Exam Tuesday 28 April 815-1115 Tuesday 28 April 815-1115 Make sure you’re registered Make sure you’re registered Please bring your IDs Please bring your.

ExamExamTuesday 28 April 815-1115Tuesday 28 April 815-1115Make sure you’re registeredMake sure you’re registeredPlease bring your IDsPlease bring your IDs5 out of 7 questions5 out of 7 questionsAttentionAttention to what exactly is asked in to what exactly is asked in the questionthe questionYou can use dictionaries (not electronic You can use dictionaries (not electronic ones) but not any other sourcesones) but not any other sources

You need 60 out of 100 points to You need 60 out of 100 points to obtain a passing grade.obtain a passing grade.

If your grade is lower than 60, you If your grade is lower than 60, you will have to take a re-exam. will have to take a re-exam.

Everything we have covered so far is Everything we have covered so far is included in the exam.included in the exam.

Make sure you do the readings and Make sure you do the readings and go over the lecturesgo over the lectures

Go over the theoretical and Go over the theoretical and conceptual models we discussedconceptual models we discussed

Techno determinism vs. social shaping Techno determinism vs. social shaping of technologyof technology

Time-based vs. space-based societies Time-based vs. space-based societies and time-bound vs. space-bound and time-bound vs. space-bound mediamedia

Mc Luhan’s ideas and modelsMc Luhan’s ideas and models Lynn Spigel Lynn Spigel Make Room for TV: Make Room for TV: Make Make

sure you read the chapter I uploaded sure you read the chapter I uploaded on kurstorgeton kurstorget

The rise of the Information Society The rise of the Information Society and Digital Divide (characteristics of and Digital Divide (characteristics of the Info Age)the Info Age)

Factors that influence/exacerbate the Factors that influence/exacerbate the digital dividedigital divide

Cyber Utopias (Karim)Cyber Utopias (Karim)

Utopia - Dystopia and New Utopia - Dystopia and New Media TechnologiesMedia Technologies

Topics of the DayTopics of the Day

Definitions and sub-branches of Definitions and sub-branches of utopiautopia

Notions of “myth” and “propaganda” Notions of “myth” and “propaganda” in relation to our understandings of in relation to our understandings of the “information society” and “new the “information society” and “new media” (the Karim reading)media” (the Karim reading)

Notion(s) of “modernity”Notion(s) of “modernity”

The discursive framework within which The discursive framework within which we understand (or we are made to we understand (or we are made to understand) “our times”:understand) “our times”: The role of globalization and the nation-The role of globalization and the nation-

statestate The role of technology (for economic The role of technology (for economic

progress; wealth; security; comfort; fun; progress; wealth; security; comfort; fun; human reproduction, health; etc. etc.)human reproduction, health; etc. etc.)

The role of the individual The role of the individual

How can the human society reach a How can the human society reach a state of utopia/utopic ideals by way state of utopia/utopic ideals by way of of globalizationglobalization, , technological technological progressprogress, spread of , spread of media media technologiestechnologies and and techno-capitalismtechno-capitalism??

UtopiaUtopia

Means :no (ou)-place (topos)Means :no (ou)-place (topos) Coined by Thomas More (~1516) for Coined by Thomas More (~1516) for

his bookhis book Dystopia means: Dark utopia or Dystopia means: Dark utopia or

negative utopianegative utopia Heterotopia (other place) is an utopia Heterotopia (other place) is an utopia

that brings together real and imagined that brings together real and imagined possibilities. E.g. Cyberspacepossibilities. E.g. Cyberspace

More’s More’s UtopiaUtopia

Based on Plato’s Based on Plato’s RepublicRepublic More’s Utopia describes a place where More’s Utopia describes a place where

there are few laws and no lawyersthere are few laws and no lawyers A communal sharing of all property (we A communal sharing of all property (we

can say it was an early version of can say it was an early version of communism)communism)

There is no misery, poverty or sufferingThere is no misery, poverty or suffering It is a beautiful place like EdenIt is a beautiful place like Eden

Utopian society was uniform Spoke the same language and had the

same customs All the Utopians (men and women) did

agricultural work for some part of the day

The main purpose was to let Utopians have enough free time for personal development

Utopians are anti-war unless necessary

Some see Some see UtopiaUtopia as a longing for the as a longing for the medieval pastmedieval past

Some suggest it was a satire, Some suggest it was a satire, intended to criticize the societal intended to criticize the societal structure of England in those daysstructure of England in those days

Utopias in general…Utopias in general…

Utopias go back a long way in history and Utopias go back a long way in history and many are religious many are religious

Science Fiction oriented utopias date back Science Fiction oriented utopias date back to Renaissance when the new scientific to Renaissance when the new scientific method originated method originated

The Big Bang of utopias: Industrial The Big Bang of utopias: Industrial RevolutionRevolution Due to new technology (railroads, etc.) and Due to new technology (railroads, etc.) and

development scientific method (e.g. evolution development scientific method (e.g. evolution theory)theory)

According to Freud: We all have a tendency According to Freud: We all have a tendency to imagine a Utopiato imagine a Utopia

Techno UtopiaTechno Utopia

Techno utopias and hetero-utopias Techno utopias and hetero-utopias (cyberutopias) take place in the future(cyberutopias) take place in the future

Where there is no death (a recurrent Where there is no death (a recurrent theme in many utopias) and no sufferingtheme in many utopias) and no suffering

Human nature (our biology and Human nature (our biology and perception) is altered by the help of perception) is altered by the help of technology to the point of perfectiontechnology to the point of perfection

Technology offers progress, therefore Technology offers progress, therefore paradiseparadise

And techno-utopia is closely And techno-utopia is closely linked with the idea of being linked with the idea of being

“modern”“modern” And what And what isis modern? modern?

To define modernity…we can To define modernity…we can saysay

Modernity questions traditions and traditional aspects of life

It regards Science and technology Economic prosperity Democracy Reason and rational thinking Urbanism Discipline Secularity

as the cornerstones of contemporary lifethe cornerstones of contemporary life

Cyber UtopiaCyber Utopia

Cyber-utopia is related with techno-Cyber-utopia is related with techno-utopianism and ideas of modernityutopianism and ideas of modernity

TU is an ideology based on the belief TU is an ideology based on the belief that advances in science and that advances in science and technology (and in media technology (and in media technology, of course) will bring a technology, of course) will bring a world in the future with perfect and world in the future with perfect and ideal conditions for everyoneideal conditions for everyone

Karim’s Cyberutopia and Karim’s Cyberutopia and MythMyth

Based on Jacques Ellul’s ideas of myth and Based on Jacques Ellul’s ideas of myth and propaganda in the technological society in propaganda in the technological society in the 50sthe 50s

NATIONNATION WorkWork Happiness (progress=utopia; happiness Happiness (progress=utopia; happiness

through security and techno comfort)through security and techno comfort) Youth (happiness through service to the nationYouth (happiness through service to the nation HeroHero

So…So… Going back to Freud: We all have a Going back to Freud: We all have a

tendency to imagine a Utopiatendency to imagine a Utopia How would you describe year 2107?How would you describe year 2107? What are humans like?What are humans like? Our homes?Our homes? Work places?Work places? Architecture?Architecture? Cars?Cars? And Media??And Media??