Programme

The course deals with the critical sociological analysis of "digital media" and "platform capitalism" that seem to represent the paradigm of contemporary societies and cultures. Between utopias and dystopias, while promising freedom, participation and democracy, they constitute themselves as "machines of differences" that reinforce multiscalar inequalities and disparities.

The course is divided into three parts.

In the first part, introductory, after the clarification of the notions of "digital revolution", "network society" and "social media", we will review the fundamental stages of technological innovation in the history of advanced capitalism and the main theoretical approaches of the socio-anthropological field.

In the second part, of a general nature, the economic, political and cultural dimensions of the "networked society" will be analyzed. Particular attention will be paid to the analysis of "learning processes" and "self-construction" and, more generally, to the analysis of "knowledge workers" and forms of "value extraction" through "digital platforms".

In the third part, a monographic study - of a laboratory type - the relationships between digital media, learning processes and transmedia practices of young people will be addressed, through the participation of students in field research activities.

central themes of the course (organized in teaching units of about three hours):

1. Network society, Social media
2. Stages of technological innovation and affirmation of digital capitalism
3. Theoretical approaches to digital media
4. Digital Platform Economy, Click Work,
5. Digital divide, access and control
6. Information, public opinion, politics, participation
7. Digital cultures, the individual on the net, learning, identity, relationships, flips
8. Learning from the network, digital learning environments
9. Digital media and educational processes (formal and informal): transmedia skills and informal learning strategies.
10. Methodological approaches for the analysis of digital media.
11. 1. Laboratory monograph: learning platforms
12. 2. Laboratory monograph: learning platforms

for non-attending students:
• 1. volunteering cultures: social communication models;
• 2. cultures of volunteering: the forms of Participation.

Core Documentation

1. Adam Arvidsson e Alessandro Delfanti, Introduzione ai media digitali, il Mulino.
2. Antonio Casilli, Schiavi del clic, Feltrinelli.

Reference Bibliography

• Deborah Lupton, Sociologia digitale, Pearson. • Giorgio Griziotti, Neurocapitalismo, Eleutera, Milano. (gratis in rete) • Tiziana Terranova, Cultura network. Per una micropolitica dell’informazione, Manifestolibri, Roma • Roberto Ciccarelli, Forza lavoro. Il lato oscuro della rivoluzione digitale, DeriveApprodi, Roma. • Benedetto Vecchi, Tecnoutopie, DeriveApprodi, Roma.

Type of delivery of the course

for the general theoretical section: traditional teaching modules, with the aid of video and documental materials; for the themes of monographic study: - seminars, presentation of researches and volumes, interventions by experts; - promotion of laboratory activities (analysis of databases and digital platforms, research work, documentation, ethnographic observation).

Attendance

the course does not include compulsory attendance

Type of evaluation

The assessment of learning outcomes will cover: 1. knowledge of the thematic nuclei indicated by the programme 1.1. (see objectives and contents of the programme) 2. particular attention will be paid to the assessment of knowledge: 2.1. of the sociological paradigms of reference, 2.2. of theories on the information society 2.3. the role of digital media in social processes (social change, identity, learning, access, collaboration, control, power, 2.4. the online-offline relationship and transmedia use 3. In addition, both the skills of: 3.1. linguistic and communicative; 3.2. use, formally correct, of the categories of analysis used (e.g. socialization, social learning, digital media, attention economy, digital work informationalism, ...); 3.3. macro/micro sociological analysis of contexts, actors and processes; 3.4. critical evaluation of the theoretical approaches underlying the interpretative models and explanations, both of social problems and of the proposals for intervention; 4. both the capacities of: 4.1. correctly formulate problems and set up surveys and research; 4.2. identify solutions to problems inserted in broader and interdisciplinary contexts; 4.3. integrate knowledge and make judgments even with incomplete data; 4.4. learn and research independently