Consent of the Networked) Rebeccca MacKinnon The Right Not to Be Identified: Privacy and anonymity in the interactive media environment Jisuk Woo

Week 15 April 22 Economics and Ownership Digital Disconnect: How capitalism is turning the internet against democracy, Robert McChesney Week 16 April 29 In-class presentations Week 17 May 6 Papers due by noon