Digital Media: Digitalization, Digital Cultures and User Practices

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Students in this course will be introduced into the broad field of digital media and discuss in detail computer based practices (social software, online games, digital art) in the second part. While popular debates fail to leave the usually general discussions on the impact of digital media, this course will deal with the complexity, history and diversity of our contemporary culture. Digital media have been described as being interactive, multimedial, integrative – as they integrate older analogue media and are able to simulate them on the basis of the digital code to a certain extent. Their integrative power as well as the possibility to connect, share and network opened discussions on their impact on cultural transformations. The course will be structured as follows: 1. Transformations: new vs. old, on users and non-users; 2. Networking: sharing, communities and new public spheres; 3. Defragging: on privacy and surveillance, user participation and new practices; 4. Remixing: remix, mashup and more, digital literature and art.