module specification

The module is an introduction to the field of digital media as an area of practice, as culture, and as a set of structures. It addresses a variety of issues ranging from digital politics to social networks, from memes and glitch to self-organization and free labour. The module provides a sound foundation to the history of new media technologies. It also introduces students to the current debates, including those of amateur vs. professional, grass-roots revolutions, and free and open source vs. proprietary software. It is a theory and practice based course, and along with engaging with abstract concepts we will explore software and network environments. The practice-based element of the module will enhance student’s digital literacy skills through exploring foundational elements of digital literacy including web searching, digital resources, and basic web design. This module aims to:

• Introduce students to digital media history and theory
• Develop a practical understanding of digital media technology
• Enable the students to critically evaluate key concepts and developments of digital media technology
• Develop students’ digital literacy skills and competencies

An indicative programme of study covers the following:
● History of networks, Internet and World Wide Web
● Free and open-source
● Copyright and copyleft
● Surveillance and surveillance capitalism
● Virtual Communities
● Digital aesthetics
● Old media and new media

An indicative programme of practice-based study covers:
● Using university resources (library catalogue; e-journals; e-books; databases)
● Advanced web search techniques
● Editing wiki sites
● Basic HTML editing and coding

Learning Outcomes LO 1 - 3

This module will be delivered by a variety of teaching strategies, putting emphasis on student-centred learning. Teaching will involve a combination of modes, including lectures, computer workshops, tutorials, assisted reading sessions and study of specially prepared online resources. Visits to relevant exhibitions, followed by discussions, analysis and presentations will also be included. Comprehensive, specially designed, online up-to-date support resources will be made available on VLE and updated weekly. The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) will be used as a platform to support online activities, facilitate formative assessment and related feedback, as well as a tool to integrate useful online learning materials. A blended learning strategy will be employed to enhance the learning experience, facilitate communication between students and tutors and develop collaboration among students.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to

1. Summarise and comment on digital media history and theory.
2. Critically evaluate digital media phenomena utilising digital media technology.
3. Demonstrate enhanced digital literacy through practice-based work

The module uses two assessments to evaluate both theoretical and practice-based learning.

A) A personal webpage coded in HTML (Weighting 40%) (LO3)

B) Digital culture, society and economy essay (60%) (LO1 & 2)

Students may pass on aggregate

Reading List Online at
https://londonmet.rl.talis.com/modules/sm4050.html

CORE READING
Cahoone, L. E. (2003) From modernism to postmodernism: an anthology. Expanded 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell.
Kovarik, B. (2016) Revolutions in communication: media history from Gutenberg to the digital age. 2nd edition. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Academic, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Inc.
Giddings, S. and Lister, M. (eds) (2011) The new media and technocultures reader. London: Routledge.

Textbooks

Benkler, Y. (2006). The Wealth of Networks. How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom, New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
Bolter, J. D. and R. Grusin, Remediation: Understanding New Media (Cambridge, Mass./London: MIT Press, 1999)
Cahoone, L. E. (2003) From modernism to postmodernism: an anthology. Expanded 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell.
Giddings, S. and Lister, M. (eds) (2011) The new media and technocultures reader. London: Routledge.
Kovarik, B. (2016) Revolutions in communication: media history from Gutenberg to the digital age. 2nd edition. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Academic, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Inc.
Laughey, D. (2007) Key themes in media theory. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Available at: http://www.dawsonera.com/guard/protected/dawson.jsp?name=London%20Metropolitan%20University&dest=http://www.dawsonera.com/depp/reader/protected/external/AbstractView/S9780335234912.
Lessig, L. (2004). Free Culture: How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity, N-Y: The Penguin Press. Available at: http://www.free-culture.cc/freeculture.pdf.
Licht, A., Sound Art: Beyond Music, Between Categories (Milan: Rizzoli International Publs, 2007)
Lister, M. (2009) New media: a critical introduction. 2nd ed. London: Routledge. Available at: http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1685550~S1.
Lister, M.  Dovey, J., Giddins, S.,  at al. (2003).  New Media; A Critical Introduction. N-Y: Routledge.
Manovich, L. (2001). The Language of New Media, Cambridge: MIT Press.
McLuhan, M. (1962). Gutenberg Galaxy: The Making of Typographic Man, Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Mitchell, W. J. (1992) The Reconfigured Eye; Visual Truth in the Post-Photographic Era, Cambridge MA MIT: Press.
Murphie, A. and Potts, J. (2003) Culture and technology. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Available at: http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b2033363~S1
Rheingold, H. (1994). The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier, N-Y: Perennial.
Shirkey, C. (2008). Here Comes Everybody. The Power of Organizing without Organizations, N-Y: Penguin Books.
Terranova, T. ‘Free labor: producing culture for the digital economy’ In Social Text, 63, Vol. 18, No. 2, http://www.electronicbookreview.com/thread/technocapitalism/voluntary
Trend, D. (2001) Reading digital culture. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Tribe, M. & Jana, R. ( 2006), New Media Art, Taschen.
Wardrip-Fruin, N. & Montfort, N. Eds.,  (2003) The New Media Reader, Cambridge MA: The MIT Press.
Zittrain, J. (2008) The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It, Yale: Yale University Press.

Journals:

Websites:

Electronic Databases:

Social Media Sources

Other