The course "Digital media" addresses critical issues related in particular to the spread of these media. The original features of these media change the perspectives and tools with which traditional media have been analyzed and interpreted. The course will address these changes with an approach that combines theoretical analysis and the practice of these media with the study of critical tools useful for understanding the social transformations induced by digital media.
Attending students
Lecture notes and course presentations
G. Balbi, P. Magaudda, Storia dei media digitali, Laterza, Bari, 2014
L. Paccagnella, Sociologia della comunicazione nell'era digitale, il Mulino, Bologna, 2020 (Capitoli 1, 4 e 5)
Non-attending students (a text of your choice to be added to those for attending students)
Lecture notes and course presentations
R. Nicoletti, C. Vendi, Introduzione all'ergonomia cognitiva, Carocci, Roma, 2021
M. Delmastro, A. Nicita, Big Data. Come stanno cambiando il nostro mondo, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2019
Recommended readings
C. Garofalo, F. Gallucci, M. Diotto, Manuale di Neuromarketing, Hoepli, Milano, 2021 (Capitoli 1, 2 e 6)
N. Novelli, Le parole di Internet, Pacini, Pisa, 2020
Learning Objectives
- Introduce the concepts of the sociology of communication, with particular reference to digital media
- Train for the understanding of digital media and their effects on individuals and society
- Provide the knowledge and some basic tools to operate in the world of digital media
Prerequisites
Teaching containing the prerequisites (binding and / or recommended):
General knowledge of the Internet, the web and social networks (recommended)
Basic knowledge of Windows and / or Mac OS X and / or Linux operating systems (recommended)
Basic knowledge of the main application software (word processing, images, presentations etc.) (recommended)
Teaching Methods
- Frontal lessons
- Classroom exercises
- Group discussion in the classroom
- Individual works
- Group work
Further information
For attending students the exercises during the course are valid as intermediate tests
The examination program for non-attending students includes the study of a further text in addition to those provided for attending students
Type of Assessment
1) Practical exercises during the course
2) Final oral exam
Course program
Program
1) Introduction to the study of digital media
(socio-technological evolution of media, mediology and communication)
2) Digital media
(definitions, characteristics, analogy / differences with traditional media, etc.)
3) Internet and the WWW
(historical outlines, technological hints, social, economic, cultural impact)
4) Forms and languages of digital media: hypertextuality and interactivity
(definitions, from text to hypertext, the web as hypertext)
5) Forms and languages of digital media: multimedia, transmedia, crossmedia
(definitions, case studies, writing techniques)
6) From web 1.0 to web 2.0 and beyond
(transition, meanings, problems)
7) Social media
(classification, characteristics, methods, identity on the net, mediation vs disintermediation, etc.)
8) Search engines, Deep Web, Dark Web
(information overload, algorithms, obscure areas of the web, risks and opportunities)
9) Content marketing vs Content curation
(definitions, tools, techniques, case studies)
10) Information, misinformation, misinformation
(fake news, debunking, echo chamber, confirmation bias etc.)
11) Frontiers of digital media
(virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, deepfake etc.)