Dates: 13.9. - 15.11.
Days/Times: Mondays 12 - 14
Location: U40 room 8 (Notice the change of location!)
Lecturer: VTM Marko Ampuja
marko.ampuja@helsinki.fi
Why have information and information technology become key elements in late modern societies? The aim of the module is to give the students ideas about information society from sociological, economic and communications perspectives, and tools to analyse this development critically. Students will explore the history and nature of information society from a theoretical viewpoint. The course will also take a look at how these developments and ideas are integrated into contemporary discussions of globalization.
Literature:
Webster, Frank (2002):
Theories of the Information Society. 2nd edition. London : Routledge
Examination:
Lectures and essay
Mode of assessment:
Assessment scale: 1, 1+, 2-, 2, 2+, 3- and 3.
Lectures:
27.9. How the information society differs from earlier societies?
4.10. A history of theories of "Information Society"
11.10. Different views on the "Information Society"
18.10. Contemporary Theories: Beck and Giddens
25.10. Contemporary Theories: Lash and Urry
1.11. Manuel Castells and the Network Society
15.11. Themes and issues: Work / Democracy and Digital Divide
The students will pass the course by writing an essay of circa ten (10) pages. (3000-4000 words.) Font-size 12. Line-spacing: 1,5.
The essays are due 7.12.2004. The students are required to leave the essays in printed form to a folder (which has the name of the course written on it), which is located in shelves beside the secretarial office (kanslia) of the department of Communication. Address: Unioninkatu 37.
The students can pick the essay theme themselves, by selecting a topic that was discussed in the lectures; or they can pick an essay topic from a list (see below).