Universität Wien

030491 KU The Black Mirror of Law (2025W)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 3 - Rechtswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 40 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 15.10. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum SEM44 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 4.OG
  • Wednesday 22.10. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum SEM62 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
  • Wednesday 05.11. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum SEM33 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 3.OG
  • Wednesday 26.11. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum SEM62 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
  • Wednesday 07.01. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum SEM62 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
  • Wednesday 21.01. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum SEM62 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Of all the science fiction series, Black Mirror perhaps raises the most questions about the potential social impacts of technological innovations. In this seminar, we will watch and discuss scenarios from Season 7 from a legal perspective. Would the depicted utopias or dystopias be legally justifiable in terms of human rights, for instance? What can we learn about the regulation of emerging technologies? How is law addressed and (socially) negotiated within the episodes? We will discuss these and other questions based on selected episodes.

At the beginning of the semester, we will examine how Black Mirror can be analyzed through a legal lens. The individual episodes will then be assigned to small groups for preparation. Each subsequent unit begins with a presentation of an episode, followed by a discussion. The lecturers will lead the discussion and provide input on the content as required.

Assessment and permitted materials

The assessment is based on four partial performances: active participation in the discussion, giving the presentation, preparing a handout and drafting a reflection paper on each episode. These must be handed in before each unit.

The use of AI tools is permitted, provided it is labelled accordingly.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Attendance is mandatory. One absence is tolerated.

Presentation 25 % (group performance)
Handout 25 % (group performance)
Reflection Paper 25 % (individual performance)
Active Participation 25 % (individual performance)

For a positive overall assessment, each individual performance must be assessed positively.

Examination topics

There is no exam.

Reading list

Relevant literature will be made available on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Th 02.10.2025 09:25