Introduction to Digital Media (ENGL 293)
Fall 2022
MW 10-11:20am; ML 354
Instructor Information
Instructor: Danielle J. Deveau
Office: HH254
Office Hours: M 9-9:50am; 12-1pm or by appointment
Email: d2deveau@uwaterloo.ca
Teaching Assistant: Alicia Latimer
Email: am2latim@uwaterloo.ca
Course Description
A study of theories of digital media, including critical, rhetorical, and semiotic approaches, and of the interpretation and creation of digital media artifacts. Students will be introduced to a range of digital media theories is lecture and lab contexts. Topics include frameworks for understanding digital media and the information society; as well as transformations in cultures, identities, politics, power, the public sphere, work, and the economy as they related to digital changes in media. In the final four weeks of the term, students will have the opportunity to define special topics in the study of new media. Knowledge will be tested with a midterm exam, two media projects, and through instructor observation of participation in lectures and labs.
Course Learning Objectives
- Develop foundational knowledge that draws on history, theory, and practice of media studies
- Develop critical thinking skills in written and verbal analysis of texts and digital media objects
- Apply design thinking research methods to the analysis of digital media
- Analyze how new media affect everyday life, including in the area of political processes, interpersonal communications, news media, surveillance and security, the environment, and the economy
- Understand how new media impact the ways we think about our world and our identities
Required Texts
- Alessandro Delfanti and Adam Arvidsson, Introduction to Digital Media (Wiley Blackwell, 2019)
- Additional readings will be posted on Learn.
Course Requirements and Assessment
Assessment |
Date of Evaluation |
Weighting |
---|---|---|
Media Project 1 |
Oct. 4 |
20% |
Midterm Exam |
Oct. 31 |
30% |
Media Project 2 |
Nov. 28 |
30% |
Media Lab Activities |
Weekly |
20% |
Total |
100% |
Midterm Exam
Multiple choice and short answer exam will test knowledge of readings, lectures, and labs.
Media Lab Activities
Wednesday classes will be run as media labs. You will have instructor-assigned tasks and activities to complete, individually and in small groups. Students will be assigned a Lab group early in the term. If you are unable to attend a lab due to illness, you should establish a way to connect with your lab group virtually (through a group chat or video feed). If you cannot connect to your group because you are unavailable during class time (too ill to work, at a medical appointment, etc.), you can email the course instructor and request an alternate lab assignment.
Media Project 1 – due in Learn dropbox on Oct. 4
This assignment will demonstrate your understanding of introductory approaches to the study of digital media. This work can be theoretical, methodological, or applied. Other topics or approaches may be proposed to the course instructor.
Topics
- Digital Media Diary: Design a digital media tracking diary that could be used for research. Test the diary template by completing it yourself. You should test either a 24 or 48-hour period and create an easy way to record digital media use during this time. You will want to capture details like time of use, what it was used for, how you felt or what your experience was, etc. This should include media that you choose to consume, as well as incidental consumption (passing a tv monitor or screen on your commute; the projector in class; the order kiosk at a restaurant, etc.). You will need to define very clearly what constitutes “digital media” for the purpose of your study. The idea behind a media diary is to understand people’s consumption habits. In the case of a digital media diary, you will produce a picture of how pervasive (or not) digital media is in your daily life. Your submission should include:
- the diary template with all definitions and instructions.
- your completed media diary.
- a 250-350 word reflection on your experience and what course concepts this work applies.
- Analog/Digital Audit: Identify a digital technology and its analog predecessor. Look for scholarly or public commentary about each technology in the first 5-10 years of its time on the market. How were thoughts about the technologies similar? How were they different? Contextualize these discussions with theories from Part 1 of your textbook. Write a 1200-word comparative analysis about the analog/digital technology addressing the above issues/questions.
- Aliens!: You are a member of an advanced alien civilization conducting fieldwork on Earth. You are particularly interested in how humans use digital technologies. Select a technology that you can observe people using in public. Find a place to observe humans in action. Take careful field notes. Edit and type up these field notes, adding your own analysis and drawing on some of the media theories that you have learned so far in the course. Submit a 1200-word Field Report to your alien commander (I.e. the Media Project 1 dropbox in Learn!).
Media Project 2 – due in Learn dropbox on Nov. 28
Students must demonstrate mastery of course content through the submission of a major assignment. Lab time will be dedicated to the development and preparation of this project.
Topics
- Short Story: New technologies have been a fruitful topic of concern in works of fiction. Identify an issue that could make a good story. Research short fiction genres and identify one that suits the story you want to tell. Spend time outlining the plot and developing characters. Write a 7-10 page short story that takes up some key issues related to digital media. Some topics might include:
- A dystopian future dominated by digital media
- A coming-of-age story in which social media causes some conflict
- A political scandal rooted in digital media or digital surveillance
- An environmental crisis caused by planned obsolescence in digital tech
Write a 250-350 word reflection identifying how your short story demonstrates mastery of course concepts. Submit both your short story and your reflection to the Media Project 2 dropbox in Learn.
- Rhetoric and Digital Design: Select a theory, concept, or issue that we have discussed this term and create a digital media product that critically reflects on this idea. You can produce a video (in any platform); image (or image series); webpage; game, audio file (podcast, documentary, etc). This should be 5 minutes or less to view, listen to, or navigate. Write a 750-1000 word reflection identifying how your product demonstrates mastery of course concepts. Submit both your digital media product and your reflection to the Media Project 2 dropbox in Learn.
- Rhetoric and Professional Writing: Identify an issue from this term and write a persuasive article for a journal such as The Atlantic, The Walrus, The Conversation, Wired, etc. This is a popular press article, so should be written for an informed general audience. You are making a rhetorical argument for some change in behaviour, attitude or policy. It should be related to digital media and be informed by course concepts. The article should be 6-8 pages double-spaced. Write a 350-500 word reflection identifying how your article demonstrates mastery of course concepts. Submit both your article and your reflection to the Media Project 2 dropbox in Learn.
Media Project 2 is designed to align with existing categories in the Department of English Language and Literature’s annual undergraduate awards. Students with strong work will be encouraged to submit their projects for consideration. More information about departmental awards can be found here: https://uwaterloo.ca/english/awards/english-undergraduate-awards.
More information about submitting final assignments will be provided at the end of term.
Course Schedule
Week 1:
Lecture Topic: Frameworks: Media and Digital Technologies
Reading: Ch. 1
Lab Activities: Brainstorm key issues in digital media
Week 2:
Lecture Topic: Frameworks: The Information Society
Reading: Ch. 2
Lab Activities: Brainstorming and thematic clustering
Week 3:
Lecture Topic: Transformations: Cultures and Identities
Reading: Ch. 3
Lab Activities: Research ethics: https://tcps2core.ca/
Week 4:
Lecture Topic: Transformations: From Collaboration to Value
Reading: Ch. 4
Lab Activities: Media Project 1 due (Wednesday, in-class); informal presentation
STUDY BREAK: OCTOBER 8-16. NO CLASSES.
Week 5:
Lecture Topic: The Public Sphere and Power
Reading: Ch. 5
Lab Activities: Mock focus groups
Week 6:
Lecture Topic: Work and Economy
Reading: Ch. 6; Conclusion
Lab Activities: Midterm Study Session
Week 7:
Lecture Topic: Midterm exam (Monday)
Lab Activities: Final Project Planning (Wednesday)
Week 8:
Topic: Special Topic #1
Readings: TBD
Activities: TBD
Week 9:
Topic: Special Topic #2
Readings: TBD
Activities: TBD
Week 10:
Topic: Special Topic # 3
Readings: TBD
Activities: TBD
Week 11 & 12:
Topic: Final Thoughts on Digital Media
Activities: Media Project 2 Presentations (Nov. 28, 30; Dec. 5)
Course Policies
Note: Students who require an accommodation of any kind, or who perceive that they may have difficulty meeting the exam and attendance requirements for this course, should meet with the course instructor as soon as possible to discuss accommodation options. If you are not registered with Accessibility Services, but expect to experience disruptions this term, I strongly encourage you to reach out to their office. They can negotiate with instructors on your behalf to ensure that you have the academic accommodations that you need to succeed.
Late Work
Students may submit work up to one week late without penalty. Late work may not receive detailed feedback.
Attendance Policy
As this class is primarily lecture, lab, and exam based, students are strongly encouraged to attend regularly. However, if you are sick, please do not attend class. Lecture materials will be made available on Learn. You will be put in a lab group in the first week. Please ensure that you know how to connect with your group to complete labs virtually. You should also rely on this group to fill you in on missed content. Please report your illness/absence in Quest, rather than email the course instructor. The instructor only needs to be notified of your absence if you require an alternate assignment.
Academic Integrity
In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of
Waterloo community are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. See the UWaterloo Academic Integritity webpage (https://uwaterloo.ca/academic-integrity/) and the Arts Academic Integrity webpage (https://uwaterloo.ca/arts/current-undergraduates/student-support/ethical-behaviour) for more information.
Discipline
A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline. For typical penalties check Guidelines for the Assessment of Penalties (https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat-general-counsel/policies-procedures-guidelines/guidelines/guidelines-assessment-penalties).
Grievance
A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4 (https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat-general-counsel/policies-procedures-guidelines/policy-70). When in doubt please be certain to contact the department’s administrative assistant who will provide further assistance.
Appeals
A decision made or penalty imposed under Policy 70, Student Petitions and Grievances (other than a petition) or Policy 71, Student Discipline may be appealed if there is a ground. A student who believes he/she has a ground for an appeal should refer to Policy 72, Student Appeals (https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat-general-counsel/policies-procedures-guidelines/policy-72).
Note for Students with Disabilities
The AccessAbility Services office, located on the first floor of the Needles Hall extension (NH 1401), collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the AS office at the beginning of each academic term.