IM166 Digital Culture / Algorithms Society

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2018
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Jana Horáková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
dr. Romi Mikulinsky (lecturer), doc. Mgr. Jana Horáková, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Jana Horáková, Ph.D.
Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Bc. Jitka Leflíková
Supplier department: Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 8:00–9:40 N21
Prerequisites
A good command of English. Curiosity and desire to learn more about the online world and its culture(s) and how computation affected creativity and art creation.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 10 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
1. Be familiar with a wide range of thinkers, entrepreneurs, products, platforms and central terms in the digital culture and economy.
2. Be able to think critically about the prevalent digital technology.
3. Become aware of the various effects digital technology has on society, culture, and economy.
4. Be able to offer alternatives to various features or products that exist today.
5. Integrate theory while defining their alternatives and discuss eloquently the changes and challenges that typify the information age.
Learning outcomes
Students will be familiar with critical thought and existing artworks that critiques and features the changes digital technology brought about. They will understand several principles governing Big Data and automation and see how "algorithmic" culture brings together creativity, imagination in times marked by change with machines taking more tasks previously done by humans.
Syllabus
  • This module is dedicated to digital culture and the influences Big Data and quantification have on our society, on creativity an (algorithmic) art creation. Through a series of 4 lectures, each dedicated to a different aspect of digital culture and cultural production, I will present the ways digital technology permeated and affected creativity, imagination, academic research and the everyday. The examples discussed throughout the module range from theory to practice from both art design and literature.
  • A series of 4 lectures (1.5 hours each)
  • Day 1 – Introduction to Algorithms in Society
  • Day 2 – Creativity and Creation in Algorithmic Society
  • Day 3 – Creativity – Can Computers Make Art?
  • Day 4 – Imagination – after Vilem Flusser
Literature
    recommended literature
  • To watch: "The Secret Rules of Modern Living: Algorithms." A BBC Series, BBC 2015 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9HjeFD62Uk
    not specified
  • To watch: Ed Finn, Jennifer Golbeck and Ian Bogost, “What Should We Know About Algorithms?” The Tyranny of Algorithms Conference, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm2AEf-jKbc
  • Danah Boyd and Kate Crawford, “Six Provocations for Big Data” A Decade in Internet Time: Symposium on the Dynamics of the Internet and Society, September 2011. Available at: http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2011/09/14/six-provocations-for-big-d
  • Mark Riedl, "Computational Creativity as Meta Search" Medium. Feb 13, 2018. https://medium.com/@mark_riedl/computational-creativity-as-meta-search-6cad95da923b
  • To watch: Flora Karger, "Algorithms in Public Space" KISDalks, 13 June 2017, https://kisd.de/en/termine/algorithms-in-public-space/
  • Frank Pasquele “Algorithmic Self”. The Hedgehog Review 17.1 (Spring 2015). Available at: www.iasc-culture.org/THR/THR_article_2015_Spring_Pasquale.php
  • Ed Finn, “Coda: The Algorithmic Imagination: What Algorithms Want? The MIT Press, 2017, 181-196.
  • To watch: Yuval Noah Harari. "Will the Future Be Human?" World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. 24 January, 2018. https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2018/sessions/will-the-future-be-human
  • Vilém Flusser, “A New Imagination” Writings, University of Minnesota Press, 2004. also available: https://monoskop.org/images/4/4b/Flussers_View_on_Art_MECAD_Online_Seminar.pdf
Teaching methods
lectures, class discussion, reading, watching videos
Assessment methods
Academic essay on discussed topics: Academic essay on discussed topics: A 2-3 pages essay in English should be sent to my email rominska@gmail.com by December 22nd, 2018. The title of the email should state Digital Culture Course - Masaryk University The essay should be in English and address an idea, provocation or a questiosn raised during the lectures and also refer to at least one of the readings (If a student wishes to address a video, that is possible but not instead of the text). Practical/ artistic endouvour is optional - Should the students be interested in creating a short video (5 mins max), or reacting creatively to the ideas and topics discussed during the class they are most welcome to do so. The written essay accimpanying a creative work should then be 1-2 pages (with reference to one of the readings). The video could be uploaded to youtube/ vimeo etc.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
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