Universität Wien

410005 SE From Tombstones to AI. Methodological reflections on the production, function and use of texts (2023W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 41 - Historisch-Kulturwissenschaftliches Doktoratsstudium
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: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Attention: This course is only suitable for students with a qualification corresponding to the course description. In case of doubt, please clarify with the course instructor whether you are able to participate in the first unit. Bachelor students are not admitted and will be deregistered if necessary.

  • Monday 09.10. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Monday 23.10. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Monday 06.11. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Monday 20.11. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Monday 04.12. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Monday 08.01. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Monday 22.01. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

There has been much discussion about the production of texts as a cultural practice. What has long been considered an unquestioned prerequisite of thinking in the humanities, the inseparable link between human action and the creation of texts, has become questionable through the development of AI programmes.
Regardless of whether bleak or optimistic visions of the future are attachted to them, the disciplines of historical and cultural studies, which all work with texts in one way or another, are challenged by this radical technological change to rethink their concepts of textuality. In everyday practice, we have so far generally assumed an understanding of text as a stable fact over time. In the humanities and cultural studies, too, authorship and originality, consistency and readability play an important role in the analysis of texts which are thought of as fixed. However, the fluidity and anonymity that so preoccupy us in the artificial texts of the present can also be observed in historical texts - letter writer’s guides, anonymous instruction books, transmission through transcriptions and translations are just a few examples here.
In this course, we use the current debate on the achievements of AI as a starting point to reflect on historical and current notions of textuality, practices of dealing with texts in the different disciplines and our own writing strategies. We are looking at both the conditions of production of texts and the specific materialities (from paper to screen) of their fixation. Examples include historical traditions and translations, second-hand texts without authorship as well as texts that only exist as copies, in order to discuss the following and other questions:
- How and in which contexts are texts made readable and understandable?
- What logical, linguistic and representational (sign) rules underlie the production of texts?
- Which rules belong to which text production?
- In what ways are the fundamental assumptions of text production, function and use potentially altered by AI?

Assessment and permitted materials

Continuous assessment of course work. Continuous participation is expected.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Joint work with basic texts, group discussions and short presentations on the reading and on your projects characterise the seminar. Questions about your project that arise in the seminar discussions will be discussed and supervised by us.

Examination topics

We hope for your intensive reading and active participation in the group discussions. We also ask you to prepare short presentations on the readings and on your PhD projects, which should reflect the theme of the seminar.

Reading list

Preparatory literature:
Adamzik, Kirsten (2018): Was ist ein Text? In: Karin Birkner und Nina Janich (Hg.): Handbuch Text und Gespräch. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter (Handbücher Sprachwissen, 5), 26–51.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 29.08.2023 10:28