Digital Culture introduces students to shared cultural forms online, including community formation, self-presentation, communication and language, and rituals and celebration. The course (INF2321H: Digital Culture) draws on a range of socio-cultural approaches to the study of digital culture, such as postcolonialism, critical race theory, queer and feminist theory, actor-network theory, cultural materialism, media archaeology, political economy, structuralism, and post-structuralism. The course will also consider the plurality of what “digital culture” can mean, including digital cultures outside of North America, particularly in the Global South, and the relationships between online and offline worlds. Students will gain a nuanced understanding of the historical landscape that led to the emergence of digital culture within the Internet age, with a particular emphasis on the experiences and contributions of marginalized communities. Integrating theoretical perspectives and relevant methodologies, this course will equip students with a toolkit for studying and interpreting digital culture in a changing world.
Prerequisite: INF1501H: Introduction to Culture & Technology
