Political Research Seminar (395-0-22)

Topic

Politics in the Digital Age

Instructors

Susan Sara Monoson-Berns
Office Hours: http://www.polisci.northwestern.edu/people/core-faculty/sara-monoson.html

Meeting Info

Scott Hall 201 Ripton Room: Tues 2:00PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

Technologies that rely on data science and the internet are rapidly re-shaping our world. In this research seminar, students consider a range of normative political issues raised by this complex, fast-changing situation characterized by social media, e-commerce, big data, artificial intelligence and the internet of things. Topics may include how these developments impact how we think about and experience personhood, citizenship, free speech, public discourse, participation, inclusion, bias and inequality. We also address the rise of issues such as data rights and disinformation. The first half of term class meetings address common materials (readings and viewings). The second half of the class is devoted to the development of individual student research projects. The project's final submission can take the form of a 2500-word research paper, expository writing enhanced with links and illustration, a video or audio essay. All students will give two oral presentations on their projects. The first one (midway through the term) will cover the student's choice of topic to be investigated and the other (last two days of in-person classes) will report on the content of the product to be submitted during exam week).

Teaching Method

Seminar

Class Materials (Required)

Cathy O'Neil, Weapons of Math Destruction
Nicolas Carr, The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains
Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism

Access to other reading and some viewing (interviews, film, websites) will be on canvas.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for Political Science students who are Juniors or Seniors