Honors 353 Syllabus

Texts: Norbert Wiener. The Human Use of Human Beings (HUHB)
Lawrence Lessig. Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace (Code)
Peter Lunenfeld, ed. The Digital Dialectic (DD)

Online: Vannevar Bush: "As We May Think"
N. Katherine Hayles: "Liberal Subjectivity Imperiled: Norbert Wiener and Cybernetic Anxiety"
Lessig at OSCON 2002

Course Description and Goals

This course attempts to look back over the last 50 or so years of communication and information technology in the United States. In particular, we will be looking at the effect of these technologies on American culture. It is surprising how concerned some of the early researchers in communication and information technology were about the cultural impact of their work; Norbert Wiener in particular was so concerned that his theory of Cybernetics would be misused that he published The Human Use of Human Beings to explain the concepts to the layperson, so they could be made aware of the technology were it to be used against them.

It is no coincidence that as early as the 1940s, the science of cybernetics linked communication and control (of machines and human beings). Today, the Internet is the largest communication medium in the world, and many of its users have discovered a sense of freedom in cyberspace. But the root of the term "cyberspace" is Wiener's cybernetics--a theory of control. As with early information technology, the Internet (and digital technology in general) creates new situations in which the old "codes" may no longer apply. And, as Wiener realized in the middle of the 20th Century, those making decisions regarding the uses of these new technologies may not always act in the best interests of the general public.

At the beginning of the 21st Century, we are all aware of the uses and abuses of communication and information technology. This course will look into some of these issues more deeply, and try to trace the development of some of the current debates over communication and control. The debate over digital copyrights, for example, is in many ways a debate over control of information (or access to information): Can information be property?

Although we will be dealing with technical topics such as Information Theory and copyright law, the course readings are non-technical. We will begin with the concept of Cybernetics, popularized by Norbert Wiener's The Human Use of Human Beings, a book he wrote specifically to explain cybernetics to the interested non-expert. Cybernetics, as Wiener and the first generation of computer engineers defined it, is the science of control and communication.

We will then explore how the web has developed in recent years, with particular attention to the various attempts to control and regulate the Web. Lawrence Lessig has written two important books on this subject, as well as numerous articles in popular and legal journals. We will be reading his first book, Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace, which describes four means by which the Internet may be regulated: markets,
laws, social norms, and architecture.

In addition to the two texts above, we will also read essays collected in Peter Lunenfeld's Digital Dialectic, as well as some material available online, such as Vannevar Bush's "As We May Think." The readings will be sequenced roughly historically, but the course is not a history of technology. Rather, I hope to explore the ways in which information technology has been and continues to be a means of communication and control in American (and increasingly) world culture.

Assignments

Two essays (5-8 pages each): The short essays will serve as explorations of specific themes in the readings and class discussions. 25% each

Midterm exam: The midterm will be an in-class essay exam which will cover the material in the first half of the course. 20%

Class presentation: At the end of the semester, each student will make a short (10 minute) presentation to the class. The presentation should illustrate some applications of the themes discussed in the course. The applications may be in the sciences (including computer science and engineering) or the arts (including literature, film, and music). 20%

Annotated Bibliography (in support of the presentation): Each presentation will be accompanied by an annotated bibliography of 5-10 resources. The bibliography should include full citations and a one to two paragraph evaluation of each source. 10%

Grades on the essays will be based primarily on the quality of the writing. I value clear, focused writing with plenty of examples. The audience for the essays will be the class itself, and I expect the papers to be written with this audience in mind.

Grades on the midterm will be similar to the essay grades (clarity, focus, plenty of examples), although I do keep in mind the time limit of an in-class essay.

Grades on the presentation will be based on how well you apply the principles and themes from the course, and how clearly you explain these applications. We will be using an electronic classroom, and I will make a laptop computer and VCR available for the presentations.

Grades on the annotated bibliography will be based primarily on your evaluations of the sources and secondarily on the citations themselves.

I will give all assignments letter grades. I calculate final grades by converting the letter grades to a 100 point scale using the following values:

A note on final grading: You must earn the grade of "C" or better in this course to receive credit for it in Honors and to fulfill this portion of the English composition requirement in General Education. A grade of "C-" or below will not be sufficient to receive credit for this course.

Late Assignments: Late papers will lose one-half letter grade per day unless you make prior arrangements with me.

Revision Policy: The essays may be revised for a higher grade, but they must be substantially revised. You cannot lose a grade by revising, but a higher grade is not guaranteed. I have found that "B" papers (or higher) are often more difficult to revise, since serious revision requires thoroughly changing the essay's structure, and "B" papers usually have a fairly good structure. "C" papers (or lower) often respond more dramatically to revision, since the major changes they require are often more straightforward. I recommend revising "C" papers or lower only. If you plan to revise a "B" paper, please see me beforehand so we can discuss a revision strategy.

All revisions must be turned in by April 21th.

Plagiarism: The GMU Honor code is available online. I will report suspected cases to the Honor Committee.

Schedule

This will likely change as the semester progresses. I'll announce any changes in class, but check here for updates as well.

Last Day to add classes: Feb 3
Last day to drop with no tuition liability: Feb 3
Last day to drop with full tuition liability: Feb 20
Reading Day: May 4
Exam period: May 5 - 13

Week 1 (Jan 21): Introduction to class. Terms and basic concepts: Cybernetics, communication, codes, and control

Week 2 (Jan 26 - 28): Begin Wiener. HUHB Preface, Chapters 1 - 3

Week 3 (Feb 2 - 4): Wiener, HUHB Chapters 4 - 8

Week 4 (Feb 9 - 11): Wiener, HUHB Chapters 9 - 11

Week 5 (Feb 16 - 18): N. Katherine Hayles: "Liberal Subjectivity Imperiled: Norbert Wiener and Cybernetic Anxiety"
1st short essay due Feb 18

Week 6 (Feb 23 - 25): Bush, "As We May Think" (Atlantic Monthly online);
Huhtamo, "From Cybernation to Interaction" (DD 96-110);
Hayles, "The Condition of Virtuality" (DD 68-94)

Week 7 (March 1 - 3): Prepare for midterm exam
Midterm exam March 3 (in class)

Week 8: On Break. No classes.

Week 9 (March 15 - 17): Lessig, Code Chapters 1-5

Week 10 (March 22 - 24): Lessig, Code Chapters 6-8, appendix

Week 11 (March 29 - 31): Lessig, Code Chapters 9-11

Week 12 (April 5 - 7): Lessig, Code Chapters 12-17
2nd short essay due April 7

Week 13 (April 12 - 14): Lessig <free culture> (OSCON 2002 presentation);
Lunenfeld, "Introduction: Screen Grabs" (DD xiv-xxi);
Lunenfeld, "Unfinished Business" (DD 6-21)

Week 14 (April 19 -21): Heim, "The Cyberspace Dialectic: (DD 24-45);
Gigliotti, The Ethical Life of the Digital Aesthetic" (DD 46-63);
Stein, "We Could Be Better Ancestors than This" (DD 198-212)

Week 15 (April 26 - 28): Begin final presentations

Week 16 (May 3): Finish final presentations
Annotated Bibliography due

Honors 353:002 Home| | Dr Taciuch's Home

A+ 100
A 95	C+ 78
A- 90	C 75
B+ 88	C- 70
B 85	D 65
B- 80	F below 60

A+ 4.00	B- 2.67	C- 1.67
A 4.00	B 3.00	D 1.00
A- 3.67	C+ 2.33	F 0.00
B+ 3.33	C 2.00