Networks, Codes, Complicity: the Algorithmic Imagination in American Literature - Einzelansicht

Funktionen:

Veranstaltungsart	Seminar	Veranstaltungsnummer
SWS	2	Semester	SoSe 2017
Einrichtung	Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik	Sprache	englisch
Weitere Links	comment
Belegungsfrist	03.04.2017 - 20.05.2017 Belegung über PULS

Gruppe 1:

Vormerken: jetzt belegen / abmelden

		Tag	Zeit	Rhythmus	Dauer	Raum	Lehrperson	Ausfall-/Ausweichtermine	Max. Teilnehmer/-innen
	Seminar	Mo	14:00 bis 16:00	wöchentlich	17.04.2017 bis 24.07.2017	1.09.2.06	Dr. Mischke		30

Kommentar	Please follow the "comment" link above for more information on comments, course readings, course requirements and grading. With the beginning of the 21st century the globalized world is increasingly driven by algorithms and programming code. Much of our daily lives now heavily depends on the infrastructure of computer networks, its protocols and scripted assemblages. In fact, algorithms have become so pervasive that they have turned into an “algocracy” (Aneesh) into an ubiquitous and global operating system of cultural, economic and political realities (Lash). Algorithms have also profoundly changed cultural imaginaries around the world. Phenomena such as open source - and twitter novels, writing hackathons or cross media literature seem to attest that the entire cultural sphere is deeply affected by the digital transformation. This seminar examines literary and cultural representations of algorithms in contemporary American Literature and Culture. In looking at both its utopian as well as dystopian potentials we will study how literature embraces, criticizes and resists the algorithmic imagination. By the same token we will also discuss transnational and postcolonial implications of the digital turn. Despite the fact that the ideology of silicon valley promotes values of "flat hierarchies", diversity and equal opportunity, many tech companies effectively engage in (neo)colonial practices of labor exploitation, resource extraction and infrastructure dominance.
Literatur	Pynchon, Thomas. Bleeding Edge. London: Vintage, 2014. Print. Eggers, Dave. The Circle: A Novel. London: Penguin, 2014. Print. Doctorow, Cory. Little Brother. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 2008. (or any edition, available open source) Kunzru, Hari. Transmission. London: Penguin, 2005. Print A course reader with secondary literature will be accessible on moodle.

Kommentar

Please follow the "comment" link above for more information on comments, course readings, course requirements and grading.

With the beginning of the 21st century the globalized world is increasingly driven by algorithms and programming code. Much of our daily lives now heavily depends on the infrastructure of computer networks, its protocols and scripted assemblages. In fact, algorithms have become so pervasive that they have turned into an “algocracy” (Aneesh) into an ubiquitous and global operating system of cultural, economic and political realities (Lash). Algorithms have also profoundly changed cultural imaginaries around the world. Phenomena such as open source - and twitter novels, writing hackathons or cross media literature seem to attest that the entire cultural sphere is deeply affected by the digital transformation. This seminar examines literary and cultural representations of algorithms in contemporary American Literature and Culture. In looking at both its utopian as well as dystopian potentials we will study how literature embraces, criticizes and resists the algorithmic imagination. By the same token we will also discuss transnational and postcolonial implications of the digital turn. Despite the fact that the ideology of silicon valley promotes values of "flat hierarchies", diversity and equal opportunity, many tech companies effectively engage in (neo)colonial practices of labor exploitation, resource extraction and infrastructure dominance.

Literatur

Pynchon, Thomas. Bleeding Edge. London: Vintage, 2014. Print.
Eggers, Dave. The Circle: A Novel. London: Penguin, 2014. Print.
Doctorow, Cory. Little Brother. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 2008. (or any edition, available open source)
Kunzru, Hari. Transmission. London: Penguin, 2005. Print
A course reader with secondary literature will be accessible on moodle.

Strukturbaum

Keine Einordnung ins Vorlesungsverzeichnis vorhanden. Veranstaltung ist aus dem Semester SoSe 2017 , Aktuelles Semester: SoSe 2024