L.008.32440 Data and Data Societies From the 19th to the 21st Century

Lehrende: Dr. Christina Flotmann-Scholz

Veranstaltungsart: Vorlesung

Orga-Einheit: Anglistik/Amerikanistik

Anzeige im Stundenplan:

Semesterwochenstunden: 2

Unterrichtssprache: Englisch

Min. | Max. Teilnehmerzahl: - | 32

Kommentar:
Data and Data Societies from the 19th to the 21st Century
Although it is frequently ideologically encoded as completely unprecedented, the contemporary data-hype does in fact have its antecedents. Enlightenment beliefs in rationality and objective truths, for instance, necessitated the systematic collection and ordering of (new) knowledge, famously exemplified by Denis Diderot’s Encyclopedia.
During the nineteenth century, the interest in collecting and storing data increased and became evident in the multitude of newly developing museums and libraries as well as the first massive censuses of the population.
In the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries the fascination and preoccupation with data was accelerated by the invention of personal computers, the internet and, most recently, the social networks.
In the seminar we will trace these developments from their beginnings until today. We will approach contemporary phenomena which are pertinent to data collection such as Artificial Intelligence or Big Data and try to define relevant terms such as Data Society or Data Economy to get a better understanding of the ways in which the large-scale contemporary collection of data works and what some of its functions are. We will also look at different functions of and attitudes towards data collection to find out which ideologies form the basis of the visions and concerns of advocates and detractors of ‘Data Society’.
In the first half of the seminar, we will mainly read theoretical texts on the development of Data Societies as well as the relevant terms and concepts mentioned above. In the second half, we will then look into representations, including excerpts from Dave Eggers’ novel The Every, Alex Garland’s film Ex Machina, and/or TV series such as Black Mirror). I will make all textual materials available on PANDA. However, depending on whether we will be able to meet on site or will have another online-semester, you might have to find ways to watch the films/episodes from TV series to be discussed. I will, however, let you know in advance whether this will be necessary so that you will have enough time to get hold of the respective copies.