Literate Technologies
SIS code(s):
AAALE019AAAALE019B - graded paper
M.A. Level electiveoptional Post-Graduate optional | Credit value
| Teacher David Vichnar | Semester winter |
LITERATE TECHNOLOGIES (Autumn 2018)
David Vichnar, PhD(david.vichnar@ff.cuni.cz)
Office Hours: Mon & Wed 3-3.45 pm (Room 219b)
Optional M.A. Course, Compulsory PhD Course – Programme in Critical & Cultural Theory
Department of Anglophone Literatures and Cultures (Tue 17.30-19.00, Room 111)
DESCRIPTION
It is the aim of this seminar to introduce students from a broad range of backgrounds, and with diverse interests within the philologies, to a set of theoretical and practical issues that accompany any deeper study of language, literature and literacy, and which bear significance beyond the academic domain of literary studies. Through a selective reading of literary and philosophical works, a number of key questions will be addressed: what is language; how does language happen; what makes language possible; how does language define the contours of thought; what is intelligence; is such a thing as artificial intelligence possible; can machines read; what is writing; what are the technological conditions of literacy? The purpose of the seminar is not to assume a philosophical approach to these questions, but to explore how different writers address the question of literacy—within the domain of literature and literary studies, and in accord with changing historical/ technological conditions, in particular since the advent of print media.
SYLLABUS
Oct 2 Introduction: What is Writing?
Oct 9 Sigmund Freud, from Interpretation of Dreams; “A Note on the Mystical Writing Pad”
Oct 16 Ferdinand de Saussure, from The Course in General Linguistics
Oct 23 Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus
Oct 30 Walter Benjamin, “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”; from Illuminations
Nov 6 Jacques Lacan, “The Mirror Stage,” “The Agency of the Letter”
Nov 13 Roland Barthes, Writing Degree Zero
Nov 20 Marshal McLuhan, The Gutenberg Gallaxy
Nov 27 Jacques Derrida, “Structure, Sign & Play”; “Différance”
Dec 4 Buckminster Fuller, Synergetics
Dec 11 Theodor Nelson, Literary Machines
Dec 18 Walter Ong, Orality & Literacy
Jan 8 Reserve/Conclusion
COURSE READER
All of the primary reading will be available from the faculty Moodlesystemfor the students to study as part of their weekly readings.
MAILING LIST POSTING
A mandatory part of your active participation in the course will be a weekly email posting of every student’s individual critical response concerning the week’s primary reading. The student’s email response (around 200 words) needs to be sent to the lecturer’s email no later than Sunday noon, in order to allow the lecturer some time for its processing before next class.
FINAL PAPER
The final seminar paper shall have the scope of 2,500 words (for a non-graded paper), or 4,000 words (for a graded paper) and will be due by the end of January 2018. Individual deadline extensions are possible, but need to be discussed with the lecturer in reasonable advance. N.B. Students need to discuss their final paper topics, bibliography, etc. with the lecturer ahead of the end of the course, i.e. in mid-December.
CREDIT
Students will be given their credit for presence at minimum 10 sessions (of 12
total) and active participation in at least 10 email postings (50%), as well as their final paper (50%). N.B. Due to Departmentalpolicy, only MA students are allowed to enroll for the gradedpaper credit option. N.B. for Erasmus students: you can only enroll for the non-graded/Zápočet credit option; however, should yourhome university demand it, you can consequently receive a “grade” for your overall performance.
