Analog/Digital Cultures 2

Clemens Apprich
Institute of Fine Arts and Media Art, Media Theory
2024S, Lecture and Discussion (VD), 2.0 ECTS, 2.0 semester hours, course number S04796

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 (including feminist and critical race theory, algorithm and critical data 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 the relationship between the body and the network with regard to digital media technologies. We will look back to the early days of network building – when the terms of ‘possible futures’ were still under negotiation – to understand recent transformations in our digital culture. We will discuss current debates in new materialism and the posthumanities, which can be seen as an ‘analog’ response to digitality, and critically reflect on the idea of digital identity.

Examination Modalities

Students will take an oral exam by the end of the lecture, for which they can choose three references from the lecture.  

Alternatively, students can 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 (deadline: August 31st). The essay/book review should demonstrate a critical engagement with at least three references from the lecture.

Comments

The lecture will be held in English. A detailed course outline with assigned readings will be made available online.  

Further inspiration on the question of what constitutes digital cultures can be found in this interview series.

For questions regarding examination modalities, deadlines, etc., please contact: henry.salfner@student.uni-ak.ac.at.

Key Words

digital culture, media theory, media history, medientheorie, algorithms, recommendation systems, machine learning

Dates

05 March 2024, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
12 March 2024, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
19 March 2024, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
09 April 2024, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
16 April 2024, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
23 April 2024, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
07 May 2024, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
14 May 2024, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
28 May 2024, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
04 June 2024, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
11 June 2024, 10:00–11:30 Seminar Room 20
18 June 2024, 10:00–11:30 Seminar room 35 , "Final discussion"
25 June 2024, 10:00–11:30, "Final exams"

Course Enrolment

From 05 February 2024, 00:00
Via online registration

Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 067/003.80

Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Schwerpunkt Digitale Grundbildung (DGB): Wissenschaftliche Praxis 067/020.20

Art Education: subject kkp (additional subject): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 067/003.80

Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 074/003.80

Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Schwerpunkt Digitale Grundbildung (DGB): Wissenschaftliche Praxis 074/020.20

Art Education: subject dex (additional subject): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 074/003.80

Transformation Studies. Art x Science (Bachelor): Understand! Transformation: Analog/Digital Cultures, VD (Angewandte) 162/002.29

Transformation Studies. Art x Science (Bachelor): Focus! Transformation Areas: Digital Transformation 162/040.10

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

Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften (Master): Electives Area 2: Media Theory 568/006.11

Cross-Disciplinary Strategies (Master): Study Areas 1-3: Study Area 2: Science and Technology 569/020.02

Design: Specialisation in Communication Design (2. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Basics: Media Theory and Semiotics 577/203.05

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

Cross-Disciplinary Strategies (Bachelor): Science and Technology: Deepening / Application 700/002.20

Co-registration: possible

Attending individual courses: possible