Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/York University/Public Communication and Political Discourse (Fall)

This course addresses political, social and technical aspects of the relationship between information and communication technologies (ICTs) and political discourse.

The extent to which digital ICTs afford opportunities for political communication and political engagement remains unclear. As individuals and organizations seek out these affordances, scholars should investigate the roles ICTs play in these attempts. Furthermore, we must determine what strategies can be implemented to promote normative ends associated with these political technologies, whether these strategies require actions of law, business, activism or otherwise. Technology enthusiasts often assume that new technologies automatically bring about positive change. The skeptics raise similar concerns as they often assume, at the same time, that new technologies automatically contribute to negative results. Within and across political and international contexts, scholars seeking to understand ICT opportunities and drawbacks must address the accuracy of those who champion new technologies and those who criticize them.

In this class, we will discuss the theory and philosophy that informs current discussions of ICTs and political discourse. We will investigate the current scholarship from multiple perspectives. We will address how political discourse is conceptualized and realized in relation to ICT developments, within and across Canadian and international contexts. With the aim of empowering future generations of communication scholars and civically engaged members of society, this course will pursue broader and deeper understanding of the political implications of engaging with digital ICTs.