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2020/2021

Theory and History of Communication

Code: 104720 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2503873 Interactive Communication FB 1 1
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Emilio Fernández Peña
Email:
Emilio.Fernandez@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
spanish (spa)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
No
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Teachers

Pedro Molina Rodriguez-Navas

Prerequisites

There is not prerequisits

Objectives and Contextualisation

As a general objective, students will learn to think about interactive communication. Interactive communication is understood as that of the technical devices and programs that are used to communicate the so-called internet protocol. It also includes video games, virtual reality and big data. At the same time, the subject has the following secondary objectives:

a) Know the culture of the internet, computing and social networks

b) Learn its origins, its historical evolution and its influences on people's lives.

c) To deepen in those aspects of interactive communication that go beyond their appearances

Competences

  • Distinguish between and apply the principal theories, conceptual frameworks and approaches regulating interactive communication.
  • Manage time efficiently and plan for short-, medium- and long-term tasks.
  • Search for, select and rank any type of source and document that is useful for creating messages, academic papers, presentations, etc.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Cross-check information to establish its veracity, using evaluation criteria.
  2. Differentiate between the actors of communication structure in new media. .
  3. Distinguish the salient features in all types of documents within the subject.
  4. Interpret and discuss documents on the main theories of interactive communication and communication structure.
  5. Master basic theoretical concepts of communication in new media and its distinguishing features.
  6. Plan and conduct academic studies in the field of theory, history and structure of communication and photography.
  7. Present a summary of the studies made, orally and in writing.
  8. Submit course assignments on time, showing the individual and/or group planning involved.

Content

1. Interactive communication: a definition 

2. The origins of interactive communication 

3. Internet

4. The birth of the World Wide Web

5. Internet Communication Processes 

6. Hackers' Culture

7. The social Internet

8. Apple: a holistic vision

9. Big Data, privacy and application 

 

Methodology

The theory part will be taught through master classes by the professor responsible for the subject. At the same time, the responsible teacher will supervise the work of the students throughout their realization process. The seminar classes will consist of the discussion of readings and the preparation of critical comments of the same that will be delivered on the day scheduled for the seminar. Attendance at all theory and seminar sessions is compulsory. The detailed calendar with the content of the different sessions will be exposed on the day of presentation of the subject. It will also be posted on the Virtual Campus where students can find the detailed description of the exercises and practices, the various teaching materials and any information necessary for the proper monitoring of the subject. In the event of a change in the teaching modality for health reasons, the teaching staff will inform of the changes that will occur in the programming of the subject and in the teaching methodologies.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Theory 33 1.32 2, 5, 7
Type: Supervised      
Essay 92.5 3.7 3, 2, 7, 4
Seminar 15 0.6 1, 3, 4, 8
Tutorial 2 0.08 7, 4

Assessment

Attendance at all theory and seminar sessions is mandatory. In order to be able to attend the the revaluation exam, 
it will be necessary to obtain
more than 3.5 points in the theory exam. To pass the course it will be necessary to
individually pass the theory part and the essay. The teaching method and the proposed evaluation may undergo
some modification depending on the restrictions on attendance that the health authorities impose.
Plagiarism and copying in any exercise of the subject: theory, seminars or work will be sanctioned with a 0 in
the final grade of the subject.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Essay 40% 2 0.08 1, 5, 7, 6, 8
Seminar 20% 2.5 0.1 1, 3, 7, 4, 8
Theory 40% 3 0.12 2, 5, 7

Bibliography

Christakis, Nicholas, & Fowler, James (2010). Conectados : el sorprendente poder de las redes sociales y cómo nos afectan. Madrid : Taurus

Byung-Chul, Han  (2014). En el enjambre / Byung-Chul Han ; traducción de Raúl Gabás. Barcelona : Herder

Byung-Chul, Han (2013). La sociedad de la transparencia. Barcelona : Herder

Fernández Peña, Emilio (2016). Juegos Olímpicos, Televisión y Redes Sociales.  Barcelona: UOC

Fuchs, Christian (2013). Social media : a critical introduction. Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage Publication

Foucault, Michel (1979). Vigilar y castigar : nacimiento de la prisión. Madrid : Siglo XXI. 

Gebser, Jean (2011). Origen y presente. Vilaür, Girona : Atalanta. 

Isaacson, Walter (2011). Steve Jobs : la biografía / Walter Isaacson ; traducción de David González-Iglesias González. Barcelona : Random House Mondadori

Johnson, Steven (2003). Sistemas emergentes : o qué tienen en común hormigas, neuronas, ciudades y software. Turner. 

Jarvis, Jeff (2010). Y Google ¿cómo lo haría?. Barcelona : Gestión 2000.

Himanen, Pekka  (2002). La Ética del hacker y el espíritu de la era de la información / Pekka Himanen ; prólogo de Linus Torvalds ; epílogo de Manuel Castells ; traducción de Ferran Meler Ortí. Barcelona : Destino.

Sloterdijk, Peter  (2012). Has de cambiartu vida : sobre antropotécnica. Valencia : Pre-Textos. 

Tarnas, Richard (2008). Cosmos y psique : indicios para una nueva visión del mundo. Vilaür, Girona : Atalanta. 

Zuboff, Shoshana (2019) The age of surveilance capitalism: The fight for a human future at the new frontier of power. London: Profile Books