The University of North Texas, Dept. of Radio-TV-Film

WEB 2.0: THEORIES, RESEARCH, USES & EFFECTS RTVF 4450.004/5660.001 - Topics in Industry Studies

Spring 2013

Tuesdays/Thursday 11:00-12:20, RTFP 180F

Professor

Dr. Jacqueline Vickery

Office Hours: Tuesday 3:30-5:30 and by appointment

Location: RTFP 226

Email: [email protected]

Teaching Assistant

La Shae Leonard

Email: [email protected]

Course Description

This course examines “Web 2.0” from a social and cultural perspective and focuses on how media technologies (re)configure practices of everyday life. We will approach Web 2.0 from a broad definition to encompass social networking sites, mobile technologies and applications, online communities, games, and virtual worlds. The course incorporates the perspectives of various stakeholders including citizens, consumers, industries, policymakers, and governments. This class primarily takes an American perspective but welcomes intercultural and international perspectives as well. In addition to studying and analyzing social and digital media, we will also be actively communicating through and participating in the platforms and networks we study. Students will have the opportunity to simultaneously conduct analytical research as well as create and participate in social media practices.

The objectives of this course are to:

- Offer students the conceptual and analytical tools necessary to examine the real and potential influences of social media

- Provide students with a working knowledge of the development, organization, and operation of different digital media technologies and industries - Highlight the social choices students face as citizens, consumers, producers, and media professionals in their own encounters with Web 2.0 technologies and applications

- Provide students with opportunities to critically engage with social and digital media for the purposes of learning, collaborating, and research

By the end of this course students will be able to:

- Describe how social media enables the formation of community

- Analyze how identity is performed, complicated, complimented, and challenged in/with/through digital media, as well as critically examine how social media affect constructions of youth, gender, race, ethnicity, class, and sexuality

- Assess the commercial uses of Web 2.0 technologies

- Critique debates about ownership, labor, privacy, intellectual property, regulation, civic engagement, and ethics in a digital age

Required Texts

1. The Social Media Reader by Michael Mandiberg (Ed.) (paperback edition); Publisher: NYU Press; ISBN-10: 0814764061 2. Other readings will be made available online or on Blackboard throughout the semester.

Course Assignments & Evaluation

Blog Posts (200 points) There will be a class blog: https://untsocialmedias13.wordpress.com/. You are required to contribute THREE original blog posts (approx. 500 words, 50 points each) and TWO responses (approx. 200 words, 25 points each) to the class blog throughout the semester. Blog posts and responses will be used as a springboard for class and group discussions and will be one of the primary ways that you will engage with assigned readings.

Lead Class Discussion (150 points) As a team, you will prepare to lead class discussion for one class period. Your team will be responsible for covering at least one of the readings from the week, incorporating outside examples, and posing 3-4 discussion questions for the class. Presentations will be 30 minutes. All materials must be submitted to Dr. Vickery by 12:00pm the day before your presentation in order to offer feedback and suggestions.

Midterm Exam (150 points) There will be 1 exam in this class. The purpose is to make sure you have a foundational understanding of concepts, theories, tools, and ideas so you can begin working on your final papers and presentations. The exam will be open note essays that will be completed in class.

Participation (150 points) This course is largely discussion and activity based, therefore participation is expected. All students start with a “D” for participation and must earn points towards their desired grade. Points are earned by a) contributing during class discussions, b) contributing to in-class group work, c) completing in-class assignments, and d) correctly answering reading quizzes. Alternatively, points will be deducted for arriving late/leaving early, sleeping or not paying attention in class, or other disruptive behavior.

Class Twitter (100 points) We will hold an ongoing conversation about our observations of social media in contemporary culture in the form of a class Twitter feed. You may either use your current Twitter username or create one specifically for this course. Tweets should be personal thoughts, insights, questions, responses to readings or lectures, and/or links to relevant material on the web, and should include the course hashtag #RTVFWeb. You will be required to post at least 20 tweets throughout the semester (a maximum of 10 of these may be links). Tallies will be taken at regular intervals to ensure regular participation.

Final Paper or Project (250 points) Choose one: a) Complete an individual paper (1500 words in length) about a theme or digital tool/community of your choice. The paper must include original research and analysis. b) Work with a group of 3-5 students to create a digital media project on one of the course’s themes. The project can be, but is not limited to, a piece of digital film (animation, machinima, mash-up, etc.), a digital game, a wiki, or an app. I am open to other ideas, but you MUST get approval from me. In addition, you will turn in a short report explaining how the project is related to the course. The report will also explain each group member’s role in the project.

Paper and project topics must be related to Web 2.0/digital media/social media and must incorporate theories, concepts, and ideas from the course. You must submit a proposal (approx. 250 words) of your paper or project by February 19. An extended abstract or outline of your paper or project is due April 11. This is for your benefit, to make sure you are on track and to help you identify areas where you may need help. Final papers and projects are due on May 9.

Attendance Policy: You are granted two “free” absences during the semester, no questions asked. Each additional absence will result in a loss of 10 points from your grade. Additionally, you will lose points for arriving late or leaving early. If you experience extenuating circumstances during the semester (e.g. extended illness, death of a close family member, etc.) please come talk to me ASAP.

Late Assignments & Extra Credit: Late assignments will NOT be accepted without prior permission from Dr. Vickery. Throughout the semester there might be opportunities to earn extra credit points. These opportunities will be offered to the entire class and are optional. No extra credit opportunities will be offered on an individual basis, so do not ask. If you are struggling with the course materials then talk to the instructor for additional guidance and resources. Do not wait until the end of the semester to try to salvage your grade.

For Graduate Students Only: Graduate students have different requirements concerning the grade. The Professor will share these requirements and options for the course.

ODA Notification: The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323.

Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is defined in the UNT Policy on Student Standards for Academic Integrity. Any suspected case of Academic Dishonestly will be handled in accordance with the University Policy and procedures. Possible academic penalties range from a verbal or written admonition to a grade of “F” in the course. Further sanctions may apply to incidents involving major violations. Categories of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, forgery, fabrication, facilitating dishonesty, sabotage, turning in the same assignment for more than one class without permission, and any act designed to give a student an unfair advantage on an assignment or in the course. You will find the policy and procedures at: http://vpaa.unt.edu/academic-integrity.htm.

Religious holy days sometimes conflict with class and examination schedules. If you will miss a work assignment or other project due to the observance of a religious holy day you will be given an opportunity to complete the work missed within a reasonable time after the absence. If you are going to miss an assignment, please let me know at the beginning of the semester. Course Schedule & Readings

Week 1: Introduction

January 15 No readings

January 17 - Nancy Baym, “Making New Media Make Sense” (available on Blackboard)

Week 2: What is Web 2.0 & Social Media?

January 22 - Cameron Chapman, “The History of the Internet in a Nutshell” (http://bit.ly/3R5kW8) - Tim O’Reilly, “What is Web 2.0? Design Patterns and Business Models for the Next Generation of Software” (p. 32 in Social Media Reader)

January 24 - danah boyd & Nicole Ellison, “Social Network Sites: Definition, History, & Scholarship (http://bit.ly/e5MlA) - Mark Hopkins, “Just what is social media, exactly?” (Mashable: http://on.mash.to/96KI) - Shea Bennett, “A History of Social Media (Infographic)( http://bit.ly/ViYiua)

Week 3: Collaboration & Participatory Culture

January 29 - Adam Hyde et al., “What is Collaboration Anyway?” (p. 53 in Social Media Reader) - Henry Jenkins, “Interactive Audiences?” (http://bit.ly/VR9Qzw)

January 31 - Henry Jenkins, “Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Media” (pp. 2-11, bit.ly/2bnWVo) - Patrick Davison, “The Language of Internet Memes” (p. 120 in Social Media Reader) - Lane Hartwell, “Wikipedia, The Promise and Perils of Crowdsourcing Content (The Economist, econ.st/h2u9dO)

Week 4: Remix & Convergence Culture

February 5 - Henry Jenkins, “Quentin Tarantino’s Star Wars?” (p. 203 Social Media Reader)

February 7 - Michele Knobel and Colin Lankshear, “The Art and Craft of Endless Hybridization” (Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, http://bit.ly/UbLnGJ) Week 5: Copyright & Intellectual Property

February 12 - Charles Ess, “Copying and Distributing via Digital Media” (available on Blackboard)

February 14 - Lawrence Lessig, “REMIX: How Creativity is Being Strangled by the Law” (p. 155 in Social Media Reader) - Gasser and Ernst, “From Shakespeare to DJ Danger Mouse: A Quick Look at Copyright and User Creativity in the Digital Age” (Berkman Center, download .pdf http://bit.ly/TlOjxo)

Recommended: UNT Copyright Compliance Checklist: http://bit.ly/UXhFWQ Center for Social Media Guide to Fair Use: http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/fair-use

Week 6: Privacy & Publicity in a Networked World

February 19 **FINAL PAPER/PROJECT PROPOSAL DUE** - Susan B. Barnes, “A Privacy Paradox: Social Networking in the United States” (First Monday, http://bit.ly/6E4YJC)

February 21 - Mary Madden, “Privacy Management on Social Media Sites” (Pew Research, bit.ly/Ae9k6Z) - Naomi Troni, “Social Media Privacy: A Contradiction in Terms?” (Forbes: onforb.es/JDjBzt) - Marshall Kirkpatrick, “Why Facebook is Wrong: Privacy Is Still Important” (Read Write, http://bit.ly/XleJCZ)

Recommended: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, “Social Networking Privacy: How to be Safe, Secure, and Social” (https://www.privacyrights.org/social-networking-privacy/)

Week 7: Performing Identities Part 1 - Race, Ethnicity, & Class

February 26 - Jamie Beckland, “Why Mainstream Social Networks Complicate Our Identities” (Mashable, on.mash.to/q9yKSF) - Craig Watkins, “Digital Gates: How Race and Class Distinctions Are Shaping the Digital World” (available on Blackboard)

February 28 - Lisa Nakamura, “Race In/For Cyberspace: Identity Tourism and Racial Passing on the Internet” (http://bit.ly/OFIlc)

Week 8: Performing Identities Part 2 - Gender & Sexuality

March 5 - Tanja Carstensen, “Gender Trouble in Web 2.0: Gender Relations in Social Network Sites, Wikis, and Weblogs” (International Journal of Gender, Science, and Technology, http://bit.ly/b3zNuZ) March 7 - **MIDTERM**

Week 9: Spring Break

No classes and no readings

Week 10: Communities & Fandom

March 19 - Jon Accarrino, “How Social Media Revolutionized ‘Fandom’ Forever” (Definition 6, bit.ly/lfGBM0) - Nancy Baym, “The new shape of online community: The example of Swedish independent music fandom” (First Monday, http://bit.ly/ZHnhi)

March 21 - Megan M. Wood & Linda Baughman, “Glee Fandom and Twitter: Something New, or More of the Same Old Thing?” (Available on Blackboard) Belinda Goldsmith, “Social Media Will Kill Off Armchair Sports Fans” (Yahoo!, yhoo.it/PRliYH)

Week 11: The Networked Self & Digital Reputation Management

March 26 - Mary Madden & Aaron Smith, “Reputation Management and Social Media” (Pew Research, bit.ly/aS3v2J) - danah boyd, “Real Name Policies Are an Abuse of Power” (zephoria, http://bit.ly/ogSf8v)

March 28 - Alice Marwick and danah boyd, “I Tweet Honestly, I Tweet Passionately: Twitter Users, Context Collapse, and the Imagined Audience” (available on Blackboard) - Todd Wasserman, “Should You Combine Your Personal and Business Social Media Identities?” (Mashable, on.mash.to/K1LwnZ)

Week 12: Labor & Ownership

April 2 - Felix Stalder, “Between Democracy and Spectacle: The Front-End and Back-End of the Social Web” (p. 242 in Social Media Reader) - Kerry Gorgone, “Who Owns Your Social Media Content?” (Social Media Explorer, http://bit.ly/W18qa9)

April 4 - Abigail De Kosnik, “Fandom as Free Labor” (available on Blackboard) - John Biggs, “A Dispute over Who Owns a Twitter Account Goes to Court” (NYT, nyti.ms/utJIWx) Week 13: Industry & Economics

April 9 - David Sirota, “Social Media Sites Are Creating a New Dot-com Bubble” (Salon, http://bit.ly/vgfmsK) - Miguel Helft, “Pop Went the Social Media Bubble, Now What?” (CNN Money, http://bit.ly/NExYU1) - Jon Berkeley, “Battle of the Internet Giants” (The Economist, http://econ.st/114xxJU)

April 11 **FINAL PAPER/PROJECT UPDATE DUE** - Shea Bennett, “The Social Media Marketing Industry [Infographic]” (http://bit.ly/WZVa3i) C.S. W, “Beware the Tweeting Crowds” (The Economist, http://econ.st/SXL1mY) - Daniel Schiller, “Web Economics: The Product is You! (Social Media Today, http://bit.ly/O1RNlq)

Week 14: Civic Engagement, Activism, & Journalism

April 16 - Mary Grace Antony & Ryan J. Thomas, “’This Is Citizen Journalism at its Finest’: YouTube and the Public Sphere in the Oscar Grant Shooting Incident” (available on Blackboard)

April 18 - Claire Cain Miller, “How Obama’s Internet Campaign Changed Politics” - Claire Suddath, “Five Reasons the Kony Video Went Viral” (Business Week, buswk.co/FO3pc6) - YPP, “Does the Internet Make for More Engaged Citizens?” (DML Central, bit.ly/Pp77v4)

Week 15: The Social Web beyond America

April 23 - Markus Sabadello, “The Role of New Media for the Democratization Processes in the Arab World” (available on Blackboard)

April 25 - Tolu Ogunlesi and Stephanie Busari, “Seven Ways Mobile Phones Have Changed Lives in Africa” (CNN, http://bit.ly/OXWnZ8) - Jon Swartz, “Social Networking Sites Going Global” (USA Today, usat.ly/wdwpf) - Spend some time exploring Alexa’s top internet sites by country, worldwide, category : http://www.alexa.com/topsites

Week 16: Regulating the Internet

April 30 - John Palfrey, “Four Phases of Internet Regulation” (available on Blackboard)

May 2 - David Glance, “The Slippery Slope of Facebook Regulation” (Technology Spectator, bit.ly/R6rEd0) - Simon Waldman, “Harmful Content on the Internet: Self-Regulation Is the Best Way Forward” (The Guardian, bit.ly/Ofrx7r) - Nate Anderson, “Regulating Google’s Results? Law Prof Calls ‘Search Neutrality’ Incoherent” (Wired, bit.ly/SowQDZ)

Week 17: Finals Week

Final Paper/Project Due & In-Class Presentations - Thursday, May 9, 10:30-12:30