New course offering this Fall in the Department of African-American Studies for those interested in digital media, communications, technology and information studies!
AFRO 498 • Tuesday • 2:00 PM – 4:50 PM
Instructor: Noble, Safiya U. (snoble@illinois.edu)
Credit: 4 hours
Course: Race, Gender and Information Communication Technology
Description: The portrayal of African-Americans with respect to technology has typically been predicated on a "deficit model," placing African-Americans on the "wrong side" of technological innovation, despite their engagements in and contributions to the design, manufacture, production, consumption and disposal of information communication technologies. These narratives stem from the a series of intersecting practices that are technological, commercial, ideological, and discursive, including narratives of the "digital divide". In this course, we will go beyond issues of computer and Internet access to look at race and representation in digital technologies, with additional focus on intersections of gender and class. We will use a critical media studies approach to examine how information technologies affect, and are affected by race, class and gender.
CRN: 60705 (Graduate)
or
60704 (Undergraduate Juniors and Seniors with permission of instructor – contact Safiya U. Noble atsnoble@illinois.edu)