The Platform Society
People
Course director
Description
Digital technologies, networked communication and online platforms have transformed how we interact with each other, how media companies operate, how knowledge and content is produced and distributed, and how decision-making is organized. But what does actually change when contents are searched and shared online? In order to understand the role of media technologies and of ICTs in current societies, in this course the following topics are discussed: characteristics and functions of networked communication, platforms and current platform ecosystem; key media changes and the role of data and datafication.
Objectives
The main aim of the course is the development of skills that are necessary
- to understand trends and changes in current media environments and media economies and
- to critically assess academic and media discourses about these shifts.
In the course we will discuss
- relationships of media change and socio-cultural & political change and rise of platforms
- characteristics, functions and constraints of platforms
- current platform ecosystems
- examination of key changes to media from the rise of platforms, including music and video gaming industries
- data, datafication and their uses
Teaching mode
In presence
Learning methods
The course will be structured into lectures led by Professor Hibberd. Sessions will be accompanied with power point presentations.
Students must attend class for at least 60%. Teachers will not provide alternative teaching materials beyond online teaching materials presented in class.
Examination information
The final grade will be composed of the results achieved by students:
- One 2500-word essay (70% of the final evaluation)
- In class presentation of one key issue related to course (20% of the final evaluation)
- In-class participation (60% minimum) (10% of the final evaluation)
Required Material
- Burgess, A. Marwick, & T. Poell (Eds.),(2018) The SAGE handbook of social media. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi,
- van Dijck, J., Poell, T., & de Waal, M. (2018). The platform society. Public values in a connective world. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Education
- Master of Arts in Italian Language, Literature and Culture, Lecture, Cinema and Audiovisual Futures, Elective, 2nd year
- Master of Science in Communication and Economics in Corporate Communication, Lecture, Thematic Area: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Common Good, Elective, 2nd year
- Master of Science in Communication and Economics in Corporate Communication, Lecture, Thematic Area: Crossmedia, Transmedia and Multimodal Communication, Elective, 2nd year
- Master of Science in Communication and Economics in Corporate Communication, Lecture, Thematic Area: Visual and Material Culture, Elective, 2nd year
- Master of Science in Communication and Economics in Corporate Communication, Lecture, Thematic Area: Cinema and Audiovisual Futures, Elective, 2nd year
- Master of Science in Communication and Economics in Marketing and Transformative Economy, Lecture, Thematic Area: Crossmedia, Transmedia and Multimodal Communication, Elective, 2nd year
- Master of Science in Communication and Economics in Marketing and Transformative Economy, Lecture, Thematic Area: Visual and Material Culture, Elective, 2nd year
- Master of Science in Communication and Economics in Marketing and Transformative Economy, Lecture, Thematica Area: Corporate Social Responsibility, Elective, 2nd year
- Master of Science in Communication and Economics in Marketing and Transformative Economy, Lecture, Thematic Area: Cinema and Audiovisual Futures, Elective, 2nd year
- Master of Science in Communication in Media Management, Lecture, 1st year
- Master of Science in Communication in Media Management, Lecture, Thematic Area: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Common Good, Elective, 2nd year
- Master of Science in Communication in Media Management, Lecture, Thematic Area: Crossmedia, Transmedia and Multimodal Communication, Elective, 2nd year
- Master of Science in Communication in Media Management, Lecture, Thematic Area: Visual and Material Culture, Elective, 2nd year
