This course provides a critical introduction to the ways in which new (digital) technology mediates contemporary cultural production across the Spanish-speaking world. We will begin with a theoretical overview that will address basic questions such as: What is technology? Are digital technologies fundamentally different from prior means of managing and producing knowledge and cultural artifacts? What do quantitative and digital methods reveal - and obscure - when applied to traditionally humanistic domains of inquiry? We will examine a variety of digital humanities projects that respond creatively to contemporary concerns in Spain, Latin America, and within Spanish-speaking communities of the United States. Complementing the analytical component of the course is a hands-on, practical component; by the end of the course, students will have learned the basic skills of social network analysis, mapping with GIS tools, and Wikipedia authorship. While our focus will be on contemporary cultural manifestations, the issues we will grapple with are not new, ranging from fundamental issues of aesthetic value, political (dis)enfranchisement, and ways of understanding the self in relationship to society. Although some of the course readings may be in English, all assignments and in-class discussions will be conducted in Spanish.
Units
3
Grade Basis
Regular Grades