To apply what you are learning in this course to an analysis of public narratives about technology that appear in the media.

PAPER INSTRUCTIONS
Purpose: To apply what you are learning in this course to an analysis of public narratives about technology that appear in the media.

Topic: You may choose any brief media text that deals with technology (eg. newspaper/magazine articles, advertisements, editorial cartoons). If you choose one that is particularly short, you may also choose a second one. The text you choose should be recent, having been released within the last two years (2019-2021).

Format: The assignment should be between 1750-2000 double-spaced, typed words (Times New Roman, 12 Font). You may use any styleguide you would like as long as it is consistent throughout. Ensure that your writing is clear so as not to compromise the value of what you are trying to say. Further, be sure and cite all sources that are not your own, both in text and on the reference page. You should be incorporating course material into the analysis.

Evaluation: You will be evaluated on the content and depth of the analysis. The overall clarity and flow of the writing. The quality of writing. The strength and accuracy of the concepts/theories you apply to your analysis and how effectively you use the literature to support your points.
For some more context, here are some topics/issues we have talked about in class
Technology as Society
Broader definitions to account for the close interplay with society
Technology as an agent of change which can control and alter humanity
Technology becomes the world
Technology as Practice
Not just the sum of artifacts but a system involving organization, procedure, symbols, new worlds and mindsets – Ursula Franklin (1992)
Technology as Material Substance
Primarily defined as consisting of technical components
This is a very materialistic approach and creates the perspective that technology is “a radical other to humanity”
Digital Colonalism
political technologies – person-made systems that appear to require or to be strongly compatible with particular kinds of political relationships. (ie: Long Island Overpass)
Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) – relevant social groups play a role in the development by sharing a similar meaning about it
Feminists have drawn attention to users – in the potential problematic consequences for women with tech but also through the neglect of women in historical accounts of technology
Need to include a critical approach about the social and cultural constraints
here are complex configurations of power and knowledge that are involved in configuring user identities – eg: biomedical research
How is tech an agent of power and control
The medium is the message (Mcluen – Canadian): Medium is more important than the message (The content is irrelevant because the medium is the things that changes our minds)
Gender scripts in particular help us understand how technologies invite or inhibit specific performances of gender identities and relations
Objects may stabilize or destabilize hegemonic (ruling or dominant in a political or social context) understanding of gender
Social forces shape technological innovations
How are users a part of the shaping of new technologies
Society is influencing technology
Holistic vs prescriptive tech
Holistic: In control from the start to wend
Prescriptive: Each step is identifiable and done by different workers
Has been argued that tech is prescriptive rather than holistic
Obviously you don’t have to touch on every issue/topic above – just talk about the ones that you think are relevant to the articles you choose! Feel free to choose any articles of your choice! ** has to be from 2018 or 2019

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