Analog/Digital Cultures: Work & Love
Clemens Apprich
Institute of Fine Arts and Media Art, Media Theory
2023S, Lecture and Discussion (VD), 2.0 ECTS, 2.0 semester hours, course number S04309
Description
What are digital cultures? The question is typically answered by reference to social media platforms, online services, or the computer in general. However, despite the ubiquity of digital media technologies in our everyday culture, a lack of knowledge prevails as to what ‘the digital’ actually is. The lecture series poses this seemingly simple, but all the more complex question by interrogating the ‘deep history’ of the digital in relation to non-digital (i.e. analog) cultures. Based on key references from media as well as cultural studies, we will look into the transition from analog to digital cultures not simply in terms of a linear media change, but rather as a complex, often complicated interweaving between the two – an interrelation which affects the way we think, perceive and act in the world.
This semester the focus will be on work and love as two sides of the same algorithmic coin: While our love affairs are increasingly being mediated by algorithms, the work to make them run is hidden. We will, therefore, look at the ‘fetishization’ of AI and Machine Learning (ML) and ask what labour processes are needed to animate AI, how ML affects our love life, and who profits from the transformation of evermore (supposedly analog) aspects of our life through digital and disruptive technologies.
Examination Modalities
Students will be responsible to write a final essay or book review (ca. 15.000 characters, including spaces and footnotes, but excluding appendices, references, or figures) by the end of the term. The essay/book review should demonstrate a critical engagement with the topic of the lecture, applying the discussed literature. Further inspiration on the question of what constitutes digital cultures can be found in this interview series.
Alternatively, students can take an oral exam, for which they can choose three references from the lecture. Please register here: https://nuudel.digitalcourage.de/3XWowkn1UsmLHZOT.
Comments
The lecture will be held in English. Essays/book reviews can be submitted in English or German. A detailed course outline with assigned readings will be made available online.
Key Words
digital cultures, media theory, medientheorie, media history, mediengeschichte, cybernetics, algorithms, AI, machine learning
Dates
07 March 2023, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
14 March 2023, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
21 March 2023, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
28 March 2023, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
18 April 2023, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
25 April 2023, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
02 May 2023, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
09 May 2023, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
16 May 2023, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
06 June 2023, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
13 June 2023, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
20 June 2023, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
Course Enrolment
Via online registration
Curriculum Allocation
Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 067/003.80
Art Education: subject kkp (additional subject): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 067/003.80
Art Education: subject tex (additional subject): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 071/003.80
Art Education: subject dae (additional subject): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 072/003.80
Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 074/003.80
Art Education: subject dex (additional subject): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 074/003.80
TransArts - Transdisciplinary Arts (Bachelor): Theoretical foundations: Theoretical foundations 180/003.01
Expanded Museum Studies (Master): Electives: Media Theory 537/080.20
Media Arts: Specialisation in Transmedia Arts (1. Section): Wissenschaftlich theoretische und historische Grundlagen: Medientheorie, Mediengeschichte 566/108.02
Media Arts: Specialisation in Transmedia Arts (2. Section): Wissenschaft, Theorie und Geschichte : Medientheorie, Mediengeschichte 566/208.02
Media Arts: Specialisation in Digital Arts (1. Section): Wissenschaftlich theoretische und historische Grundlagen: Medientheorie, Mediengeschichte 567/108.02
Media Arts: Specialisation in Digital Arts (2. Section): Wissenschaft, Theorie, Geschichte: Medientheorie, Mediengeschichte 567/208.02
Studies in Art and Culture (Master): Electives Area 2: Media Theory 568/006.11
Design: Specialisation in Graphic Design (2. Section): Theoretical Basics: Media Theory and Semiotics 576/203.05
Design: Specialisation in Fashion Design (1. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Basics: Free Elective Pool Methodological and Theoretical Basics 584/103.80
Conservation and Restoration (2. Section): Geisteswissenschaften: Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte 588/204.10
Fine Arts (2. Section): Scientific and Research Practice: Media Theory,Art&Knowledge Transfer,Th. of Architecture,Th. and Hist. of Design 605/202.02
Fine Arts (2. Section): Scientific and Research Practice: Free Electives out of Scientific and Research Practice 605/202.80
Design: Specialisation in Applied Photography and Time-based Media (1. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Basics: Media Theory and Communication Theory 626/103.05
Design: Specialisation in Applied Photography and Time-based Media (2. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Basics: Humanities 626/203.02
Co-registration: possible
Attending individual courses: possible