1. Providing a theorical background in order to define and understand the emergent media landscape, which is  characterized by the convergence culture and by the impact of the connective techonlogies on the transformation of cultural industry and on the relational and identity practices;
2. Providing a theorical background and a methodology in order to analyze relational and expressive ways connected to new media languages focusing on the Social Networking Sites;
3. Providing a methodology in order to analyze interpretations of digital media and of partecipatory cultures in the digital age.

1. Digital media theories
1.1 Defining digital media
1.2 Socio-technological media evolution: the social shaping of technology paradigm
1.3 Convergence
1.4 Characteristics of digital contents

2. Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) theories
2.1 History and evolution of the World Wide Web
2.2 Defining social media
2.3 Network society: characteristics
2.4 Different perspectives on the Network society

3. Online identity
3.1 Networked intimacy
3.2 Media and reflexivity
3.3 Social media and networked reflexivity
3.4 Networked publics: information seeking, consumption and enterteinment

4. Digital media and participation
4.1 Public sphere and online political participation
4.2 Mediactivism
4.3  Participatory culture
4.4 Pro-am phenomenon and new intermediation strategies

5. Analyzing the Web
5.1 Basics of the Internet Studies
5.2 Big Data and Deep Data
5.3 Qualitative methods: the netnographic approach
5.4 Social networking sites and visual analysis

Students have to reach these goals:
1. Knowledge and understanding of: languages of the new media through a theoratical background, in particulary focusing on dynamics and transformations of the cultural industry, community and identitary dynamics.
1.1. Students reach these basic knowledge attending lessons and studying mentioned textbooks.
2. Use of knowledge and understanding skills: analyzing new media products by given methodology.
2.1. Students reach these skills by tests and laboratory activities during class hours.
3. Judging skills: critical approach on the evolving dynamics of the relation between new media technologies and society, and on present transformations in mediated public interpersonal communication.
3.1. Students reach and demonstrate these skills during debates with the Professor and with the class, during tests and during the preparation of the final exam.
4. Communication ability: students have to interact during the lesson asking questions, exchanging ideas with the collegues and organizing keynotes while tested.
4.1. Students reach these skills organizing discussions and excercises.
5. Learning skills: students have to adopt a critical approach while studying in order to connect theoretical knowledge with empirical analysis, obtaining a personal point of view on the subject.
5.1. Students strengthen these skills debating with the Professor and the rest of the class. 

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Introductional lessons on the relation between media, society and the individual.
Analysis of new media languages. Tests on new media languages.

Students with a computer/Tablet will have free wi-fi access and are encouraged to use it during class excercises in order to obtain a better understanding of online dynamics. 

Attendance

Lesson attending, individual studying, theorical and empirical essay writing.

Course books

1. Boccia Artieri G., Stati di connessione. Pubblici, cittadini e consumatori nella (social) Network Society, Franco Angeli, Milano 2012.
2. Stella R., Riva C., Scarcelli C. M., Drusian M., Sociologia dei new media, Utet, Novara 2014.
3. Boccia Artieri G. (a cura di), Gli effetti sociali del web. FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2015.
4. Lovink G., L'abisso dei social media. Nuove reti oltre l'economia dei like, Egea, Milano, 2016.
From Wikipedia: Contenuto generato dagli utenti, Intelligenza collettiva, Cultura partecipativa, Disintermediazione, Narrazione transmediale, Social Tv. 

Assessment

The exam will be held through an individual interview based on textbooks suggested. The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability in reworking concepts and in argumenting.
Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in depth study; knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate language.
Good grades will be given in presence of:  good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language.
Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.
Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

1. Boccia Artieri G., Stati di connessione. Pubblici, cittadini e consumatori nella (social) Network Society, Franco Angeli, Milano 2012.
2. Stella R., Riva C., Scarcelli C. M., Drusian M., Sociologia dei new media, Utet, Novara 2014.
3. Boccia Artieri G. (a cura di), Gli effetti sociali del web. FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2015.
4. Jenkins H., Cultura convergente, Apogeo, Milano, 2007.
5. Lovink G., L'abisso dei social media. Nuove reti oltre l'economia dei like, Egea, Milano, 2016.
From Wikipedia: Contenuto generato dagli utenti, Intelligenza collettiva, Cultura partecipativa, Disintermediazione, Narrazione transmediale, Social Tv. 

Assessment

The exam will be held through an individual interview based on textbooks suggested. The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability in reworking concepts and in argumenting.
Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in depth study; knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate language.
Good grades will be given in presence of:  good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language.
Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.
Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching assistants:

Manolo Farci - manolo.farci@uniurb.it
Elisabetta Zurovac - elisabetta.zurovac@uniurb.it