The course aims to provide students with theoretical and methodological tools for the analysis of Internet languages and cultures. The course will critically analyse current phenomena of digital popular cultures, looking at their aesthetic forms, rhetorical structures and the representations they convey. Particular interest will be placed on the use of humorous and irreverent languages, and on the way in which different online social groups construct the boundary between licit and illicit discourse. Group exercises will be carried out on this topic during the course, in which students will be asked to observe ethnographically the use of humour and irreverence within specific online communities.

1. Online aesthetics and communicative forms

Digital society and cultures
What comes after Web 2.0?
Evolution of online video: from archive to short video ecology
Platformization of cultura production

2. Digital folklore and irriverence

Humour, irreverence, ambiguity of online languages
Introduction to memetic languages
Trash, cringe, cursed, blessed: everyday labelling
 

3. YouTube Freak Show: fame and ridicule online

Shapes of contemporary celebrity
The history of YouTube through ridiculous idols
Analysing online laughing-stocks after YouTube

4. Methods for the analysis of online languages

The design of online qualitative research
Digital ethnography
Content analysis and case study research

5. Group work: Analysis of the digital folklore of online groups

Research design
Tutoring the work

1. Knowledge and understanding: Theoretical and methodological knowledge that will enable students to approach the analysis of digital cultures, with particular attention to the research methods of digital ethnography. 

1.1. Students will acquire this knowledge by attending lectures and seminars, studying the required texts, reading further study material and carrying out group exercises.
 

2. Applying knowledge and understanding: through the ability to analyse current and constantly evolving phenomena with analytical tools from cultural sociology, media studies and internet studies.

2.1. These skills will be acquired through in-class laboratory exercises, group work and discussions on the course's online space.

3. Making informed judgements: students will learn to critically observe phenomena that are part of their everyday digital life, learning to analyse the cultural assumptions and technical affordances that naturalise those phenomena. 

3.1. This critical capacity will be exercised in classroom and in  online discussions on current case studies and in the group work.

4. Communication skills: students are expected to actively participate in the lectures and in the exchange of opinions and materials on the online space of the course, thus acquiring a specific vocabulary and improving their ability to articulate critical reflections.

4.1. Communication skills will be exercised through class discussion, in the online space of the course and in the presentation of group work. 

5. Learning skills: students will be expected to adopt a learning method capable of combining theoretical and methodological tools from the relevant literature with the ever-changing landscape of digital cultures.

5.1. Learning skills will be exercised through classroom discussions, confrontation with fellow students and during group work.

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

Slides, video materials and readings presented or mentioned in the lectures will be made available on the dedicated blended learning platform. Furthermore, the course will make use of a platform (on Discord) where students and the lecturer will post contents in order to map "memetic everyday".

Teaching

In-class lectures, seminars, discussion in class and in the online space (Discord), group work.
 

Innovative teaching methods

Attendance

Study of the indicated texts, participation in class exercises, participation in group work. Students who do not undertake the group work, or who undertake it in a manner considered insufficient, must include an additional text among required readings (details below).
 

Course books

For all students:

Brilli, S. (2023). YouTube Freak Show. Fama e derisione alle soglie dell'influencer culture. Milano: FrancoAngeli. (Chapter 4  not mandatory)

Additionally, for those who do not participate in group work:

Tanni, V. (2023). Memestetica: Il settembre eterno dell'arte (2°edizione). Roma: Nero.

And additional volume chosen from the following:

• Bentivegna, S., Boccia, Artieri G. (2021). Voci della democrazia: Il futuro del dibattito pubblico. Bologna: Il mulino.

• Bolter, J. D. (2020). Plenitudine digitale: Il declino della cultura d'élite e lo scenario contemporaneo dei media. Roma: Minimum fax.

• Cunningham, S., Craig, D. (2021). Social Media Entertainment. Quando Hollywood incontra la Silicon Valley. Roma: Minimum fax.

• Lolli, A. (2018). La guerra dei meme: Fenomenologia di uno scherzo infinito (2°edizione). Orbetello: Effequ.

• Marino, V. (2023). Sei vecchio. I mondi digitali della Generazione Z. Nottetempo.

• Mazzoleni, G., & Bracciale, R. (2019). La politica pop online: I meme e le nuove sfide della comunicazione politica. Bologna: Il mulino.

• Miller, D. (2018). Come il mondo ha cambiato i social media. Milano: Ledizioni.

• Nagle, A. (2018). Contro la vostra realtà: Come l'estremismo del web è diventato mainstream. Roma: Luiss University Press.

• Ricci, O. (2022). L'ultima comunità: I primi vent'anni di Wikipedia. Milano: Ledizioni

• Tralli, L. (2022). Vidding Grrls: Sulle pratiche di genere nei fandom. Milano: Meltemi.

Students wishing to undertake the course in English are invited to contact the lecturer to agree on the specifics of the study programme.

Assessment

Students will be tested through an oral exam based on the texts listed in the syllabus.

Excellent grades will be given for: the student's capacity for criticism and in-depth study; the ability to link the main themes addressed in the course; the use of appropriate language with respect to the specific nature of the discipline.
The following will result in good grades: the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a certain critical ability and the capacity to link the topics discussed: the use of appropriate language.
Sufficient assessments will be obtained by: the student's achievement of a minimal knowledge of the subjects dealt with, despite the presence of some learning gaps; the use of a non-appropriate language.
Negative assessments will be given for: the student's difficulty in orienting himself/herself in relation to the topics dealt with in the texts of the examination; gaps in learning; the use of inappropriate 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

Individual study of the texts in the syllabus and use of the resources available on the Moodle platform.
 

Attendance

Study of the indicated texts.
 

Course books

For all students:

Phillips, W., & Milner, R. M. (2017). The Ambivalent Internet: Mischief, oddity, and antagonism online. Cambridge, UK : Polity.

Additionally, for those who do not do group work:

Bouvier, G., & Rasmussen, J. (2022). Qualitative research using social media. New York: Routledge. (For those who do not do the group work.

Students wishing to undertake the course in English are invited to contact the lecturer to agree on the specifics of the study programme.

Assessment

Students will be tested through an oral exam based on the texts listed in the syllabus.

Excellent grades will be given for: the student's capacity for criticism and in-depth study; the ability to link the main themes addressed in the course; the use of appropriate language with respect to the specific nature of the discipline.
The following will result in good grades: the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a certain critical ability and the capacity to link the topics discussed: the use of appropriate language.
Sufficient assessments will be obtained by: the student's achievement of a minimal knowledge of the subjects dealt with, despite the presence of some learning gaps; the use of a non-appropriate language.
Negative assessments will be given for: the student's difficulty in orienting himself/herself in relation to the topics dealt with in the texts of the examination; gaps in learning; the use of inappropriate 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.