I donât use Canvas for a number of reasons: (1) Canvas is owned by a private equity firm that extracts, collects (!), and monetizes student data; (2) Canvasâs various surveillance tools (what some folks call âcop shitâ) create an adversarial relationship between faculty and students; (3) Because my research deals with public knowledge institutions and prioritizes open-access venues, I aim to embody those same principles in my scholarship and teaching, by making nearly all the resources I create freely available (while still ensuring student privacy); and (4) Because my work argues that aesthetics are integral to how we learn and know things, I try to create a learning space whose design conveys inclusivity and creativity đ¨
You need not purchase any materials for this class. Youâll find everything you need on this open-access class website. Here youâll find our most up-to-date schedule; all course reading / screening material (most of which is freely available on the web, available through PennLibraries; or in a Google Drive folder you can access with your upenn.edu login!); and daily agendas with links to the various platforms weâll use during our synchronous meetings and (occasional) asynchronous interactions. Those platforms include:
- Google Drive, Docs, and Slides: Iâll be sharing my presentations via Google Slides. Weâll occasionally collaborate in class on Google Docs and Slides, and youâll be submitting assignments via Google Docs.Â
- An Optional Space for Asynchronous Communication?: If we decide we need it, we can create a class Google Doc, Slack, or Discord to stay in contact and share resources asynchronously?
- Others: we might use Mural, Hypothesis, Perusall, Voicethread, or other tools if opportunities present themselves. Youâre also welcome to encourage the class to experiment with additional platforms.
ABOUT THE READINGS, SCREENINGS, AND LISTENING EXERCISES
Sometimes the reading lists might look frighteningly long, but youâll find that engaging with each weekâs texts shouldnât take you more than two or three hours. On occasion, Iâll encourage you simply to skim or browse some resources; in those cases, I mostly want you to know those resources exist, and to appreciate the breadth of what they have to offer so you can potentially return to them later. Iâm hoping these materials prove useful for your own research â or inspire a new interest, or introduce you to some cool new stuff, or connect you to a new community! Also, I sometimes recommend videos or podcasts in lieu of written texts. I invite you to walk or lie on your chaise longue or sit in a park or ride your Peloton or row a boat while you watch and listen to these materials đđđŁđđđ§.
I should also say: If youâre accustomed to syllabi that consist of little more than a weekly schedule and a list of readings, our website might look a bit intimidating. Fear not! Most of what you see here is my attempt to provide context and intellectual framing. I explain why Iâve chosen particular texts, and what I hope youâll gain from reading, watching, or listening to them. I offer tips regarding what to focus on. I pose questions that I hope youâll keep in mind as you engage. In short, the voluminous text youâll see below is meant to serve as a friendly guide to your weekly preparations. Itâll ideally make your reading more efficient and meaningful đ
The inclusion of a particular text does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of it. Sometimes I choose provocative texts because theyâre widely cited and itâs good for us to be aware of them, or because they offer a counter-argument, or because Iâm pretty sure theyâll make for good conversation. In short: youâre not compelled to agree with everything you read!
We wonât address all the readings in our in-class discussions. Some readings provide background, and some present interesting illustrations or case studies; we neednât discuss these sorts of texts in-depth â but theyâre still worth your time! They can still inform our discussions, shape your own understanding, and perhaps inspire ideas for your own projects!