Digital Media and
Participatory Culture
Georgia Tech | Fall 2010
Building on the WOVEN (Written/Oral/Visual/Electronic/Non-verbal) model of communication, this course is an exploration of how we use digital media to participate in various aspects of contemporary culture. During the first half of the semester, we will examine social networks on the internet. Specifically, we will look at matters of privacy, identity, and community formation.
In the second half of the semester, we will focus on how we use digital media to participate in culture. Our focus here will be on remixing, mash-ups, digital video production, and other forms of transforming existing media texts. We will also consider how copyright regulations impact remix cultures. Our class concludes with a unit on gaming.
As part of this class, you will actively use a variety of social networking sites and other digital media to participate in class discussions and to complete assignments. You will develop and improve skills in written, oral, visual, electronic, and non-verbal communication by learning about photography, sound editing, web design, and online presentation tools.
Assignments:
The goal of this assignment is to construct a sequence of ten images as a visual essay that explores a participatory culture theme of your choice (for example, social networks; privacy; remixing; race and digital media; copyright). You will explain your essay's themes and conceptualizations in 1,000-word project statements.
In this group project, you will create a manifesto on digital media and participatory culture that uses at least three different modes/media of communication (including digital or analog photography, video, audio, writing) and critically engages with course readings.
You will team up with a classmate to give a 10-15min presentation about the main topic of the week. Include visual aids such as a PowerPoint or a Prezi presentation (FYI: we will have a workshop on how to use Prezi during the second week of class), images, websites, and video clips.
Once or twice during the semester, you will write a 500-word blog entry summarizing class discussion. You will post your recap to our blog before the next class. Use the digital capabilities of a blog post: add images, screencaps, videos or audio if you feel they enhance your recap.
Required Texts:
- Jean Burgess and Joshua Green. YouTube: Online Video and Participatory Culture. Polity, 2009.
- Paul Miller aka DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid. Rhythm Science. MIT Press, 2004.
- Watkins, Craig S. The Young and the Digital: What the Migration to Social Network Sites, Games, and Anytime, Anywhere Media Means for Our Future. Boston: Beacon Press, 2009.
- Selections from other books. Texts will be provided as PDFs on T-square (texts available via T-square are marked with "T" in the reading schedule) or online (URL provided in the reading schedule).
Reading Schedule Fall 2010
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Assignment Policy:
You must complete ALL assignments in order to successfully pass this course. You will receive detailed instructions about every assignment at least two weeks before the assignment is due (exception: quizzes). In addition to the assignments listed here, I might ask you to complete small homework tasks, such as bringing in examples to illustrate the essays we are reading.
Assignment schedule:
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Assignment schedule (IC = due in class; T = due on T-square; Your choice = sign up during first two weeks of class):
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Due Date
Assignment
Points
09/27/10, IC
Raw materials for visual essay
50
10/08/10, T
Draft of visual essay
50
10/20/10, T
Final version of visual essay
200
10/25/10, IC
Proposal for the Multimodal Manifesto
50
11/15/10, IC
First draft the Multimodal Manifesto
100
11/24/10, T
Final version of Multimodal Manifesto
200
Week of 12/06/10
Final presentation (based on Manifesto)
100
12/13/10, T
E-portfolio
50
Your choice, IC
Presentation
50
Your choice, T
Class Recap
50
Unannounced, IC
5 Reading Quizzes
100 (20 per quiz)
Total possible points:
1000
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Attendance Policy
Attendance is mandatory. You are allowed three unexcused absences during the semester—use them wisely (if your unexcused absences exceed that limit, you put yourself at risk of failing the course). All other absences must be for valid, non-academic reasons, such as medical emergencies (confirmed by a doctor's note); family or personal emergencies (dean's note); athletic competitions/obligations (coach's note, due at the beginning of the semester).
If you miss class, it is your responsibility to catch up on the work we have done during class. Also note that showing up more than ten minutes late to class automatically translates into an unexcused absence for that class meeting.
Participation
This class is a discussion-based seminar. Consequently, your participation in class is crucial to the overall success of the class (and to your final grade). You are expected to keep up with the readings and come to class prepared for discussion. Consistent good participation (i.e. completing the readings and contributing insightful comments and questions during class) will earn you up to an additional 50 points towards your overall grade.
Plagiarism and the Honor Code
You are responsible for knowing and abiding by Tech's policy for academic integrity. Consult the Honor Code online at http://www.honor.gatech.edu. Work that violates the honor code will receive zero credit and may result in failure of the entire course. I will also report any serious misconduct to the Dean of Students.
Note on Discrimination and Appropriate Language in the Classroom
No form of harassment or discrimination is allowed in this class. In keeping with the professional nature of this course, only professional behavior is acceptable between the instructor and students and between students. No harassment of any kind is allowed in class including but not limited to gender, age, ability, religion, sexual orientation, and ethnicity.
