COMM MOVI 200 SP20 - Syllabus PDF

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COMM/MOVI 200: Communication Technologies Instructor: Dr. Zachary J. McDowell (he/him) Office Location: 1152D BSB Office hours: MW 2pm-330pm and by appointment in person (or via skype or otherwise). Email: z [email protected] TAs:

DW Kamish (they/them) [email protected] Kay Slater (they/them) [email protected] Office Location: 1143 BSB Office Hours: Kay → TR 1–2PM and by appointment (in person or skype/etc) DW → TR 1–2PM and by appointment (in person or Skype)

Prerequisite(s): COMM 101, COMM 102, COMM 103. Moving Image Arts minors must obtain approval of the Department of Communication.

COURSE OVERVIEW This course is an interdisciplinary study of the ways that culture and technology have influenced (contemporary) society. From a cultural studies lens, we will specifically examine communication technologies as networked and collaborative technologies that facilitate community formation, interaction and development. We will specifically explore how technologies can be utilized for communicative practices. The notion of communication is value laden, rooted in hegemonic histories privileging particular ways of knowing, being, thinking, creating, etc. As such, this class will focus on particular perspectives and points of view being communicated through technology – perspectives traditionally marginalized and/or excluded. We will also focus on aspects of identity (race, gender, sexuality, ability, etc) as they relate to pop music, television, social media, and others—as individual case studies of cultural analysis. We will pay particular attention to how notions of both culture and cultural study have changed over time, and how technological legacies and practices influence contemporary debates around cultural production and cultural identity.

LEARNING OUTCOMES Through sustained engagement, I anticipate students being able to do the following upon completion of this course:

● Apply basic knowledge of concepts, theories, and research findings related to communication and technology to contemporary problems and one's own lived experiences ● Recognize, explain, critique, and use several of the new communication technologies used by people in a digital age ● Explore the range of texts that compose the landscape of current digital culture ● Apply skills of a cultural-based critical analysis to particular facets of the contemporary digital landscape in the discussion forum, in a series of short writing assignments, and in a final

COURSE MATERIALS Required Texts ● A  ll readings available on course Blackboard site and/or UIC Library

Required Technologies As a student enrolled at UIC, you should have adequate access to all of the following. Contact me immediately should you lose access. ● Access to Internet ● Access to Blackboard ● Access to UIC Library ● Access to Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (feel free to create a fake profile to protect your online identity. Just let us know who you are)

COURSE COMPONENTS Reading Assignments: Most weeks include an overview of the readings and one or more reading assignments Digital Field Trips: Many weeks include a Web field trip, a series of links to websites that further illustrate the discussion and readings Discussion Forum Assignments: The discussion forum serves as the electronic equivalent of classroom discussion. Discussion is a very important component of this course. You are required to participate every week a discussion is required in the forum, contributing ideas and responding to others —in short, fostering an open and intellectual atmosphere. You will be graded on both the quality and quantity of your responses. Responses should show a thoughtful understanding of the assigned reading material and websites, and an awareness of whatever discussion is going on among participants.

If you disagree with someone’s post, say so (respectfully) and give your reasons. Include websites you’ve found on the topic, share your opinions, expand on someone else’s idea! When possible, draw connections between different readings and concepts from the course. Critical Analyses: See below. Submitting Written Assignments: Always put your name on the first line of your assignment, and indicate, with a title, what your submission is about. When naming the file, put your name and the assignment; something like “COMM/MOVI 200, Jackie Smith, Critical Analysis 1” is sufficient. All written assignments should be uploaded as word (doc or docx) document attachments, double-spaced, using a 12 point Times New Roman font, standard 1” margins, page numbers, and standardized formatting (APA). When calculating page totals, 250 words per page is average - Bibliographies and cover pages (cover pages are unnecessary) do not count towards page count. Do NOT email any assignment. If you have technical issues, call ACCC. Final Technology Project: You will select a technology to create a research report on. Instructions on this assignment is located inside the Technology report folder. The report should be 6-8 pages long (not including references), double-spaced, using 12-point Times New Roman font with a 1-inch margin on all sides. Do not include a title page, but you should include a title COURSE POLICIES Course Policies Email and Office Hours: When emailing, email both the instructor AS WELL AS the TAs (unless you have a personal reason not to). Also, Include “COMM 200” in the subject line. This ensures we will be able to field your email post-haste. We plan to respond to student emails within 24 hours. If it is not of a personal nature, post your question to the “digital hallway” - think of it like raising your hand in class. Serious queries require privacy. So please reach out to schedule a time to meet. We do not require formal language use in emails “Dear Professor McDowell, etc”, as I realize much of our communication may occur using smaller, mobile devices. But you should still be mindful of helpful “netiquette” guidelines on emailing professors and teaching assistants: http://web.wellesley.edu/SocialComputing/Netiquette/netiquetteprofessor.html. Late Assignments and Incompletes: I expect you to turn in (or post) work on time, ESPECIALLY the final paper. Students will post all written assignments for this course electronically on Blackboard. No late assignments will be accepted. Always save your work in multiple places. I also recommend getting a virtual or cloud hard drive account (e.g, iCloud,

Google Drive, or UIC Box) so that you can access your files from anywhere. I will consider incompletes on an individual basis.

Academic Integrity Policy: Academic or Scholarly Dishonesty is defined as an act of deception in which a Student seeks to claim credit for the work or effort of another person, or uses unauthorized materials or fabricated information in any academic work or research, either through the Student's own efforts or the efforts of another. It includes: (i) CHEATING - use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information or study aids, or an act of deceit by which a Student attempts to misrepresent mastery of academic effort or information. This includes but is not limited to unauthorized copying or collaboration on a test or assignment, using prohibited materials and texts, any misuse of an electronic device, or using any deceptive means to gain academic credit. (ii) FABRICATION - falsification or invention of any information including but not limited to falsifying research, inventing or exaggerating data, or listing incorrect or fictitious references. (iii) ASSISTING - helping another commit an act of academic dishonesty. This includes but is not limited to paying or bribing someone to acquire a test or assignment, changing someone's grades or academic records, taking a test/doing an assignment for someone else by any means, including misuse of an electronic device. (iv) TAMPERING - altering or interfering with evaluation instruments or documents. (v) PLAGIARISM - representing the words or ideas of another person or presenting someone else's words, ideas, artistry or data as one's own, or using one's own previously submitted work. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to copying another person's work (including unpublished material) without appropriate referencing, presenting someone else's opinions and theories as one's own, or working jointly on a project and then submitting it as one's own. Please review UIC’s academic dishonesty policies here: http://www.uic.edu/depts/dos/studentconduct.html. Copying someone else’s answers, turning in the work of another student, work you have done for another course, or work that you have found on the Internet or elsewhere will result in your receiving a zero on the assignment. For multiple offenses, I will also be forced to place notice of your plagiarism in your permanent academic file. Please use the Writing Center and http://tigger.uic.edu/~edelberg/crediting_others/index.htm as key resources if you have concerns about proper citation or writing difficulties. Statement Regarding Religious Holidays: UIC strives to respect all religious practices. If you have religious holidays that are in conflict with any of the requirements of this class, please see me immediately so that we can make alternative arrangements.

CAMPUS RESOURCES UIC Nondiscrimination Statement: The commitment of the University of Illinois to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity, and human dignity requires that decisions involving students and employees be based on individual merit and be free from invidious discrimination in all its forms. The University of Illinois will not engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation including gender identity, unfavorable discharge from the military or status as a protected veteran and will comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, orders and regulations. This nondiscrimination policy applies to admissions, employment, access to and treatment in the University programs and activities. University complaint and grievance procedures provide employees and students with the means for the resolution of complaints that allege a violation of this Statement. Members of the public should direct their inquiries or complaints to the appropriate equal opportunity office. Diverse Learning Needs: I wish to make this class as accessible and welcoming as possible to all students. Students with disabilities who require accommodations for access and/or participation in this course should register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) and have Letters of Documentation (LOD) ready. If you have a disability, please contact the DRC to determine what documentation you need in order to determine if you qualify for services. You may call the office at 312-413-2183 (voice) or 312-413-0123 (TTY), or stop by Room 1190 Student Services Bldg to make an appointment, http://drc.uic.edu. Please enroll as early as possible in the term rather than waiting until after an assignment or exam has taken place. Although this class was created using an inclusive design, but as a structured space there still may be need to be improvements. Gender and Sexuality Center: The GSC is one of the six Centers for Diversity at UIC. While the main emphasis is gender and sexuality, the center’s staff understands and celebrates multiple identities. The GSC provides education, outreach, research and support for and about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and allied people. GSC serves students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members throughout Chicago of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations through cultural events, scholarly lectures, public dialogues and interactive trainings. They also connect students, faculty, and staff at UIC with resources, referrals and opportunities. The GSC organizes year-round LGBTQA educational and supportive programs. 1007 W. Harrison St. Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 413-8619. Women’s Leadership and Resource Center: Provides individual consultation on issues such as sexual harassment and sexual assault and provides a safe place for women to relax and for small meetings. The resource center has a variety of books on a wide range of topics of interest to women. University Hall Room 802, (312) 413-1025.

Help With Writing: I am happy to discuss your writing progress with you at any point in the semester. Please schedule time with me. I look forward to providing feedback on your papers either in comment form or addressed generally in class. It is essential for you to read my comments and incorporate them into future assignments. Also, the Writing Center can help you identify any problems and improve your writing. I highly recommend the writing center for all writers, but it is best to go see them early on in the writing process. For an appointment, call the Writing Center at 312-413-2206 or stop by in person. www.uic.edu/depts/engl/writing. Public Computer Labs: You may write and/or print out your work in an on-campus public computer lab. (You must provide your own flash drives.) For a list of labs and open hours, go to www.accc.uic.edu/pclabs. Note: Do not wait until the last minute to print out class work. Sometimes labs have long lines of students waiting for access. The public lab in SCAILAB, on the ground floor of Addams Hall, offers computers loaded with DIWE (Daedelus Integrated Writing Environment) and other software that supports writing. For more information about SCAILAB, go to w  ww.uic.edu/depts.scailab/system/students. UIC Student Sexual Misconduct Website: UIC is committed to maintaining a campus environment free from sexual misconduct. The Student Sexual Misconduct Policy was developed to address sexual misconduct including sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence. The policy states that sexual misconduct "will not be tolerated at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is expressly prohibited." The policy applies to all UIC students and student participants in university-sponsored programs. If you have been a victim of sexual misconduct or would like additional information, please contact the UIC Title IX Coordinator at [email protected] in the Office for Access and Equity or call 312-996-8670, http://sexualmisconduct.uic.edu. Academic Center for Excellence (ACE): ACE can help if you feel you need guidance on study tips or more individualized instruction in reading and writing. Call 312-413-0031 or visit http://www.uic.edu/depts/ace. Tutoring Services: Learn about tutoring and academic support offered around campus by the Honors College, African American Academic Network, Latin American Recruitment and Retention Services, Native American Support Program, and others at http://www.uic.edu/honors/learning/tutoring.shtml. Counseling Center: Offers students a chance to confidentially discuss personal, career, and/or stress management issues. There is no charge. Call (312) 996-3490. http://www.counseling.uic.edu.

DISCUSSION FORUM GUIDELINES There are 15 discussions. Each is worth 2 points each. You get one point for posting, and another for replying. It is essential that you read the following guidelines at the outset and

adhere to them throughout the course. They will help us avoid confusion and enhance your learning experience. 1. Your first post of the week is due by Wednesday at 11.59 pm (CST). 2. Response due to classmate by Sunday 11.59 pm CST 3. In the unlikely event you are the only one to complete a post in the discussion forum, just post twice. No response is necessary. 4. Type your responses directly into the box that pops up when you click on “Add New Thread” or “Respond.” Do not use attachments in the discussion forum because they make the threads needlessly difficult to navigate. Posts with attachments will not receive credit. 5. If you’re actually reading this, email the TAs and I a picture of “Alf” that you found on Google images with the subject line “COMM 200 - It’s Alf!”. We’’ll give you extra credit. 6. Always use the same name in all your posts, so that we can sort responses by name. 7. Late posts will be downgraded according to lateness. Remember, your first posting is due by Wednesday at 11.59 pm CST. It is always to your advantage to stay current with the lessons, especially the discussions. You are not allowed to backtrack and complete a previous week’s forum.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS GUIDELINES The critical analysis content summary papers ask you to summarize and analyze the argument made by the authors. This does not mean simply a summary of what is said - it requires both of a summary and analysis/engagement. You will choose two articles (academic articles, not videos or blog posts) to summarize. Each article should be about 2 pages, totaling about 4 pages (250 words per page). There are two critical analysis summary papers. A critical analysis asks you to make an argument about the readings you chose. The goal is two fold: 1) identify and explain the argument that the author is making, and 2) evaluate this argument and bring context to it – how do you understand it in your own life?

GRADE CALCULATION Assignments

Possible Points

Due Date

Discussion Forum

30

Weekly - Wed/Sun

Critical Analysis Content Summary 1

20

Feb 23rd by Midnight

Critical Analysis Content Summary 2

20

April 12th by Midnight

Technology Report

30

Total points possible

100

May 4th by Midnight

GRADING SCALE A = 90+

B = 80-89

C = 70-79

D = 60-69

F = 0-59

SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE - CHECK BLACKBOARD) Weeks

Topic

Reading/Assignment

Discussions

Week 1 Jan 13

Course Overview Digital Introductions

I will provide an overview of the course and syllabus this week. In the meantime, please introduce yourself to others.

Discussion 1: Introduce yourself this week and say hello to someone else. Pick your favorite artistic work – poem, video game, film, song, painting, documentary, etc. Go to the discussion forum and communicate what makes it exceptional. Even better, see if you can get critical about it - analyze it, take it apart - why does it speak to you?

Week 2 Jan 20 JAN 24: ADD DROP ENDS

What is Why Critical Thinking? Culture? What is Leading with Cultural Intelligence, Technology? Chapter 2 Understanding Culture Leo Marx, Technology, the emergence of a hazardous concept Introduction to the Human Condition, Hannah Arendt

Week 3 Jan 27

The clock sets the pace

Kevin Kelly - What technology wants Lewis Mumford - The monastery and the clock Neil Postman - The judgment of Thamus

Week 4 Feb 3

Is technology neutral?

Kevin Kelly - History of the Seventh Kingdom Melvin Kranzberg - Kranzberg’s laws

Week 5 Feb 10

Technology is Political

Chapter 1, Video Games as Ideological Projects (Race, Gender, Deviance in Xbox Live) Paul D. Miller (DJ Spooky), "On McLuhan's The Medium is the Massage" Twitter taught Microsoft’s AI chatbot to be a racist asshole in less than a day, James Vincent https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/24/ 11297050/tay-microsoft-chatbot-racist

Digital Field Trip: Wikipedia, "History of Technology" Discussion 2: What does Arendt ask of us? She published this book in 1958, how might it speak to your own relationship with technology? Use personal examples to start integrating the readings with your life. Discussion 3: Think about a time when a technological innovation impacted something in your life. Did you see the impact coming? Were you surprised? Did you embrace it or scorn it? Was it progress? Discussion 4: Is technology a force for social and cultural ch...