Credits: 3

SCHEDULE

Date and timePlace
9.-30.1.2019 13:15 - 15:00R028/L102
23.1.2019 01:15 - 03:00R028/L102
6.2.2019 13:15 - 15:00R028/Q103
13.2.2019 13:15 - 15:00R028/L101
27.2.-13.3.2019 13:15 - 15:00R028/Q103
20.-27.3.2019 13:15 - 15:00R028/M101
3.4.2019 13:15 - 15:00R028/Q103
8.5.2019 13:15 - 15:00R028/F101
15.-22.5.2019 13:15 - 15:00R028/L102

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation): 

The course is taught by Professor Lily Díaz-Kommonen and guests. We meet every other week during the semester. The credit load is between 3 (min.) to 6 credits (including independent study.) 

Details on the course content (applies in this implementation): 

The course, Topics in Information Visualization and Cultural Analytics seeks to combine humanistic knowledge with new media and visualization theories, practices and strategies with the objective of developing sensitive, critical understanding towards contemporary art and design, science, and technology discourses and developments. The course adopts a thematic perspective that can vary from year to year. Following the previous editions of 2017 and 2018, the main topic for work and discussion is  Mapping the Self.   

Rather than static and monolithic, our notion of the human self can be regarded as a shifting entity, perhaps a structured assemblage that, while being molded by historical and cultural conditions, actively pursues adaptation to a diversity of contexts. In her historical survey on The Human Condition, Hannah Arendt showed how in Western civilisation, the concept of self has changed over time, from within the private confines of the home into the public space of debate and political participation of modern society.[1] For Arendt the notion of self indicates a space of human action and agency.

In our contemporary world of pervasive information and telecommunications technologies and ubiquitous computation devices that monitor our every move, increased attention is focused on the self. Social media network applications for example are faulted with encroaching into our private life and affairs. Yet what is it that we mean when we talk about the self? Is there any way that we could make such notion more visible? And will doing so enable us to device better strategies and approaches for preservation of our boundaries as individuals and citizens with agency?

The course combines lectures with studio sessions and design exercises. We read works related to contemporary media art theory and philosophy, and we watch movies and online documentaries. The course carries a load of up to six credits. The course is a semester-long endeavour:

There are:

•. Five Lecture-presentation sessions (23/01; 06/02; 13/02; 06/03; 13/03)

•. Three studio sessions where participants learn and work with Tableau software (30/01;27/02; 20/03)

•. Two Design Critique sessions (27/03; 15/05)


Lecture-presentations:

1.Introduction to cultural analytics. A presentation about current theories and case studies in the field of Cultural Analytics.(LDK). 23/01

2.Perceptual encoding for visualisation (RV). 06/02

3.The self in art and design (LDK). 13/02 

4.Place as site for humanity, (NS). 06/03

5.Networks of the self in everyday life, (TK). 13/03 


Tutors in the class include: Prof. Lily Díaz-Kommonen, Prof. Rupesh Vyas; Docent Tommi Kauppinen; DA cand. Neha Sayed.



[1]Hannah Arendt was a 20th century political philosopher. Born in Germany where she was trained as a philosopher, she emigrated to the United States in 1940, during the Second World War. Among her most important works are: The Origins of Totalitarianism and The Human Condition. Please consult the Course Materials section for more information about her works.

 


Elaboration of the evaluation criteria and methods, and acquainting students with the evaluation (applies in this implementation): 

The course is an intensive and trans-disciplinary journey. There are seminar lectures, design exercises, presentations and discussion. Participants have the opportunity to design and work on data visualizations that deal with the topic selected from diverse perspectives and using a variety of tools and methods. 

 

Participation is graded. A minimum of 80% attendance is required.


Description

Registration and further information