Introduction to Digital Culture
Overview
- Credit value: 30 credits at Level 4
- Convenors: Dr Scott Rodgers, Dr Robert Topinka
- Assessment: a 1250-word academic writing exercise (30%) and a 3-5-minute desktop documentary with 1500-word essay (70%)
Module description
In this module we introduce 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, both through core academic techniques such as critical reading and essay composition, as well as core practical skills such as storytelling via digital screen capture.
Indicative 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
- Desktop documentary basics