contact

Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:30-2:45 p.m.
Location: 227 Heavilon Hall
Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Bay
Office: 301C Heavilon Hall
Phone: 494-8122
E-mail: jbay@purdue.edu
IM screenname: cybrfemme
Office hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:00-4:30 p.m. or by appointment
Class email: engl680n0101042-class@relay.cc.purdue.edu

description

To conceptualize the new, to theorize the unknown, one might say, is to experiment with optics; to experiment in such a way is to transpose, to reconvene, and to rearticulate--to revisit. The continuing emergence of digital media in the twenty first century presents precisely this complex state of affairs. It places an additional burden on the innovator: that of reflexivity. Knowing that what one discovers depends on where one stands may lead to knowing about oneself more than anything else. Critical engagement in innovation implies the immensely complex practice of locating oneself in relation to something the appearance of which changes according to position. In short, this is a highly paradoxical, indeed holographic, endeavor.
--Liestˆ½l, Morrison, and Rasmussen, Digital Media Revisited

What is "new media?" English 680N will examine this question from a variety of perspectives, investigating forms and examples of new media as well as the theories that underlie and emerge from these forms. As Liestˆ½l, Morrison, and Rasmussen observe, new media forces us to reflect on our own positions--in front of the screen, in front of the classroom, in both public and private spaces. Our positions converge at the heart of "new media" -- the network -- the nexus of threads that allow for the distribution of information and communication among individuals, groups, and institutions. Networks create the conditions of possibility for new social formations, interactions, and communications. Since new media, in accordance with network logics, does not inhabit one particular discipline, our course will be profoundly interdisciplinary, drawing from areas of study such as communication, law, art, political science, history, science, game theory, economics, international relations, and, of course, rhetoric. Moreover, we will not concentrate our work solely on academic texts; rather, we'll also look at efforts from activists, technologists, programmers, and industry workers to theorize new media.We'll also not look solely at print texts. Much of the work of the course will be online’Äîexamining forms of new media, as well as reading, interacting, and creating online texts.

The class will take a workshop approach, meaning that while we will be reading and writing about new media, we will also be learning how to produce new media. Everyone should be open to teaching and learning from one another as we engage with a variety of technologies, media, and theories.

materials

Burnett, How Images Think
Hansen, New Philosophy for New Media
Hayles, Writing Machines
Lessig, Free Culture
Manovich, The Language of New Media
Paul D. Miller, Rhythm Science
Shaviro, Connected
Wysocki, Johnson-Eilola, Selfe, and Sirc, Writing New Media
Digital course packet
Various online readings

components

Online Engagement--50%
Online engagement includes thinking, reading, and writing online. This includes but is not limited to active participation on the course weblog and listserv; active discussion of readings both in and out of class; maintaining, reading, and responding to rss feeds; tagging various items of interest using flickr, del.icio.us, 43 things, and other bookmarking applications; trying out various pieces of social software such as friendster and orkut; and trying out videoblogging, podcasting, flashmobbing, etc.

Portfolio--50%
The portfolio will include 3-4 new media projects, all published on the web, which will be produced over the course of the semester. For one project, you will produce a new media manifesto. For another project, you will produce a piece of tactical media. The remaining projects are more open-ended. The purpose of the assignments will be to create projects that are productive in nature. More to come on the portfolio projects later in the week.