Introduction to Digital Culture
Overview
- Credit value: 30 credits at Level 4
- Convenors: Scott Rodgers, Robert Topinka
- Assessment: a 1250-word academic writing exercise (30%) and 1500-word critical practice essay (70%)
Module description
This module introduces you to some of the most important themes and debates relating to digital culture today. Through an examination of pressing topics - such as the role of software algorithms in perpetuating cultural biases, the ways we increasingly curate who we are through online platforms, or the rise of social media influencers - we will ask just what is becoming of culture in a digitalising world. While the module will first and foremost be thematically focused, you will in the process also begin to build up a capacity to analyse digital culture through core academic techniques such as critical reading and essay composition.
Indicative module syllabus
Video lectures
- What is digital?
- What is digital culture?
- How will we explore digital culture?
Lectures
- Interface: how do we use digital?
- Ubiquity: where is digital?
- Algorithm: how does digital decide?
- Data: what is digital knowledge?
- Identity: how do we define ourselves digitally?
- Connection: how do are we digitally social?
- Play: how do we play through digital?
- Work: how does digital reshape labour?
Workshops
- Screen capture basics
- Video editing basics