Universität Wien
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124182 VK BEd 08b.3: VK Cultural Studies for Language Teachers (2021W)

Humans and/versus Technology: Topic-based Teaching with Multiple Narrative Forms

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
MIXED

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. 23 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

UPDATE 19.11.2021
Classes from Monday 22.11 will be online
VK Posthuman WS21, Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97049061068?pwd=Y044S2RvUlJtM3o3akMyS1YrK2UvZz09
Meeting ID: 970 4906 1068
Passcode: 003951

  • Monday 04.10. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Monday 11.10. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Monday 18.10. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Monday 25.10. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Monday 08.11. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Monday 15.11. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Monday 22.11. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Monday 29.11. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Monday 06.12. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Monday 13.12. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Monday 10.01. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Monday 17.01. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Monday 24.01. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Monday 31.01. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Content
Narrative literacy today means teaching with not only literature but also graphic fiction, visual film media and computer games. This class works with different narrative forms to explore the representation of human relationships with other species, technology and Artificial Intelligence, through curriculum topics such as coming-of-age issues, relationships, cross-cultural communication, ethics and technology.

Our class texts invite us to consider how different narrative modes represent posthuman and nonhuman subjects, and how they engage the reading, viewing or playing participant in the issues of self-and-other that arise. In particular, we focus on how each narrative form frames the relationship between humans and sentient technology, and consider how perspective-taking devices foster empathy and self-identification to raise questions of responsibility towards technology and nonhuman others. Our stories break down assumed boundaries between human and nonhuman, such as living with strange inventions in Simon Stålenhag's graphic fiction (and Netflix series) Tales from the Loop, genetically-enhanced IQ in Young Adult novella Beggars in Spain, falling in love with Siri in the film Her, and playing as an android in Detroit: Become Human.
The course introduces students to analytical techniques appropriate to each of the multimedia forms, including narrative perspective, social semiotics and game theory.

Method & Aims
The course is highly participatory, containing teacher input, group discussions and peer presentations of the class primary and secondary sources. Students are expected to have watched the films and read the texts at least once before class starts. You can watch a walkthrough of Detroit: Become Human on Youtube or Twitch if you don’t want to play it (PS4 or PC). Students are encouraged to apply these interpretative tools to media texts of their choice in their final term papers. Students have the option to focus on how to teach these media forms in the EFL classroom.

Assessment and permitted materials

Individual and group work
Group workshop of a recommended teaching text
Group workshop of recommended teaching activities
Term Paper plan
Work-in-progress presentation of term paper topic
Final term paper (Seminararbeit 3,500-4,000 words or Bachelorarbeit 6,500-7,000 words)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination topics

Reading list

Please read/view all material before class starts: we'll only discuss in class time
Novella: Nancy Kress, Beggars in Spain (1991)
Film: Her (dir. Spike Jonze, 2013)
Game: Subsurface Circular. eg. walkthrough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbfzT_fNIT4
Picture book (selected pages on Moodle) and animation: Shaun Tan, The Lost Thing, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpak6ktsux4
Graphic fiction: Simon Stålenhag, Tales from the Loop (selected pages on Moodle). Optional also watch the Amazon Prime TV series, especially episode 7, "Enemies"

Association in the course directory

Studium: BEd 046/407
Code/Modul: BEd 08b.3
Lehrinhalt: 12-4686

Last modified: Fr 19.11.2021 18:48