Course Schedule

This is the schedule for the course. Because of the experimental and emergent nature of the class, changes are quite probable – always consult the online version to find the updated information and links to readings. More will be forthcoming as the semester progresses

Five books are required in this class, available at the College Bookstore and on reserve in the library:

Henry JenkinsConvergence culture : where old and new media collide (New York : New York University Press, 2006), P94.65.U6 J46 2006

Steven Jones, The Meaning of Video Games (New York: Routledge)

Lawrence Lessig, Remix: Making Art & Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy (New York: Penguin, 2008) (also downloadable)

Scott McCloudUnderstanding comics : the invisible art (New York : HarperPerennial, 1994), PN6710 .M335 1994

Clay Shirky, Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing without Organizations (New York: Penguin, 2008)

Other readings will be available linked from this schedule and on eRes (password: 2266jm).

Schedule

Unless otherwise noted, readings are due for Monday’s class each week.

Week of Feb 8Thinking about Media Technology
READ
(for Wednesday): Joshua Meyrowitz, “Images of Media” [eRes]
Marshall McLuhan, “The Playboy Interview” [eRes]
Recommended: Casey Man Kong Lum, excerpts from “Notes Toward an Intellectual History of Media Ecology” [eRes]
LAB: Intro to blogs, Twitter and other useful tools

Week of Feb 15: Comics as Medium
READ:
Scott McCloudUnderstanding Comics
Matt Madden, Exercises in Style
Walter Ong, “Writing is a Technology that Restructures Thought” [eRes]
LAB: Intro to Photoshop

Week of Feb 22: Audio & Podcasting
READ: Jonathan Sterne et. al., “The Politics of Podcasting
Scott Campbell, “Giving Up my iPod for a Walkman
Clay Shirky, Here Comes Everybody, Chapters 1-6
Larry Hardesty, “Bootleg Battle Lines
LAB:
Audio & Podcasting
PROJECT: Bring Paper Project to class Wednesday

Week of March 1: Social Software
READ:
Clay Shirky, Here Comes Everybody, finish book
Steven Johnson, “How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live
danah boyd, “Why Youth ♥Social Network Sites
Clive Thompson, “Brave New World of Digital Intimacy
LAB: Video editing

Week of March 8: Remix Culture
READ: Henry JenkinsConvergence Culture, Introduction, Chapter 4
Lawrence Lessig,
Remix, Introduction – Ch. 5
Jonathan Lethem, “The Ecstasy of Influence” [online]
LAB: MiddLab project & brainstorming
PROJECT: Podcasts due in class Monday

Week of March 15: Convergence Culture
READ:
Henry Jenkins, Convergence Culture, finish book

Week of March 29: Copyright & Culture
READ:
Lawrence Lessig, Remix, finish book
PROJECT: Remix videos due in class Wednesday

Week of April 5: Virtual Worlds
READ:
Julian Dibbell, “A Rape in Cyberspace
Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash (excerpt in eRes)
Wikipedia article on Second Life
Tom Boellstorff, Coming of Age in Second Life, Chapter 1.
Lori Landay, “Virtual KinoEye
LAB: Intro to Second Life

Week of April 12: Video Games as Medium
READ: Steven Jones, The Meaning of Video Games, Intro – Ch. 3
Henry Jenkins, “Games: The New Lively Art
LAB: Intro to gaming

Week of April 19: Video Games as Pracitce
READ: Steven Jones, The Meaning of Video Games, finish book
Jesper Juul, “Without a Goal

Week of April 26: Participation in Online Gaming
READ: T.L. Taylor, “Pushing the Borders
Sarah Coleman and Nick Dyer-Witheford, “Playing on the Digital Commons
WATCH: South Park, “Make Love, Not Warcraft
PROJECT: Gaming project due in class on April 28

Week of May 3: Digital Interfaces
READ: Lev Manovich, “The Interface” [eRes]
WATCH: HBO Imagine
PROJECT: Present draft of final project on May 5
All projects must be compiled into a portfolio posted as a page to your blog by May 12!

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