jeanne.hamming
english.dept.
centenary.college
jhamming@centenary.edu
313.JAC
318.869.5082
v.card

english/comm.383: digital cultures
MWF 1-1:50/JAC 113
office.hours: 11-1 MWF
(and by appointment)

view.schedule

course.description.

This course explores the intersections of technoculture, contemporary critical theory, literature, and film. It is a study of the ways technology-- social, mechanical, and especially digital--have formed, reformed, and transformed our everyday experience. We will investigate the implications of new technologies on our notions of identity, community, and society, and we will revel in the strange and exciting world of cyber-sub-cultural artists, geeks, and hackers in an effort to understand the allure and pitfalls of cyberspace.

course.goals

• to analyze the development and deployment of digital technologies as it relates to everyday experiences.

• to explore the implications of digital culture(s) on human identity and the body: gender and sexuality, race, ethnicity, etc.

• to investigate the basic ethical dimensions of cyberspace, including issues of privacy and surveillance, censorship and copyright, knowledge and power, and consumption and environment.

• to respond critically and meaningfully to the important issues associated with digital cultures and practices.

texts.

Greenfield, Adam. Everyware: The dawning of the age of ubiquitous computing.
Shirky, Clay. Here Comes Everybody
Stephenson, Neal. Snow Crash
Tufte, Edward. D. The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint: Pitching Out Corrupts Within
selected films
selected handouts (course packet)

assignments.and.grading.

6 response papers (2pp) 5% each; 30%
3 essays (3-5pp) 10% each; 30%
google-ography and pecha kucha presentation 15%
final exam 20%
preparation and participation 5%*

*Your preparation and participation grade is pass/fail. If you have a strong attendance record, prepare for class by doing all readings and assignments, and participate in discussion, you will earn all 5%. If you have frequent absences, fail to do the assigned work, don't engage in class, and/or generally goof off you will not receive the 5%.

essays.

Papers are due in class on the dates indicated in the schedule. Late papers will be reduced by one letter-grade for each class period overdue and may receive no comments. All writing assignments must be completed in order to pass this course. Every essay you submit should include a title and a list of works cited in MLA form.

Keep one electronic and one paper copy of all written assignments, originals and revisions. You may be asked to re-submit material at any time during the semester.

get.out.of.jail.free.card.

To promote an atmosphere of personal responsibility and fairness, each student will receive one "get out of jail free" card at the beginning of the semester. In other words, the goal here is to encourage students to be conscientious about completing assignments, done right the first time, by their due dates.You may use your card one time (I will keep a record of who uses his/her card and when) to:

• "buy" a 24-hour extension on an out-of-class assignment

• "buy" an opportunity to revise an essay for a better grade

You may not use your card to get out of an exam or assignment, to excuse an absence, or to retake a quiz or exam. You may not trade or sell your card to any other student.

attendance.

Please note my (and the English Department's) Policy on Attendance: to be eligible to pass, a student may miss no more than three times the weekly number of class meeting, regardless of the reason for these absences. This means that for classes like this one that meet three times a week, students who have in excess of nine absences cannot pass the course.

view.schedule