Teaching Plan Information

Presentation

This course belongs to the subject “Theoretical and Methodological Foundations" and aims to analyze the theoretical and scientific consequences of the transition from a broadcasting-centered to a networking-centered media ecosystem. During the course, the students will critically review the most relevant analytical categories, models, and theories applied in the study of interactive media, platforms, and digital culture in general (sociology of networks and actor-network theory, media ecology, media evolution, political economy of network communication and digital labor, mediatization theories, interface theory, etc.). In addition, the course will include a reflection on phenomena like the theoretical fragmentation of media and communication studies or the creative processes behind theoretical production.

Associated skills

Basic competences

BC6. To possess and understand knowledge that lays the groundwork or opportunity for being original in the development and/or application of ideas, often in a research context.

BC7. For students to know how to apply the knowledge they have acquired and solve problems in new or little-known environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.

BC8. To be able to integrate knowledge and deal with the complexity of making judgements based on information that may be incomplete or limited, including reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities associated with the application of their knowledge and judgements.

BC9. For students to know how to communicate their conclusions and knowledge and the ultimate reasons underpinning them to specialised and nonspecialised audiences in a clear, unambiguous way.

BC10. For students to possess learning skills that enable them to continue studying in a way that may largely be self-directed or autonomous.

General competences

GC1. To analyse the digital and emerging media, as well as the cultural phenomena around them, using a critical sociocultural perspective with suitable theoretical and methodological development.

CG2. To design, develop and assess a basic, applied or practice-based research process and transform the results into contributions that are of interest to society.

Specific competences

SC1. To use the main theories, approaches and methodologies needed to analyse and assess digital culture and the emergence of new media.

SC2.  To design and carry out a basic, applied or practice-based research project on the digital culture sector and the emerging media.

SC3. To analyse data obtained from applying qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods within basic or applied research.

SC4. To analyse digital culture and the emerging media and the practices associated with them, addressing their communicative, social, political, technological, and economic dimensions.

SC5. To design information based on data and infographics to facilitate the analysis and understanding of complex phenomena.

SC6. To develop scholarly contents in different media and formats for both specialised and nonspecialised audiences.

SC7. To conceive, make prototypes of and assess interactive digital works for different systems (PC, mobile phones, online and offline) in the field of informative, persuasive, artistic, narrative, or entertaining communication.

SC8. To assess the potential of applying the theories, methodologies, concepts, and results of one’s own research to underpin decision-making in the professional field.

SC9. To assess the current state of the scholarly study of digital culture and the new media, formulating hypotheses geared at conducting relevant research in the corresponding field or subfield.

Cross-sectional competences

CC1. To develop the ability to assess inequalities on the basis of sex and gender in order to design solutions.

CC2. To collaborate actively on teams to reach objectives shared with other individuals or organisations.

CC3. To assess and apply fundamental ethical considerations when conducting research projects.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will be able to identify, compare, analyze and produce their own theoretical frameworks for the analysis of any kind of phenomenon or process related to interactive digital communication.

Sustainable Development Goals

#SDG4 (Quality Education)

#SDG5 (Gender Equality)

#SDG10 (Reduced Inequality)

Prerequisites

No prerequisites.

Contents

1.    The transformations of the media ecosystem: From broadcasting to networking, and from 'new' media to platforms.

2.    Theories of communication: Between fragmentation and digitization. Theoretical production as a creative activity.

3.    New theoretical perspectives: Sociology of science and technology. Actor-network theory. New materialisms.

4.    New theoretical views: Political economy of network communication and digital labour. Platform studies.

5.    New theoretical perspectives: Theories of mediatization.

6.    New theoretical perspectives: Media Ecology.

7.    New theoretical perspectives: Media Evolution.

8.    New theoretical perspectives: Interface theory.

Conclusions: Theoretical challenges.

Teaching Methods

TM1 - Expository method or master class: to transmit knowledge and activate the student's cognitive processes through unidirectional learning.

TM2 - Case study: to will analyze case studies of investigations to apply the procedures presented in the course.

TM3 – Problem and exercise solving: to exercise, rehearse and put into practice previous knowledge

TM5 - Cooperative learning: to promote an active and significant knowledge learning process in a cooperative way.

TM6 - Flipped classes: transference of certain learning processes outside the classroom to later develop activities, related to the subject, in the classroom.

Evaluation

SE1 Oral presentation

SE4 Peer assessment or co-assessment

SE5 Evaluation of projects and exercises

To pass the course, students must pass the following three parts:

• Oral presentation and poster: to make a poster comparing two concepts, authors, theories or theoretical schools (work in pairs): 40% (approval: 20/40).

• To analyze a journalistic text dedicated to media / communication technologies and identify the underlying theory(ies) (individual work): 20% (approval: 10/20).

• Final work: to define one or two research objectives and write a theoretical framework to support that study (individual work or in pairs): 40% (approval: 20/40).

Bibliography and information resources

Unit 1 - The transformations of the media ecosystem: From broadcasting to networking, and from 'new' media to platforms.

• Scolari, C.A. (2009). Mapping conversations about new media: the theoretical field of digital communication. New Media & Society, 11(6): 943-964.
• Scolari, C.A. and Rapa, F. (2018). Media Evolution. Buenos Aires: La Marca.

Unit 2 - Theories of communication: Between fragmentation and digitization. Theoretical production as a creative activity.

• Swedberg, R. (2014). The Art of Social Theory. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5.
• Waisbord, S. (2019). Communication: A post-discipline, Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons. Chapters 1, 2 and 5.

Unit 3 - New theoretical perspectives: Sociology of science and technology. Actor-network theory. New materialisms.

• Latour, B. (1999a). On recalling ANT. In: J. Law and J. Hassard (eds.) Actor Network and After. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, pp. 15-25.
• Law, J. (1999). After ANT: complexity, naming and technology. In: J. Law and J. Hassard (eds.) Actor Network and After. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, pp. 1-14.
• Parikka, J. (2015). A Geology of Media. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. Chapter 1.

Unit 4 - New theoretical views: Political economy of network communication and digital labour. Platform studies.

• Poell, T., Nieborg D., van Dijck, J. (2019). Platformisation. Internet Policy Review, 8(4)
• Srnicek, N. (2017). The challenges of platform capitalism. Understanding the logic of a new business model. Juncture 23(4): 254-257
• Trottier, D. and Fuchs, C. (2014). Theorising social media, politics and state. An introduction. En: D Trottier y C. Fuchs (eds.) Social media, politics and the state. Protests, revolutions, riots, crime and policing in the age of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. New York: Routledge.

Unit 5 - New theoretical perspectives: Theories of mediatization.

• Scolari, C.A. y Rodríguez-Amat, J.R. (2018). A Latin American Approach to Mediatization: Specificities and Contributions to a Global Discussion About How the Media Shape Contemporary Societies. Communication Theory 28(2): 131-154.
• Scolari, C.A. (2022). Between social semiosis and mediatizations: Toward a dictionary of Eliseo Verón’s theoretical contributions. In: Y. Miike y J. Ying (eds). The Handbook of Global Interventions in Communication Theory. New York: Routledge, pp. 269-283.

Unit 6 - New theoretical perspectives: Media ecology.

• Postman, N. (1998). Five things we need to know about technological change. Conference in Denver, CO, 1998.
• McLuhan, M. and Fiore, Q. (1967). The Medium is the Massage: An inventory of effects. Corte Madera, CA: Gingko Press.
• Scolari, C.A. (2022). Evolution of the media: map of a discipline under construction. A review. Profesional de la información, 31(2), e310217.

Unit 7 - New theoretical perspectives: Media Evolution.

• Scolari, C.A. (2013), Media evolution: emergence, dominance, survival, and extinction in the media ecology. International Journal of Communication 7: 1418-1441.
• Scolari, C.A. (2022). Evolution of the media: map of a discipline under construction. A review. Profesional de la información, 31(2), e310217.

Unit 8 - New theoretical perspectives: Interface theory.

• Scolari, C.A. (2019). How to analyze an interface. Barcelona: UPF.

Unit 9 - Conclusions: Theoretical challenges.

• Waisbord, S. (2019). Communication: A post-discipline, Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons. Chapters 1, 2 and 5.

Basic bibliography

• Bollmer, G. (2019). Materialist Media Theory. London and New York: Bloomsbury Academic.

• Couldry, N. & Hepp, A. (2016). The Mediated Construction of Reality: Society, Culture, Mediatization. Cambridge: Polity.

•  Fuchs, C. (2017). Social Media: A Critical Introduction. London: Sage.

•  Innis, H. (2007). Empire and Communications. Lanham, MA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

• Latour, B. (2005). Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Law J. y Hassard, J. (eds.) (1999). Actor Network and After. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.

• Levinson, P. (2003). The Soft Edge: A Natural History and Future of the Information Revolution. New York: Routledge.

• Logan, R. K. (2014). What is Information? Propagating organization in the biosphere, symbolosphere, technosphere and econosphere. Toronto: OCAD.

• McLuhan, M. (2003). Understanding Media: The extensions of man. New York, NY: Ginko Press.

• Parikka, J. (2012). What is Media Archaeology? Cambridge, UK: Polity Press.

• Parikka, J. (2015). A Geology of Media. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

• Postman, N. (1998). Five things we need to know about technological change. Conference in Denver, CO, 1998.

• Scolari, C.A. (2013), Media evolution: emergence, dominance, survival, and extinction in the media ecology. International Journal of Communication 7: 1418-1441.

• Scolari, C.A. (2019). How to analyze an interface. Barcelona: UPF.

• Scolari, C.A., Fernández, J.L. and Rodriguez-Amat, J.R. (eds.) (2021). Mediatization(s). Theoretical Conversations between Europe and Latin America. Bristol: Intellect.

• Scolari, C.A. (2022). Evolution of the media: map of a discipline under construction. A review. Profesional de la información, 31(2), e310217.

• Scolari, C.A. (2022). Between social semiosis and mediatizations: Toward a dictionary of Eliseo Verón’s theoretical contributions. In: Y. Miike y J. Ying (eds). The Handbook of Global Interventions in Communication Theory. New York: Routledge, pp. 269-283.

• Srnicek, N. (2016). Platform Capitalism. Hoboken: Wiley.

• Swedberg, R. (2014). The Art of Social Theory. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

• Van Dijck, J. (2013). The Culture of Connectivity. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Van Dijck, J., Poell, T. y de Waal, M. (2018). The Platform Society. New York: Oxford University Press.

• Verón, E. (2014). Mediatization Theory: A Semio-anthropological Perspective. In: K. Lundby (ed.) Mediatization of Communication. Berlin: de Gruyter, pp. 163–72.

• Waisbord, S., Communication: A post-discipline, Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons, 2019.

Información del Plan Docente

Presentación

Esta asignatura, perteneciente a la materia “Theoretical and Methodological Foundations / Fundamentos Teóricos y Metodológicos” se propone analizar las consecuencias teóricas y científicas del pasaje de un ecosistema mediático centrada en el broadcasting a otra centrada en el networking. Durante el cursado se presentarán las principales categorías analíticas, modelos y teorías que se aplican en el estudio de los medios interactivos, las plataformas y la cultura digital en general (sociología de las redes y teorías del actor-red, ecología y evolución de los medios, economía política de la comunicación en red y el trabajo digital, mediatizaciones, teoría de las interfaces, etc.). Además, se analizarán los fenómenos de fragmentación teórica y los procesos creativos detrás de la producción teórica.

Competencias asociadas

Competencias básicas

CB6. Poseer y comprender conocimientos que aporten una base u oportunidad de ser originales en el desarrollo y/o aplicación de ideas, a menudo en un contexto de investigación

CB7. Que los estudiantes sepan aplicar los conocimientos adquiridos y su capacidad de resolución de problemas en entornos nuevos o poco conocidos dentro de contextos más amplios (o multidisciplinares) relacionados con su área de estudio

CB8. Que los estudiantes sean capaces de integrar conocimientos y enfrentarse a la complejidad de formular juicios a partir de una información que, siendo incompleta o limitada, incluya reflexiones sobre las responsabilidades sociales y éticas vinculadas a la aplicación de sus conocimientos y juicios

CB9. Que los estudiantes sepan comunicar sus conclusiones y los conocimientos y razones últimas que las sustentan a públicos especializados y no especializados de un modo claro y sin ambigüedades

CB10. Que los estudiantes posean las habilidades de aprendizaje que les permitan continuar estudiando de un modo que habrá de ser en gran medida autodirigido o autónomo.

Competencias generales

CG1. Analizar los medios digitales y emergentes, así como los fenómenos culturales alrededor de los mismos, a través de una perspectiva sociocultural crítica, y con un desarrollo teórico y metodológico adecuado.

CG2. Diseñar, desarrollar y evaluar un proceso de investigación básica, aplicada o vinculada a la práctica, transformando los resultados obtenidos en aportaciones de interés para la sociedad.

Competencias específicas

CE1. Utilizar las principales teorías, enfoques y metodologías necesarias para analizar y evaluar la cultura digital y la emergencia de nuevos medios.

CE2.  Diseñar y ejecutar un proyecto de investigación básica, aplicada o vinculada a la práctica en el sector de la cultura digital y los medios emergentes.

CE3. Analizar datos provenientes de la aplicación de métodos cualitativos, cuantitativos o mixtos dentro de investigaciones de carácter básico o aplicado.

CE4. Analizar la cultura digital y los medios emergentes, así como las prácticas asociadas a los mismos, abordando sus dimensiones comunicativa, social, política, tecnológica y económica.

CE5. Diseñar información basada en datos e infovisualizaciones, facilitando el análisis y comprensión de fenómenos complejos.

CE6. Desarrollar contenidos de carácter científico en distintos tipos de soporte y formatos, tanto para públicos especializados como no especializados.

CE7. Idear, prototipar y evaluar obras digitales interactivas para diversos sistemas (fijos y móviles, online y offline) en el campo de la comunicación informativa, persuasiva, artística, narrativa o de entretenimiento.

CE8. Evaluar las posibilidades de aplicación de las teorías, metodologías, conceptos y resultados de la propia investigación para sustentar la toma de decisiones en el ámbito profesional.

CE9. Evaluar el estado de la cuestión en el estudio académico de la cultura digital y los nuevos medios, formulando hipótesis orientadas a realizar investigación relevante en el ámbito o subámbito correspondiente.

Competencias transversales

CT1. Desarrollar la capacidad de evaluar las desigualdades por razón de sexo y género, para diseñar soluciones

CT2. Colaborar de forma activa en equipo para la consecución de objetivos comunes con otras personas u organizaciones.

CT3. Valorar y aplicar aspectos éticos fundamentales en el desarrollo de trabajos de investigación

Resultados del aprendizaje

Al final de la asignatura los estudiantes serán capaces de identificar, comparar, analizar y producir sus propios marcos teóricos para el análisis de cualquier tipo de fenómeno o proceso vinculado a la comunicación digital interactiva.

Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible

#ODS4 (Educación de calidad)

#ODS5 (Igualdad de género)

#ODS10 (Reducción de la desigualdad)

Prerrequisitos

No existen prerrequisitos.

Contenidos

1.    Las transformaciones del ecosistema mediático: del broadcasting al networking, y de los ‘new’ media a las plataformas.

2.    Teorías de la comunicación: entre la fragmentación y la digitalización. La producción teórica como actividad creativa.

3.    Nuevas miradas teóricas: sociología de la ciencia y la tecnología. Teoría del actor-red. Nuevos materialismos.

4.    Nuevas miradas teóricas: economía política de la comunicación en red y el trabajo digital. Estudios de plataformas.

5.    Nuevas miradas teóricas: teorías de las mediatizaciones.

6.    Nuevas miradas teóricas: ecología de los medios.

7.    Nuevas miradas teóricas: evolución de los medios.

8.    Nuevas miradas teóricas: teoría de las interfaces.

Conclusiones: desafíos teóricos.

Metodología docente

MD1 - Método expositivo o lección magistral: transmitir conocimientos y activar los procesos cognitivos del estudiante mediante un aprendizaje unidireccional.

MD2 - Estudio de caso: analizar estudios de caso de investigaciones en las que se aplican los procedimientos trabajados en la asignatura.

MD3 - Resolución de ejercicios y problemas: ejercitar, ensayar y poner en práctica los conocimientos previos

MD5 - Aprendizaje cooperativo: fomentar conocimientos activos y significativos de manera cooperativa.

MD6 - Clases invertidas: transferencia de determinados procesos de aprendizaje fuera del aula para luego, hacer actividades vinculadas al tema, en el aula.

Evaluación

SE1 Exposición oral

SE4 Evaluación entre iguales o coevaluación

SE5 Evaluación de proyectos y ejercicios

Para aprobar la asignatura, el alumnado deberá aprobar las tres partes que se divide la evaluación:

• Exposición oral y póster: realizar un póster comparando dos conceptos, autores, teorías o escuelas teóricas (trabajo en parejas): 40% (aprobación: 20/40)
• Analizar un texto periodístico dedicado a los medios / tecnologías de comunicación e identificar la(s) teoría(s) subyacentes en el mismo (trabajo individual): 20% (aprobación: 10/20).
• Trabajo final: definir uno o dos objetivos de investigación y escribir un marco teórico para sostener ese estudio (trabajo individual o en parejas): 40% (aprobación: 20/40).

Bibliografía y recursos de información

Bibliografía obligatoria

Unit 1 - The transformations of the media ecosystem: From broadcasting to networking, and from 'new' media to platforms.

• Scolari, C.A. (2009). Mapping conversations about new media: the theoretical field of digital communication. New Media & Society, 11(6): 943-964.
• Scolari, C.A. and Rapa, F. (2018). Media Evolution. Buenos Aires: La Marca.

Unit 2 - Theories of communication: Between fragmentation and digitization. Theoretical production as a creative activity.

• Swedberg, R. (2014). The Art of Social Theory. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5.
• Waisbord, S. (2019). Communication: A post-discipline, Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons. Chapters 1, 2 and 5.

Unit 3 - New theoretical perspectives: Sociology of science and technology. Actor-network theory. New materialisms.

• Latour, B. (1999a). On recalling ANT. In: J. Law and J. Hassard (eds.) Actor Network and After. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, pp. 15-25.
• Law, J. (1999). After ANT: complexity, naming and technology. In: J. Law and J. Hassard (eds.) Actor Network and After. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, pp. 1-14.
• Parikka, J. (2015). A Geology of Media. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. Chapter 1.

Unit 4 - New theoretical views: Political economy of network communication and digital labour. Platform studies.

• Poell, T., Nieborg D., van Dijck, J. (2019). Platformisation. Internet Policy Review, 8(4)
• Srnicek, N. (2017). The challenges of platform capitalism. Understanding the logic of a new business model. Juncture 23(4): 254-257
• Trottier, D. and Fuchs, C. (2014). Theorising social media, politics and state. An introduction. En: D Trottier y C. Fuchs (eds.) Social media, politics and the state. Protests, revolutions, riots, crime and policing in the age of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. New York: Routledge.

Unit 5 - New theoretical perspectives: Theories of mediatization.

• Scolari, C.A. y Rodríguez-Amat, J.R. (2018). A Latin American Approach to Mediatization: Specificities and Contributions to a Global Discussion About How the Media Shape Contemporary Societies. Communication Theory 28(2): 131-154.
• Scolari, C.A. (2022). Between social semiosis and mediatizations: Toward a dictionary of Eliseo Verón’s theoretical contributions. In: Y. Miike y J. Ying (eds). The Handbook of Global Interventions in Communication Theory. New York: Routledge, pp. 269-283.

Unit 6 - New theoretical perspectives: Media ecology.

• Postman, N. (1998). Five things we need to know about technological change. Conference in Denver, CO, 1998.
• McLuhan, M. and Fiore, Q. (1967). The Medium is the Massage: An inventory of effects. Corte Madera, CA: Gingko Press.
• Scolari, C.A. (2022). Evolution of the media: map of a discipline under construction. A review. Profesional de la información, 31(2), e310217.

Unit 7 - New theoretical perspectives: Media Evolution.

• Scolari, C.A. (2013), Media evolution: emergence, dominance, survival, and extinction in the media ecology. International Journal of Communication 7: 1418-1441.
• Scolari, C.A. (2022). Evolution of the media: map of a discipline under construction. A review. Profesional de la información, 31(2), e310217.

Unit 8 - New theoretical perspectives: Interface theory.

• Scolari, C.A. (2019). How to analyze an interface. Barcelona: UPF.

Unit 9 - Conclusions: Theoretical challenges.

• Waisbord, S. (2019). Communication: A post-discipline, Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons. Chapters 1, 2 and 5.

Bibliografía básica

• Bollmer, G. (2019). Materialist Media Theory. London and New York: Bloomsbury Academic.

• Couldry, N. & Hepp, A. (2016). The Mediated Construction of Reality: Society, Culture, Mediatization. Cambridge: Polity.

•  Fuchs, C. (2017). Social Media: A Critical Introduction. London: Sage.

•  Innis, H. (2007). Empire and Communications. Lanham, MA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

• Latour, B. (2005). Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Law J. y Hassard, J. (eds.) (1999). Actor Network and After. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.

• Levinson, P. (2003). The Soft Edge: A Natural History and Future of the Information Revolution. New York: Routledge.

• Logan, R. K. (2014). What is Information? Propagating organization in the biosphere, symbolosphere, technosphere and econosphere. Toronto: OCAD.

• McLuhan, M. (2003). Understanding Media: The extensions of man. New York, NY: Ginko Press.

• Parikka, J. (2012). What is Media Archaeology? Cambridge, UK: Polity Press.

• Parikka, J. (2015). A Geology of Media. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

• Postman, N. (1998). Five things we need to know about technological change. Conference in Denver, CO, 1998.

• Scolari, C.A. (2013), Media evolution: emergence, dominance, survival, and extinction in the media ecology. International Journal of Communication 7: 1418-1441.

• Scolari, C.A. (2019). How to analyze an interface. Barcelona: UPF.

• Scolari, C.A., Fernández, J.L. and Rodriguez-Amat, J.R. (eds.) (2021). Mediatization(s). Theoretical Conversations between Europe and Latin America. Bristol: Intellect.

• Scolari, C.A. (2022). Evolution of the media: map of a discipline under construction. A review. Profesional de la información, 31(2), e310217.

• Scolari, C.A. (2022). Between social semiosis and mediatizations: Toward a dictionary of Eliseo Verón’s theoretical contributions. In: Y. Miike y J. Ying (eds). The Handbook of Global Interventions in Communication Theory. New York: Routledge, pp. 269-283.

• Srnicek, N. (2016). Platform Capitalism. Hoboken: Wiley.

• Swedberg, R. (2014). The Art of Social Theory. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

• Van Dijck, J. (2013). The Culture of Connectivity. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Van Dijck, J., Poell, T. y de Waal, M. (2018). The Platform Society. New York: Oxford University Press.

• Verón, E. (2014). Mediatization Theory: A Semio-anthropological Perspective. In: K. Lundby (ed.) Mediatization of Communication. Berlin: de Gruyter, pp. 163–72.

• Waisbord, S., Communication: A post-discipline, Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons, 2019.