The course provides an in-depth analysis of the domain of New Media within communication studies. The main focus of the course will be in analyzing the ways in which New –converged, interactive, digital— Media has both embraced and altered the already existing landscape of ‘old’ media.

A process called convergence with it’s basis in digitalization -traditional media forms converging into digital formats accessed via computerized equipment— has seen the combination of many existing media into new forms that have challenged many of the original characteristics of each. The course will attempt at first to define the domain of New Media, proposing it as the amalgamation of different traditional media forms into new digitally based varieties. Subsequently the course will analyze the various forms which New Media has assumed and concentrate on the specific issues –cultural, political, economic, technological and social—that the various forms raise.

   Topics covered include audience participation and interaction with the media, the potential for a more democratic and socially responsive mediascape, the shifting processes of signification, the changing methods of production, distribution and exhibition of particular content, copyright and how the history and development of traditional media have influenced the development and deployment of the new media. The course will also explore the corresponding influences that traditional media and new media are having upon each other as well as revisiting central, continuing issues surrounding textual and audiovisual culture and the contexts in which all media operate. Aesthetic considerations surrounding the changing function of authorship, spectatorship, and textuality will also be investigated.

The course will be organized around lectures, screenings and presentations of audiovisual material and class discussions.

By the end of the course students will be able to:

1.   understand and analyze the corresponding influences that traditional media and new media are having upon each other

2.   recognize the ways in which central and continuing issues surrounding audiovisual media and the contexts in which all media operate are being reshaped by the social, technological, economic and cultural forces present in society today.

3.  recognize the influences that digital media is expressing in the cultural sphere

4.  learn the following critical terms: transliteration, digitization, remediation, hacking, information society, hypertextuality, interactivity, collective intelligence

Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.

A:  Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensiveknowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.

B:  This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.

There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.

C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

D:  This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.

Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.

F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

COURSE SCHEDULE:

LOGGING ON

Week 1: Introduction: What’s ‘new’ about New Media?

Week 2: Digitalization, Convergence and Politics

PART I: TECHNOLOGIES

Week 3: TV: Cable, Satellite and Digital Technologies

Week 4: Cinema and Music: Digital Film, Sampling and Special Effects

Week 5: The Internet and the World Wide Web

Week 6: Just Gaming: Video Games and the Transformations of Narrative

PART II: CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Week 7: The Politics Of New Media

Week 8: The Process Of Remediation

Week 9&10: Interactive Audiences

Week 11: Copyright, Peer-To-Peer & Creativity

PART III: TEXTS

Week 12: The Impact of Digital Technologies on Aesthetics

Week 13: The Aesthetics Of The Interface

LOGGING OFF

Week 14: The New Intertextual Commodity:So What’s New?