New York University Department of Media, Culture and Communication Media Technology & Society, MCC-UE 1034, Sections

1&2 Syllabus v 1.9

Instructor: Rooms: Times: Office Hours Email: Course Description This course explores the role of media technology in social systems, as a tool and as a potential force in the evolution of society. Although the class will discuss the full historical range of media technology, from the written word to the present, emphasis is on electronic networked media. While acknowledging the cognitive trap oft referred to as technological determinism, this course leaves open the possibility that Internet and new media correspond with a period of profound social transformation, of a discontinuity in the human historical narrative, abundant with risk and opportunity. The course has three sequential parts, covering theory, history, and contemporary issues. Part 1 is designed to give the student the necessary concepts and awareness of major discourses that speak to the impact of media on society. It introduces key concepts including network, affordance, innovation and embodiment and two theoretical approaches medium theory and social construction. Part 2 is a brief historical survey of the major media technologies of human history, from spoken language through to the Internet and mobile networked devices. Part 3 introduces some of the key issues that continue to be actively negotiated and debated today: the changing dynamics of economic production and innovation, the surveillance state, and other issues related to power, knowledge, and the (im)permeability of boundaries. Evaluation Participation 15% Paper Proposal (10/3) 5% Midterm Exam (10/5) 15% Presentation (10/17) 5% Final Paper (12/12) 30% Final Exam (12/19) 30% Assignments Reading: Students are asked to read selected books, academic journal articles, book chapters, government reports and news stories each week. Reading summaries: Students are asked to write 2-3 pointed questions for each individual reading they are assigned, and submit this set of questions, to the professor via email before the Wednesday class meeting time each week. This list of questions will combine readings for that Wednesday and the preceding Monday. The course number and your section number should appear in the subject line (MCC-UE 1034 Sect X) . Students may freely choose one week to opt out. Presentations: Details TBA. Term paper: Papers are to be based on original research (drawn from at least ten independent sources, including books, journal articles and authoritative blogs) focusing on an area of the students choice that falls within the general boundaries of the course. A one page proposal describing the plan of the paper and research is due October 3rd . Submitted papers should be double-spaced, in 12-point font, and from 6 to 8 pages in length, not including bibliography. Students are encouraged to meet with or email me before the proposal due date to discuss their paper topic. Dr. Kenneth Farrall #205 194 Mercer St./#125 7 E 12th St. M W 9:30 10:45AM/12:30 1:45 PM W 11 AM, 239 Greene St. 7F, cubicle #4 knf2@nyu.edu

Required Texts Meyrowitz, Johsua. (1995). No Sense of Place. (referenced below as NSP). Webster, Frank (ed). (2004). The Information Society Reader. (ISR) Winston, Brian. (1998). Media, Technology & Society. (MTS). For sale at NYU Bookstore. Meyrowitz and Winston (possibly Webster) texts will also be on reserve at Bobst Library. Additional readings will be provided in PDF on Blackboard in individual week folders. Schedule of Classes, Readings and Assignments Week 1 (9/7) Introduction to Course. Part I: Theory/Conceptual Tools Week 2 (9/12) Key concepts: information, affordance & embodiment. Reading: NSP, ch 1 (pp 1-9); Hutchby (2001) "Technologies, texts and affordances." (pp. 441-456). Week 2 (9/14) Medium Theory (1). Reading: McLuhan (1964) Understanding Media, ch 1 (pp. 19-35); Carey (1967) (pp. 5-39). Week 3 (9/19) Medium Theory (2). Reading: NSP, pp. 13-51. Week 3 (9/21) The Network (1) Basic Concepts. Reading: Watts (2003) Six Degrees, ch 1 (pp. 19-42); McGuire (2005) Law of Mobility (pp. 2-8). Week 4 (9/26) The Network (2) In Society. Reading: Watts (2003), ch 2 (pp. 43-68); Castells (2000) Theory of Network Society (pp. 5-24). Week 4 (9/28) Social Shaping. Reading: Winston (1998) Media, Technology & Society (MTS) intro (pp. 1-15); Williams & Edge (1996) Social Shaping of technology (pp. 856-899). Part II: A Brief Media History Week 5 (10/3) Midterm review. +++++++Paper proposal due by 5PM today.

Week 5 (10/5) MIDTERM (includes readings up through 9/28) Week 6 (10/10) No Class Week 6 (10/12) The Great Media Ages. Orality. Print. Electronic. Mass Media. Beyond. Reading: Robins & Webster (1999) (pp. 89-110) The Long History of the Information Revolution; Masuda, Image of the Future Information Society (Information Society Reader pp. 14-20). Week 7 (10/17) Student Presentations. Reading: NSP pp.52-92. Week 7 (10/19) The Telegraph. Reading: MTS pp. 19-29; 67-87. Week 8 (10/24) Radio. Television (1). Reading: MTS pp. 111-125; NSP pp. 93-125. Week 8 (10/26) Television (2). Reading: NSP pp. 131-149; 160-172. Week 9 (10/31) Mass Media Industry. Reading: none. Week 9 (11/2) Internet. Reading: MTS Internet pp. 321-336.

Week 10 (11/7) From Web 2.0 to Mobile. Reading: Urry. Mobile Sociology (ISR, pp. 190-202); Merrin (2008) Media Studies 2.0 My Thoughts pp. 1-25 [read at least the first 11 pages]. Part III: Current Issues Week 10 (11/9) Economics of Information. Reading: Benkler (2006) Wealth of Networks. Part one: The Networked Information Economy, pp. 29-58. Week 11 (11/14) Variety, Innovation and Diversity. Reading: Zittrain (2006) "The Generative Internet. Week 11 (11/16) Social Media Revolution? Reading: Gladwell (2010). Week 12 (11/21) Borders, Boundaries and Control. Reading: Goldsmith & Wu (2006) Who controls the Internet? illusions of a borderless world. Week 12 (11/23) Embodiment & Affordance in Context. Week 13 (11/28) News, Commercialization, and the Public Sphere. Reading: Schiller (1996) Data Deprivation (ISR, p. 260-271); Papacharissi. Internet as a Public Sphere. (ISR p. 379-392). Week 13 (11/30) Chinas Role. Reading: MacKinnon (2008) on China, Blogs and Civic Discourse. Week 14 (12/5) Surveillance. Reading: Blom, Surveillance. (ISR, p. 297-300). Week 14 (12/7) The Singularity. Reading: 2006 Futurist article. Week 15 (12/12) History Review. Week 15 (12/14) Issue & Concept Review. Final papers due. Final exam. Morning section: Monday, December 19, 8:00 9:50 AM. Afternoon section: Wednesday, Dec 21st, 12-1:50 P.M. About this syllabus (version 1.9) Changes in the schedule, readings or assignments may (and likely will) occur along the way given the specific needs of this semesters class and students. Please make sure you are consulting the latest version of this syllabus available on Blackboard. Policies: Absences and Lateness More than two unexcused absences will automatically result in a lower grade. Chronic lateness will also be reflected in your evaluation of participation. Regardless of the reason for your absence you will be responsible for any missed work. Travel arrangements do not constitute a valid excuse for rescheduling exams. Format Please type and double-space your written work. Typing improves the clarity and readability of your work and doublespacing allows room for me to comment. Please also number and staple multiple pages. You are free to use your preferred citation style. Please use it consistently throughout your writing. If sending a document electronically, please name the file in the following format Yourlastname Coursenumberandsection Date.doc.

Evaluation Rubric A= Excellent

This work is comprehensive and detailed, integrating themes and concepts from discussions, lectures and readings. Writing is clear, analytical and organized. Arguments offer specific examples and concisely evaluate evidence. Students who earn this grade are prepared for class, synthesize course materials and contribute insightfully. B=Good This work is complete and accurate, offering insights at general level of understanding. Writing is clear, uses examples properly and tends toward broad analysis. Classroom participation is consistent and thoughtful. C=Average This work is correct but is largely descriptive, lacking analysis. Writing is vague and at times tangential. Arguments are unorganized, without specific examples or analysis. Classroom participation is inarticulate. D= Unsatisfactory This work is incomplete, and evidences little understanding of the readings or discussions. Arguments demonstrate inattention to detail, misunderstand course material and overlook significant themes. Classroom participation is spotty, unprepared and off topic. F=Failed This grade indicates a failure to participate and/or incomplete assignments A = 94-100 A- = 90-93 B+ = 87-89 B = 84-86 B- = 80-83 C+ = 77-79 C = 74-76 C- = 70-73 D+ = 65-69 D = 60-64 F = 0-59 Grade Appeals Please allow two days to pass before you submit a grade appeal. This gives you time to reflect on my assessment. If you still want to appeal your grade, please submit a short but considered paragraph detailing your concerns. Based on this paragraph I will review the question and either augment your grade or refine my explanation for the lost points. General Decorum Slipping in late or leaving early, sleeping, text messaging, surfing the Internet, doing homework in class, eating, etc. are distracting and disrespectful to all participants in the course. Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism Academic integrity is the guiding principle for all that you doyou violate the principle when you: cheat on an exam; submit the same work for two different courses without prior permission from your professors; receive help on a takehome courses without prior permission from your professors; receive help on a take-home that calls for independent work; or plagiarize. Plagiarism, whether intended or not, is academic fraud. You plagiarize when, without proper attribution, you do any of the following: copy verbatim from a book, article, or other media; download documents from the Internet; purchase documents; paraphrase or restate someone elses facts, analysis, and/or conclusions (see Steinhardt School Bulletin 2008-2010 p. 177-8) Student Resources Henry and Lucy Moses Center for students with disabilities Writing Center: 269 Mercer Street, Room 233. Schedule an appointment online at www.rich15.com/nyu/ or just walk-in.