Course Schedule

How did the early theories of English political economists like Adam Smith and David Ricardo lay the groundwork for later economic thinkers, and how do they influence our understanding of the digital economy today?

"Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844" - Karl Marx

What is Marx’s definition of alienation and where do we encounter it in our daily life?

"From Counterculture to Cyberculture" by Fred Turner

How did the ideals of Web 1.0 compare to its actual development and impact and how did those ideals start to shape the budding digital economy?

Interviews in the social sciences

“The Internet Trap" by Matthew Hindman (Chapters 1 & 3)

How did Web 1.0 redefine the relationship between users and the internet, particularly in terms of economic participation?

Ethical Considerations in Qualitative Research with Sensitive Subjects

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff

How do the emergence of big data and the erosion of privacy contribute to a sense of alienation in the digital economy?

How to Carry Out Great Interviews in Qualitative Research

“10 reasons to delete your social media account" by Jaron Lanier

Asians Wear Clothes on the Internet

How do race and gender dynamics influence the economic and labor aspects of digital fashion blogging?

The Creativity of Artificial Intelligence in Art

How are new technologies changing the way we product content (and art) and how does that change affect the logic of digital economies or labor?

Weaponizing the Digital Influence Machine:" by Ghosh and Scott.

How does the commodification of digital spaces and personal data in online advertising technologies contribute to the alienation of individuals in modern society?

Automating Democracy: Generative AI, Journalism, and the Future of Democracy