DOM-E5151 - Media and the Environment, Lecture, 13.9.2021-29.11.2021

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Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Acquire knowledge about the political economy of media.
  • Recognize and analyze the environmental implications of media technologies and infrastructures.
  • Investigate and analyze extraction, thermal practices, fabrication, labor and waste in media technologies.
  • Create artistic approaches to question unethical practices in digital culture.

Credits: 6

Schedule: 13.09.2021 - 29.11.2021

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Matti Niinimäki, Samir Bhowmik

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

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    This course is a response to the contemporary discourse of political economy of media and related environmental implications. It tackles the Anthropocene through the lens of media theory, culture and philosophy to understand the geological underpinnings of contemporary media. What are the planetary impacts of technological media? What are the various focuses, entanglements and materialities? The course investigates the topics of extraction, thermal practices, fabrication, labor, and waste as related to cultures of media. Finally, the course examines artistic approaches and methodologies that engage with these materialities, geographies and geologies.

    This course is a follow-up from the Archaeology of Media Infrastructures, and consists of close readings of provided literature, class discussions and critical writings.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    80% attendance and completed assignments are required to pass the course. Short paper based on selected themes as final assignment, and/or artistic projects that demonstrate aspects of the subject.

    In-class Discussion: 30% / Documentation (blog): 40% / Final Project / Article: 30%
    *Students who stay above 50% will Pass.

Workload

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    • Every student will contribute to the blog. You are expected to post every week before start of class a 1 page text (300 words).
    • Read the assigned literature for each class. These can be found from the Syllabus, and as well from myCourses.aalto.fi.
    • Annotate and write a 1 page text. This document may have images / video / links etc. The text can be your reflections, examples, projects, ideas etc. as related to the topic and literature of the week. This may also contain the building blocks of your own final project / article whether it may be a piece of writing, visualization or project.
    • Final writings must also be posted on the course blog.
    • Besides the required documentation, you are free to post anything else related to the subject, that could be useful to you or others.
    • Documentation to the blog will hold a 40% weightage for a pass/fail grade. At least 5 posts out of max total of 8.<

DETAILS

Study Material

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    All study materials can be found in mycourses.aalto.fi and the course blog: https://blogs.aalto.fi/mediainfrastructures/

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

    10 Reduced Inequality

    11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

    12 Responsible Production and Consumption

    13 Climate Action

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021 Autumn I-Spring III

    2021-2022 Autumn I-II

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=DOM-E5151

    Registration for Courses: Sisu replaces Oodi on 9 August, 2021. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-in-aalto-arts

    In Weboodi, at the latest one week before the course starts.

    Maximum 15 students.

Rules of Conduct - Students´ Rights and Responsibilities (in force from 1 August 2020)

Aalto University Code of Academic Integrity and Handling Violations Thereof