6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4017043FNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Communication Sciences
Educational team
Leo Van Audenhove (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
42 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
92 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

Early theories on the information society already appeared in the 50 and 60s in the work of Machlup and Porat. These theories were mainly based on the growing role of informational work in society. A milestone in information society thinking was the seminal work of Daniël Bell on post-industrial society in 1973. However, it is only since the 1990s, with the rise of the Internet, mobile phones and the widespread introduction of ICTs, that concepts of the information society became part of common parlance and theories of the information society gained mainstream academic attention. The work of Castells has certainly played an important role in this. Content wise modern concepts of the information society focus more on the role of technology, knowledge, R&D, innovation and datafication in the social and economic structuring of society. This course introduces students to different strands of thinking within the field and combines this with a historical genealogy of the field. The course focuses on a critical engagement with the subject, it therefore also focuses on alternative and more critical conceptualizations of our current society as a surveillance capitalism, datacolonialism or a culture of speed and its consequences.  This course focuses on the joint reading and discussion of original texts. It expects active participation of students.

Additional info

The exact reader will be communicated at the beginning of the course. This is literature that was used in previous years.

Castells, M. (2004) Informationalism. Networks, and the Network Society: A Theoretical Blueprint. In: Castells, M. (ed.) The Network Society. A cross-cultural perspective. Cheltanham: Edward Elgar, pp. 3-48.

Couldry, N., Mejias, U. (2019) The Cost of Connection. How Data is Colonizing Human Life and Appropriating it for Capitalism. Stanford University Press. TBC

Duff, A. (2000) Information Society Studies. Routledge. Chapter 2. Information Sector Version of the Information Society Thesis, pp.19-71.

Lyon, D. (2018) The Culture of Surveillance: Watching as a Way of Life. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Mattelart, A. (2003) The Information Society. An introduction. Sage Publications. Chapter 1-3, 1-71.

Perez, C. (2009) Technological Revolutions and Techno-Economic Paradigms. TOC/TUT Working Paper, 20. Online at www.carlotaperez.org

Scannel, P. (2007) Media and Communication. Sage Publications. Chapter 5. Communication and Technologies: Innis, McLuhan, Canada, 1950s-1960s, pp. 123-144.

Tomlinson, J. (2007) The Culture of Speed. The Coming of Immediacy. Sage Publications. Chapters 3-5, pp. 44-123.

Wajcman, J. (2016) Pressed for Time: The Acceleration of Life in Digital Capitalism. University of Chicago. TBC

Webster, F. (2014) Theories of the Information Society (4th edition), Sage Publications, Chapter 1, pp. 1-37.

Webster, F. (2014) Theories of the Information Society (4th edition), Sage Publications, Chapter 3. Post-Industrial Society: Daniel Bell, pp. 38-76

Zuboff, S. (2019) The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. The Fight for a Human Future at the new Frontier of Power. Profile Books. TBC

Teaching Methods

- Lecture: collective contact-dependent moments during which the lecturer engages with learning materials
- Seminar, Exercises or Practicals (Practical): collective or individual contact-dependent moments during which the students are guided to actively engage with learning materials
- Independent or External Form of Study (Self): independent study

This description of the teaching methods is indicative, in order to assess the expected study load.

This course expects active participation of students. Students consider this course as difficult because it introduces students to the original texts about the information society. Upfront reading and understanding of the texts is essential to be able to participate in the discussions in class.

Practical: 42 hours

  • guided discussion of literature in class: 26 hours (13 x 2 hours)
  • online answer questions on selected literature: 14 hours (7 x 2 hours)
  • final exam in the form of group discussion: 2 hours

Self: 92 hours

  • reading of literature before coming to class: 52 hours (13 x 4 hours)
  • preparation exam: 40 hours (5 days of 8 hours)
Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

  • Students show in-depth knowledge, understanding and insight within the field of communication sciences and in relation to the latest evolutions and discussions at both the national and international level regarding media, internet and globalization.
  • Students demonstrate the ability to critically contextualise and evaluate current national and international developments and discussions, and are able to independently deepen insights related to complex problems on the basis of an original framework of analysis, thereby expanding the theoretical basis related to media, internet and globalisation.
  • Students show an open and constructive attitude whilst having respect for other views and beliefs.
  • Students are open to scientific doubt and societal pluralism. They demonstrate courage, ambition and perseverance in questioning both established insights and alternative points of view.
  • Students act upon an open attitude in a culturally diverse international context. They critically reflect on their own (geographical, social, cultural, local, personal, …) position.
  • Students demonstrate the skill to discuss and debate current societal and scientific topics and theoretical developments related to media, internet and globalisation. The students discuss issues on the basis of critical and substantiated reflections and research findings, open-mindedly and willing to acknowledge other arguments.
  • Students demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit, responsibility, communicative attitude, creativity and the ability to plan, coordinate, supervise and advise. The acquired skills enable the graduates to become independent, responsible, inquiring and reflective professionals.
  • Students are able to independently elaborate, organise, plan and conduct their own original research, interpret its results and groundedly, coherently and convincingly communicate it orally and in writing.
  • Students are able to communicate their point of view in a clear and scientific-grounded argumentation to various target groups. 

After taking this course students should be able to:

  • critically angege with the different theories and conceptualisations of the information society
  • place discussions in their historical context
  • understand the historical development of theoretical discussions

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Oral Exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The final grade is based on an oral exam in the form of a group discussion. 

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Educational Sciences: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Communication Studies: Media and Innovation (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Communication Studies: Digital Media in Europe
Master of Educational Sciences: Standaard traject
Master of Teaching in Social Sciences: communicatiewetenschappen (90 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)