CRS 3026: New Media and Cyberculture

Time: 9:30-11:15am, Friday

Instructor: Rochelle Y. H.Yang
Email: rochelleyang@cuhk.edu.hk
Unite:3

The emerging cyberculture is taking place in the contemporary world. With the
invention of the internet, the lifestyles of people around the globe have experienced a quick
and drastic change. New technological inventions often challenge existing social
structures by introducing new rules for social relationship, ethical, educational,
cultural, recreational, economical and political infrastructure of a society.

Digital communication influences how people communicate, interact, shop, learn and
exchange information. While some may argue that the internet has helped improve and spread
the existing cultures, a valid argument may be made for the new internet subculture that has
emerged.

“The world is getting flat”, from mainstream to personal media, dialtone to iphone,
resume to linkedIn or facebook, the focus of discussion is on the evolution, impact
and new development of new media. This course will explore popular topics in new
media with emphasis on social media issues, virtual friendships and social networks,
emergent digital literacy and emoticons, digital arts and creativity, cultural interfaces
on websites, digital marketing, cyber psychology, youtube perfomantivity and
narcissism . Various social phenomena and issues associated with the cyberspace will
be also discussed by students in class.

Teaching/learning activities:

Lectures, tutorials, field trip & online demonstration.

Assessment:

1. Class participation + Assignment 30%

2. Midterm analytical paper 30%
3. Final project 40% (Can be in group or Individual)
Class 1 18th Jan
Introduction to new media
Discussion: The impact of new media in life
Historical perspective: Media before and after 1990s

Class 2 25th Jan

Digital revolution
Web 2.0 and Social Media
Grassroot vs. Elite
Mainstream vs Grassroot news

Reading: Web 2.0: User-Generated Content in Online Communities by Timo Beck

Chapter 1 & 2

Class 3 1st Feb

e-You: On Line Persona
e-Identity and Metaphor; Cyber culture and psychology;
Discussion: False identity on line, Privacy issues

Readings: Digital Ego: Social and Legal Aspects of Virtual Identity.

Jacob Van Kokswijk
Chapter 1,2,3, 4

Class4 8th Feb

Cultural interface and communication
What makes a good interface? Intuitive interface design principles
Usability Analysis
Discussion: Globalization of “i” Culture/iphone/Apple design impact
Assignment #1

**15th Feb: Chinese New Year Holiday

Class 5 22nd Feb

New Media and Economy
Digital marketing and issues
Persuasive Media –e-Advertising
Virtual economical ecology

In class discussion--Present Assignment #1

Assignment #2
Class6___1st March
Technology, Arts and City: Digital imagination (Part I)
Digital arts and creation: art, movie, literature
New media exhibition and digital performances

Class7 8th March

Urban Life: Digital imagination (Part II)
Digital arts and creation: art, movie, literature
New media exhibition and digital performances

Class 8 15th March

Evolution of Computer literacy and e-communication
Emergence of new terms and graphical writing
Case studies

Class 9 22nd March

Guest Speech: To be announced

Final Project guidelines

**29th March--Public Holiday

Class 10 5th April

Beyond Emoticons: Communicative symbols and new social phenomena
Discussion on the latest issues about Computer Mediated Communication(CMC)
Graphical communication and impact by Japanese Manga.
User generative communicative symbols and new social phenomena

Readings: Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters . Julia T. Wood

Chapter 4

Class 11 12th April

e-Learning and future
Childhood development and gaming
Case studies and discussions
Class 12 __19th April
Summary and review

Class 13___26th April

Final Project viewing and discussion

***End

Honesty in Academic Work: A Guide For Students and Teachers

The Chinese University of Hong Kong places very high importance on honesty in academic
work submitted by students, and adopts a policy of zero tolerance on cheating and plagiarism.
Any related offence will lead to disciplinary action including termination of studies at the
University. Students must submit their assignments via the Webpage of the Chinese
University Plagiarism Identification Engine (CUPIDE) http://cupide.cse.cuhk.edu.hk/student .

Although cases of cheating or plagiarism are rare at the University, everyone should make
himself/herself familiar with the content of this website and thereby help avoid any practice that
would not be acceptable.

Section 1 What is plagiarism [ http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/p01.htm

Section 2 Proper use of source material

[http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/p02.htm]

Section 3 Citation styles [ http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/p03.htm]

Section 4 Plagiarism and copyright violation

[ http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/p04.htm]

Section 5 CUHK regulations on honesty in academic work

[ http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/p05.htm]

Section 6 CUHK disciplinary guidelines and procedures

[ http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/p06.htm]

Section 7 Guide for teachers and departments

[ http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/p07.htm]

Section 8 Recommended material to be included in course outlines

 [ http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/p08.htm]

Section 9 Recommended declaration to be included in every assignment handed in

[ http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/p09.htm]

Section 10 Electronic submission of term papers

[ http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/p10.htm]