Humanistic Approaches to Media and Data

This course introduces students to humanistic frameworks, methods, and tools for thinking critically about our screen- and data-saturated environments. Starting with the premise that studying these environments involves both reading theory and working with data, this course consists of reading discussion seminars alongside a weekly "collaboratory" where students will learn the basics of coding, computational analysis, and visualizing cultural data. As we explore these approaches to the study of media, culture, and technology, we will consider the stakes of such inquiry from the standpoint of racial justice, ethics, and equity.