Digital Living – Analyzing the Sociotechnical

Digitalization and datafication is ubiquitous in contemporary society, and understanding such processes is therefore key to an analysis of contemporary social phenomena. This elective course provides students in the MA Social Analysis with a critical introduction to digitalization and our contemporary technosociety, combining perspectives from sociology, philosophy, and science and technology studies (STS). Students will be asked to consider important contemporary debates ranging from the introduction of self-driving cars, surveillance culture and the automation of labour to the conception of DNA as code, supported by discussion of foundational sociological texts and STS theory. The focus is on understanding how digital developments impact on our societies, bringing about changes in lifestyle, politics and economy. Relevant perspectives include gender, diversity and democracy. Beyond discussions of specific technologies, in Digital Living - Analyzing the Technosocial we will critically explore how concepts such as smart technology, ambient intelligence or social media are implemented and understood in various contexts.