"The Information Society"
Course Syllabus:
Course Outline and Readings
- 1. Week of Jan. 17- Introduction and Course Overview
- Readings: Begin Gibson
- 2. Week of Jan. 24- Stories about the Future
- Readings: (Continue Gibson); Carey; Roszak (Ch 2-5) [begin handing in critiques/questions.]
- 3. Week of Jan. 31- Industrial Society to Information Society: History as Change
- Readings: Naisbitt (Ch 1); Neuman (Ch 2); Uncapher 1 [first paired, ten minute presentation]
- 4. Week of Feb. 7- Redefining Information, Systems and Complexity
- Readings: Weiner ; Shannon & Weaver; Laszlo; van Eenwyk
- 5. Week of Feb. 14- Industrial Society to Information Society: More of the same?
- Readings: Toffler (Ch 4-6); Roszak Ch 9; Robins & Webster; [first short paper due]
- 6. Week of Feb. 21- Redefining the role of the Mass of Mass Communication
- Readings: Neuman (Ch 4-5); Beniger (Ch 8); Hartman (from Ch 8)
- 7. Week of Feb. 28- Redefining Work -1 A Changed Environment
- Readings: Zuboff (Ch 1&2); Naisbitt; Toffler (Ch 15-16)
- 8. Week of March 7- Redefining Work -2 Electronic Homework
- Readings: Toffler (Ch 15-16); Naisbitt (Ch. 8); Clement (217-246); Becker (247-273)
- [Spring Break]
- 9. Week of March 21- Redefining Intellectual Property
- Readings: Bates; Wired Articles [second short paper due Thur.]
- 10. Week of March 28- Redefining Access
- Readings: Roszak (Ch 8); Schiller & Schiller
- 11. Week of April 4- Redefining the role of the Market: Internet: Who should own or organize
the information highway?
- Readings: Gore; Gore 2; Dyson, Gilder etc.; Temin [2 page proposal due Thur.]
- 12. Week of April 11- Redefining Nations 2 - Transnational Corporations
- Readings: Melody; Mowlana (Ch 5); Uncapher 2
- 13. Week of April 18- Redefining Nations 1 - The Nation State
- Readings: Naisbitt (Ch 3); Appadurai; Thompson; [Naisbitt Ch 9 optional]
- 14. Week of April 25- Redefining Communities and Space
- Readings: Naisbitt (Ch 2); Smith; Hannerz; Soja
- 15. Week of May 2- Redefining Thinking
- Readings: Roszak (5, 10); Naisbitt (Ch 10); Clauser [final 2500 word paper due]