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 Jenkins, Convergence 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 McCloud, Understanding 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 8: Thinking 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 McCloud, Understanding 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 Jenkins, Convergence 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