124264 KO Critical Media Analysis (2023S)

Content:

Digital media platforms and everyday practices are closely intertwined. Digital platforms not only facilitate a host of our day-to-day activities and interactions, but they also shape and transform how we act. Indeed, it has been argued that “it is a common fallacy, …, to think of platforms as merely facilitating networking activities; instead, the construction of platforms and social practices is mutually constitutive” (van Dijck 2013: 6). In this class, we will explore this reciprocal relationship of digital platforms and social practices with a specific focus on health and illness.

We will discuss questions such as: How are specific diseases represented online, and how do digital media platforms enable certain forms of representation while restricting others? How are ‘invisible’ (and often gendered) diseases made visible? What meanings surrounding well-being and illness are (re)produced on online platforms? How do patients use online platforms to communicate their lived experiences of being ill with one another?

Throughout the semester, we will work with digital channels such as websites, podcasts and social media platforms and look at different diseases (e.g., endometriosis, Long Covid, addiction). We will get to know different analytical concepts that will allow us to study the influence of digital platforms on our understanding and practices of health and illness.

Method:

Students will learn about relevant concepts and theories for our analysis through selected readings. Based on this understanding, students will produce their own examples in-class group discussions. Individual written assignments and group projects will further illustrate that students can implement their knowledge and choose suitable concepts and theories to analyse their materials. Additionally, this course will encourage students to reflect critically on their use of digital platforms and its effect on their understanding of health, illness and well-being.

Learning Outcomes:

In this course, students will acquire the following skills:

Being familiar with relevant analytical concepts and being able to explain these concepts
Being able to choose suitable concepts/theories to analyse and interpret primary sources
Being able to present and communicate findings in an oral presentation and written assignments
Being able to critically evaluate academic texts and knowing how to work with texts to produce their own analysis

Please note that this class may broach sensitive topics and should only be taken if students feel they can work with content on specific diseases.