Digital Indigenous Studies

Catalog description

(same as PEA_ST 3496 ). This course introduces students to Indigenous studies in a digital world. The course begins with study of Indigenous sovereignty and representation, and moves quickly to critical and theoretical readings in new media, tracing both the historical impact of digital technologies (such as GIS) on Native communities, and the ways that both urban and rural Native communities have engaged in innovative digital projects that expand the way we understand information and storytelling in digital environments. The course materials will cover a wide range of platforms and audio-visual genres, from documentary, community video, and animation productions, to GIS, video games, and social media sites. Students will engage with both scholars and artists working with new media through a program of public lectures, classroom visits, and Skype interviews. All interview will be archived as podcasts from the course website. Students will write weekly short response papers and produce independent audio-visual projects over the course of the semester, with opportunities to revise their work leading up to substantial final projects. The course will also integrate community outreach into the curriculum through online participation of students from the Kiowa Kids, an Indigenous language immersion and storytelling program. Credit Hour s : 3