Politics & Practices Research

Catalog description

Our current information ecosystem is, for better and for worse, rife with contested notions of truth, knowledge, and the proper methods for deriving an "accurate" picture of the world. The complexities of this landscape can be a source of excitement, but also lead to confusion and anxiety, especially when misinformation, bad-faith actors, and AI are factored into the equation. This course aims to allay some of those anxieties by providing students with tools and knowledge for understanding and navigating this information ecosystem. Particular attention will be paid to the production of academic knowledge and the institutions surrounding it, as well as searching a range of databases and skillfully reading the sources found there, but we'll also develop key skills in critical media literacy and explore information sources outside of the academic mainstream.