Technopanics: moral panics about technology

Seminars: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session

Hacking and trolling; mass murders and bullying. What do these have in common? One might say that these are all "deviant" social behaviors, behaviors occurring both online and off, which have purportedly been brought about or exacerbated by our new media environment. Such aberrant behaviors seemingly give us ample reason to fear digital and social media. But is technology to blame? Throughout this course, we will grapple with this question as we investigate how our understanding of new technologies and media is socially shaped and, in turn, how new media might influence our social behavior.

We will begin by studying how similar panics about "old" media (books, film, television and even the written word itself) set historical precedents for these current fears. Along the way we will establish and explore issues embedded in debates about new media including issues of class, gender, youth, sex, and violence. Such topics will be placed in cross-cultural perspective, allowing us to compare the nature of panics over contemporary events and issues—e.g. the Columbine school shootings, cyber-bullying, Japanese otaku, and the Chinese "Human Flesh Search Engine"—occurring within both the United States and East Asia. Students will read essays, keep media journals and watch films pertaining to weekly topics.

*Unless otherwise noted, all written materials must be typed (1 inch margins, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12pt. font)

There is no required textbook for this course. Readings will be made available online or handed out directly in class. You are responsible for completing the readings prior to the class date for which they are assigned.

Please familiarize yourself with MIT's policies on academic integrity. Students will be expected to adhere to these policies at all times.

Additionally, MIT's Writing & Communication Center provides guidelines about how to avoid plagiarism. Please read these in their entirety. Plagiarism is a serious offense and will be treated as such. Any student found to be plagiarizing will receive an automatic "F" on the assignment and may face other consequences.

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