About this course Syllabus Paper topics Course links Student links Add a link Raves & rants		Spring, 1997 Tu and Th 2-3:50pm, Silsby 28 Wed 4:15-5:05 pm (x) Mark Williams mark.j.williams@dartmouth.edu Office Hours: Wed 1:00-3:00 Wilson 317 x63836 Required Reading Infoculture by Steven Lubar What is History? by E.H. Carr Resisting the Virtual Life James Brook and Iain A. Boal, eds. The Railway Journey by Wolfgang Schivelbusch (recommended) Xerox Reader available at Valley Copy Library Readings (to be announced) Overview This course will introduce a historicized and contextualized understanding of what appear to be the basic component technologies of the impending Information Superhighway: the telegraph, the telephone, the phonograph, motion pictures, radio, television, computers, and new media. We will examine various issues related to the aesthetics, socio-cultural effects, economics, and industrial organization of these media, regarding the development of each individually and in conjunction with one another. A significant leitmotif of the course will be the impact of these media on our notion of and access to "history" itself. (Indeed, the course could more appropriately be called The Histories of the Information Superhighway.) Finally, we will consider how these technologies and media have been represented and deployed in a variety of films, both documentary and fictional/narrative, as a means to discuss their hold on the historical imagination. Assignments Attendance is mandatory, and participation in class discussions including those on our web page is essential to the success of this course (worth 5% of your final grade). The Wednesday "x-hour" classes are required, and will meet as announced. Assignments indicated on the course calendar should be completed before the assigned class session. Additional readings and screenings outside of class will be announced. (If necessary, two pop quizzes will be announced at my discretion. If the class keeps up with the readings and participates in class discussions, there will be no need for these.) Three assignments are due during the first nine weeks of the quarter (one per three-week interval). Two of these will likely be 5-7 page papers on topics to be assigned. A third project will be a paper detailing a contemporary media company, in conjunction with a 15 minute class presentation (schedule to be determined). Portions of completed assignments may appear on the course web-page. Each is worth 15% of your final grade. A 12-15 page research paper is due Monday, May 26. The topic of this paper should be of your own design, but must be cleared with me. Use research and the course readings to relate your topic to the concepts and issues raised in class. This paper is worth 25% of your final grade. A take-home final exam will be worth 25% of your final grade.