Universität Wien

124183 VK BEd 08b.3: VK Cultural Studies and Language Education (2024S)

Fake News and Post-Truth: Theoretical and Practical Considerations

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

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. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Friday 08.03. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Friday 15.03. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
  • Friday 22.03. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
  • Friday 12.04. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
  • Friday 19.04. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
  • Friday 26.04. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
  • Friday 03.05. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
  • Friday 10.05. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
  • Friday 17.05. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
  • Friday 24.05. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
  • Friday 31.05. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
  • Friday 07.06. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
  • Friday 14.06. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
  • Friday 21.06. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
  • Friday 28.06. 14:30 - 16:00 Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

While “fake news” – in essence, false or misleading information that is presented as fact-based news – is not an entirely new phenomenon, it has gained unprecedented prominence with the widespread adoption of digital media. In times of deep fakes, “truthiness” (a term coined by Steven Colbert), and images of the Pope donning a Balenciaga puffer jacket, telling facts from fiction, truth from misinformation is becoming increasingly difficult. At the same time, websites such as The Onion (or the Austrian equivalent, Die Tagespresse), which are decidedly satirical in nature, showcase the creative potential that a lack of clearly defined parameters for “truth” may hold. In this course, we will delve deeper into these and related topics, exploring them from both theoretical and practical angles.
While the primary thematic focus will be on the two central issues and terms, we will also discuss and revise classic texts of cultural studies (by Stuart Hall, John Storey, and others) that highlight the necessity of critical thinking as a basis of this field of study. Finally, we will engage with the extent to which AI is implicated in the reproduction of existing biases and inequalities, while at the same time discussing how it might be used as a tool in didactic settings, with a view towards increasing students’ critical media literacy and with certain caveats in mind.
The individual sessions of this course will combine classroom discussions, group work, and activities developed by students.

Assessment and permitted materials

Students must fulfill and pass each of the 4 course requirements (term/B-Ed paper, presentation, portfolio, active participation) and score at least 60 points altogether in order to pass this course.

Grading scale:
1: 100-90 points
2: 89-80 points
3: 79-70 points
4: 69-60 points
5: 59-0 points

The course requirements will be discussed in detail during the first session.

The use of AI is only allowed in connection with developing specific teaching materials (also materials that may be critically evaluated and discussed in the B-Ed/term paper), but not for the writing of the term/B-Ed paper or any part of the portfolio as such.

(It is possible to write your B-Ed thesis in this course - I will explain the exact procedure + additional ECTS in the first session!)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

• Active participation in class discussions: 20 points
• Presentation (teaching activity): 20 points
• Portfolio (3 tasks relating to the teaching activity and/or term/B-Ed paper): 15 points
• Term paper/B-Ed paper: 45 points

Examination topics

This is an interactive course with continuous assessment ("prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung"). In addition to handing in the portfolio and term/B-Ed paper, participants are expected to read all set texts and actively participate in class throughout the semester as well as hand in tasks and assignments on time.

There will be no written exam.

Reading list

Primary materials that we will work with will be provided during individual sessions, either by me or by students in connection with their teaching activity.

Theoretical texts will include individual articles as well excerpts from key publications - among them, Johan Farkas and and Jannick Schou, Post-Truth, Fake News and Democracy: Mapping the Politics of Falsehood; Goering and Thomas (eds.), Critical Media Literacy and Fake News in Post-Truth America; Stuart Hall, "The Work of Representation"; John Storey, Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction; Julie Frechette, "Keeping Media Literacy Critical during the Post-Truth Crisis over Fake News".

A complete list of materials (and instructions on how to access them) will be provided in the first session. The eLearning platform Moodle will be used in this course.

Association in the course directory

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

Last modified: Tu 12.03.2024 09:26