Media in Mutation
Code
711011032
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Ciências da Comunicação
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
José Bragança de Miranda
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) Analyze how technique became an essential element toward the understanding of media
mutation, particularly through the perspectives of Georges Simondon and Martin Heidegger.
b) Evaluate the relevance of some contemporary theories on media muttion, with a special
attention to Friedrich Kittler, Régis Debray, David Bolter, Lev Manovitch and Vilém Flusser.
c) Demonstrate a deep knowledge, with the help of specific methodologies, of some case
studies centered on media such as photography, press, cinema, and also new digital media. In
this academic year, a special attention will be given to the theories of Walter Benjamin.
d) Be able to provide valid arguments on the need of a general critical stance towards economy,
being the media on of its main operators.
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
1.Introduction
2.Technique as an operator of media mutation
3.Contemporary theories of media mutation
4.Case study: The methodology of Walter Benjamin
5.Conclusion: Towards the need of a general economy
Bibliography
Georges Simondon : «Genése de lObject technique» in Du Mode d´Existence des Objets Téchniques, Paris, Aubier.
Martin Heidegger: «A questão da técnica» in Essais et Conférences, Paris, Gallimard
Friedrich Kittler: «Preface and Introduction to Gramophon, Typewriter, Film»
Régis Debray: «Quest-ce que la médiologie?»
Jay David Bolter: «The double logic of remediation»
Lev Manovitch: «New Media from Borges to HTML»
Teaching method
Oral exposition of the syllabus (70%)
Text comentary
Presentation of media materials (images and videos)
Incentive to the oral participation of the students (30%)
Tutorial orientation (during office hours, outside class)
Evaluation method
A critical review of one of the texts in the syllabus bibliography
A written test.