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    Overview

    Critical debates on digital media; exploring the history of the digital as a worldview, as a crucial moment in the development of contemporary capitalism, and as a rapidly evolving technology.

    ChatGPT, Web3, private space exploration; our future seems to hinge on the pronouncements of tech-capitalists. This paper will introduce students to military histories, ideologies and political economies of digital media technologies which shape our future. The paper will be centered on the timely debates that surround new advances in AI, cyberwar and the geopolitics of digital communication.

    About this paper

    Paper title Digital Media and Society
    Subject Media, Film and Communication
    EFTS 0.15
    Points 18 points
    Teaching period Semester 2 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $981.75
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Prerequisite
    18 200-level MFCO or FIME points
    Schedule C
    Arts and Music
    Notes
    May not be credited together with FIME305 passed in 2006 or 2007.
    Contact
    mfco@otago.ac.nz
    Teaching staff

    Convener and lecturer: Dr Olivier Jutel

    Paper Structure

    The paper is centered on five modules:

    • Military histories of the digital
    • Political economy of the digital
    • Ideologies of the digital
    • Politics of the digital
    • Digital Futures

    Assessment:

    • Lecture participation (10%)
    • Tutorial participation (10%)
    • Short Answer Test (20%)
    • Platform Capitalism Essay (20%)
    • Digital Media Case Study (40%)
    Teaching Arrangements

    This paper is taught via lectures and tutorials.

    Textbooks
    Readings will be available from the library, online and on Blackboard.
    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Critical thinking, Research, Self-motivation.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes

    Students who successfully complete the paper will be able to:

    • Explain the digital as a worldview.
    • Evaluate the social impact of digital media.
    • Detail the critical issues surrounding specific digital media forms.
    • Critically engage in debates on digital media and society.

    Timetable

    Semester 2

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    L1 Monday 11:00-11:50 29-35, 37-42
    Wednesday 11:00-11:50 29-35, 37-42

    Tutorial

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    T1 Tuesday 13:00-13:50 31-35, 37-42
    T2 Tuesday 15:00-15:50 31-35, 37-42
    T3 Tuesday 16:00-16:50 31-35, 37-42
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