The Language of New Media 3301-KB2421
An advanced course for MA students dedicated to new key media phenomena centred on digital and mobile communication, multimedia and multimodal communication construction, and on the impact of new digital technologies concerning communication.
It is an interdisciplinary course which combines components from various methodologies from cultural studies, media studies, narratology, ludology, social semiotics and new technologies. Its primary objective is to enhance an understanding of digital phenomena. We will attempt to describe how new media shape communication (especially its content) and impact all of its participants.
Students will explore analytically a selection of phenomena from the perspective of cultural studies, information technology and cultural semiotics (formalism) under the supervision of the course teacher. In a way students become co-authors of the course as their general media knowledge and awareness will affect the degree of in-depth analyses in and out of class, individually and in groups.
The range of subjects discussed (examples) :
- social media and platforms,
- celebrities and influencers,
- participatory culture,
- interactivity and immersion,
- fandom cultures,
- memes and virals,
- transmediality,
- remediation and media hybrids,
- video games and ludology,
- popular internet culture (cyberreality etc.).
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge: the graduate will be able to
understand key terminology, well established methods and theories of linguistics, literary studies and culture studies within English studies
explain principles of designing literary and culture studies, with special focus on selecting appropriate methods and tools in formulating research questions
identify on an advanced level the multiplicity of cultures and their complexity, cultural codes, as well as structural and institutional background of culture, with special focus on English-speaking countries
Abilities: the graduate is able to
employ the methodology of literary and culture studies within English studies, respecting the ethical norms and copyright law
analyze linguistic, literary and cultural phenomena and draw generalizations on their basis with respect to the social, historical and economic context
implement knowledge to describe a problem and identify means to solve it, thereby completing a project in literary studies and in culture and religion studies
collect information from various sources, critically assess a source and usefulness of information; analyze and draw generalizations on the basis of information so obtained
identify and implement cultural conventions in intercultural interactions
employ modern technology for the sake of obtaining information and using various communication channels and techniques
plan and organize working alone and in a team to attain goals
present knowledge and communicate in a cohesive, precise and linguistically correct manner in the English language at level C1 as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
Social competences: the graduate is ready to
fulfill societal obligations and perform actions benefiting the social environment in accordance with the knowledge, skills and competences obtained in the course of studies at the program “English studies literature and culture”.
undertake life-long learning and personal development, applying skills and competences to select subjects and projects optimally suiting one’s personal interests
value responsibility for one’s own work and respect the work of others, adhering to the professional and ethical norms in various projects and other activities undertaken at work, voluntary services, etc.
apply the skill to critically assess communicated content to think and act independently in various social situations
function effectively in social and cultural interactions, through various forms and media, thanks to the ability to express oneself in a cohesive and lucid manner
value cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Assessment criteria
Individual and group work; two graded essays; a final test; in-class active participation; attendance (two absences are allowed).
A re-take in an oral format during office hours.
Bibliography
Boyd, Danah. It’s Complicated. The Social Lives of Networked Teens. New Haven, Yale, 2014.
De Fina, Anna, A. S. Perrino. Storytelling in the Digital World. John Benjamins Publishing, Amsterdam, 2019.
Dijk, Jan van. The Network Society: Social Aspects of New Media. 2nd edition. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi, SAGE, 2006.
Dijck, Jose van, Thomas Poell, Martijn de Waal. The Platform Society. Public Values in a Connective World. Oxford, Oxford UP, 2018.
Dijck Jose van. The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of Social Media. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2013.
Durham, Meenakshi Gigi, Dougles M. Kellner, eds. Media and Cultural Studies: Keyworks. 2nd edition. Chichester, Wiley Blackwell, 2012.
Ensslin, Astrid, Eben J. Muse. Creating Second Lives. Community, Identity, and Spatiality as Constructions of the Virtual. New York and London, Routledge, 2011.
Georgakopoulou, Alexandra, Small Stories, Interaction and Identities. Baltimore, John Benjamins, 2007.
Gray, Jonathan, Cornel Sandvoss, C. Lee Harrington, eds. Fandom: Identities and Communities in a Mediated World. 2nd edition. New York, NYU Press, 2017.
Herman, Andrew, Jan Hadlaw, Thom Swiss, eds. Theories of the Mobile Internet. Materialities and Imaginaries. New York and London, Routledge, 2015.
Jenkins, Henry. Fans, Bloggers, and Gamers: Exploring Participatory Culture. New York, NYU Press, 2006.
Jenkins, Henry. Convergence Culture. Where Old and New Media Collide. New York and London, NYU Press, 2006.
Jenkins, Henry, Sam Ford, Joshua Green. Spreadable Media. Creating Value and Meaning in a Networked Culture. New York, NYU Press, 2018.
Kellner, Douglas M. Media Culture. 2nd edition. London and New York, Routledge, 2020.
Kress, Gunther. Multimodality. A Social Semiotic Approach to Contemporary Communication. London and New York, Routledge, 2010.
Langmia, Kehbuma, Tia C.M. Tyree. Social Media. Culture and Identity. London, Lexington Books, 2017.
Lomborg, Stine. Social Media, Social Genres. Making Sense of the Ordinary. London and New York, Routledge, 2013.
McLuhan, Marshall. Understanding Media. The Extensions of Man. London and New York, MIT Press, 1994.
McLuhan, Marshall. The Gutenberg Galaxy. Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2011.
Page, Ruth. Narratives Online. Cambridge, Cambridge UP, 2018.
Page, Ruth, Stories and Social Media: Identities and Interaction. London and New York, Routledge, 2013.
Ryan, Marie-Laure. Avatars of Story. Minneapolis and London, University of Minnesota Press, 2006.
Shifman, Limor. Memes in Digital Culture. Cambridge, MA, and London, MIT Press, 2014.
Thomas, Bronwen, Julia Round. Real Lives, Celebrity Stories. New York, Bloomsbury, 2014.
Tierney, Thérèse F., The Public Space of Social Media. Connected Cultures of the Network Society. London and New York, Routledge, 2013.
Wiggins, Bradley, The Discursive Power of Memes in Digital Culture. Ideology, Semiotics, and Intertextuality. London and New York, Routledge, 2019.
White, Andrew. Digital Media and Society. Houndsmills, Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.
Wilken, Rowan, Gerard Goggin, eds. Mobile Technology and Place. London and New York, Routledge, 2013.
Winston, Brian. Media Technology and Society. London and New York, Routledge, 2002.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: