Media, Arts and Critical Theory

Catalog description

The course explores key issues in the study of digital media from its beginning to very recent theoretical developments. Central themes of the course generally include: immediacy/hypermediacy, interactivity, cybernetics, im/materiality of media, network, posthumanism, biomedia, ubiquitous computing, and the recent hype in the independent media industry. Building upon theoretical works that range across a host of disciplines, including literary studies, communication studies, film and media, philosophy, and science studies, the course proposes the development of a critical analytical framework for approaching new media practices and theories. The goal is to analyze what makes new media 'new' by comparing them with earlier media practices, as well as to understand how the interactions among digital technologies, practices, and theories influence emerging and changing spheres of our society. The seminar also examines different forms of visual art and literature that lead and reflect the sociocultural paradigm shifts of digital technologies. 001391