Analysing Digital Culture Course Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is a primary motivation behind Aspirational Labour?

  • To get paid for pursuing one's passion (correct)
  • To become famous without effort
  • To earn a stable salary from traditional employment
  • To gain high social media following

    • Which of the following best describes the concept of influencer creep?

  • The inclusion of promotional practices in traditional jobs (correct)
  • The rise of professional influencers in the workforce
  • The marketing strategies of big tech companies
  • The decline of authenticity in personal branding

    • How do platforms like Spotify affect artists in terms of self branding?

  • They promote artists without requiring self branding
  • They require artists to engage in more labor for less compensation (correct)
  • They simplify the process of self branding
  • They eliminate the need for self branding completely

    • What underlying question does self branding raise about authenticity?

    <p>Is authenticity simply a marketing strategy?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by visibility labour in the context of self branding?

    <p>Enhancing presence through algorithmic optimization and curated personas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'contrived authenticity' refer to?

    <p>A strategic appearance of authenticity that is not genuine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best captures the significance of self branding in today's digital age?

    <p>Everyone participates in some form of self branding.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of self branding, what does packaging oneself involve?

    <p>Presenting oneself as a product with inherent value</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do digital platforms contribute to the spread of memes in culture?

    <p>By enhancing user agency and social context.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by 'visibility labor' in the context of memes?

    <p>Actions that increase the likelihood of memes being recommended by algorithms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by the term 'predatory inclusion' in the context of socio-technical systems?

    <p>Inclusion of diverse categories strictly for corporate interests</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of memes has become more 'embodied' according to recent trends?

    <p>The connection to people's physical bodies and movements.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key element of the future direction of memes?

    <p>Greater emotional and visual connection to identity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which category is considered the 'unmarked user' in socio-technical systems?

    <p>White and male</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does AI typically classify individuals according to the socio-technical systems discussed?

    <p>By analyzing patterns in existing data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does 'weaponised irony' play in the context of memes?

    <p>It subverts traditional marketing approaches.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do recommendation algorithms impact the lifespan of memes?

    <p>They encourage continuous content creation to maintain visibility.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does technological redlining have on marginalized communities?

    <p>It limits exposure to beneficial resources and services</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a defining feature of 'meme marketing' by companies?

    <p>Connecting with consumers through relatable, memetic vernacular.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of 'the coded gaze' in socio-technical systems?

    <p>It reflects the views and biases of those who implement the technology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of AI and discrimination, which factor is considered a traditional system of power?

    <p>Patriarchy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'post-based vitality' refer to in the context of memes?

    <p>The unpredictability and random nature of meme popularity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one reason NTechLab staff resisted the use of their face recognition technology?

    <p>They were concerned about its impact on privacy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does AI utilize to transform human-defined objectives into outputs?

    <p>A set of algorithms and techniques</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the content, how do most employees at NTechLab view their technology?

    <p>As a tool for saving lives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements best describes the way AI systems affect categorised individuals?

    <p>They reinforce existing stereotypes and biases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of reinforcement learning in post-training alignment mentioned in the content?

    <p>To adjust weights through feedback.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'algorithmic imaginary' refer to in the context provided?

    <p>The ways we conceptualize and interpret algorithms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are algorithms perceived in relation to digital culture?

    <p>They are influential and present in various digital platforms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What mindset is suggested to be associated with the advancement of technology, according to the given content?

    <p>A belief in entitlement to future resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is implied about algorithms in their relationship with public discourse?

    <p>They can shape information flow and regulation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'utopia' refer to in the context of digital media?

    <p>An imaginary world with a perfect socio-political system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following accurately captures the sentiment towards face recognition technology as expressed by a former employee of NTechLab?

    <p>It contributes significantly to public safety.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of Tumblr does Cavalcante argue contributes to its identity as a queer utopia?

    <p>The unique features that support diverse expressions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does Yochai Benkler believe we need common-based peer production?

    <p>To enhance collective knowledge and creativity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What concern does Ruha Benjamin raise regarding space travel projects by Musk and Bezos?

    <p>They are examples of harmful dreams of technology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key difference between positive utopia (eutopia) and negative utopia (dystopia)?

    <p>Eutopia is considered better than current society, while dystopia is worse</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What concept plays a significant role in both Benkler's and Cavalcante's descriptions of digital utopia?

    <p>Affordance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is Wikipedia defined according to Yochai Benkler?

    <p>Both an idea and a utility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the core desire expressed in the concept of utopia?

    <p>To construct a vision of a better world collectively</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of hashtags like #Jan25 and #BlackLivesMatter in the context of social media activism?

    <p>They act as rallying points for collective action and awareness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way does connective action differ from traditional forms of protest?

    <p>Connective action primarily relies on social media for mobilization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do motivational captions play in social media activism, particularly on platforms like TikTok?

    <p>They encourage sharing and mobilization for collective action.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The term 'TikTok intifada' refers to what phenomenon?

    <p>The viral spread of content supporting a specific cause among Palestinians.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by the term 'affordances' in the context of communication and media studies?

    <p>The capabilities that technologies offer to users, shaped by their expectations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one impact of the #HometoBilo campaign in Australia?

    <p>It led to over 480,000 Australians signing the movement.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do social media platforms provide visibility for protest movements according to the content?

    <p>They enable access to live updates from protests.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes connective collective action from merely sharing posts on social media?

    <p>It involves engagement through calls to action rather than just sharing content.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Notes from Lectures: Analysing Digital Culture

    • Analysing digital culture involves questioning how digital media are designed, produced, accessed, consumed, and how they communicate about culture.

    What is analysing digital culture?

    • A survey course
    • A critical thinking course, requiring memory work and analysis
    • Not a writing-based course

    Course Schedule:

    • Visual Culture (Weeks 2, 3, 4)
    • Critical Culture (Weeks 5, 6, 7)
    • Frontend (Weeks 10, 11, 12)
    • Backend (Weeks 13, 14, 15)

    First Lecturer: Dr Lucia Bainotti

    • Visual Culture
    • Feminism
    • Gender studies

    Lesson 1: Self-Representation

    • Definitions:
      • Self-presentation
      • Self-branding
    • If you aren't online, you don't exist (contemporary self)

    The Contemporary Self:

    • The self as a reflective project (Giddens, 1991)
    • A flexible personality, constantly adapting to changes in the hope of achieving stability (Whitmer, 2018)
    • The relationship between capitalist accumulation, precariousness, and flexibility of the self in the job market

    Presentation of the Self in the Age of Social Media

    • Self-presentation online is a premeditated display of the self,
    • Individuals consider how their audience might react(Hogan,2010)
      • Pictures/posts on Tinder vs LinkedIn
    • Self-presentation is influenced by the structure/affordances of the platform.

    Self-Presentation Meets Self-Branding

    • Self-branding involves individuals viewing themselves as products to be marketed. (Whitmer, 2019)
    • Self-branding is a set of practices constructing an image of the self, a persuasive packaging and a promotional persona.
    • The self becomes a brand and a product, becoming a source of economic value.

    The Attention Economy

    • The attention economy involves paying, receiving, and seeking the attention of other human beings. (Goldhaber, 2006)
    • This attention is limited and non-replaceable. (Goldhaber, 2006) (Abidin, 2020:82)

    ### Visibility Labour

    • Visibility labor is work that social media users perform to be noticed, including self-posturing and curation of self-presentations. (Abidn, 2006; 2018)
    • This involves accounting for algorithmic visibility

    Algorithmic Visibility

    • Content creators need to be noticed by platform algorithms to be visible to their intended audiences.

    Week 3 - Memes (17th September)

    • Reading Guide:
      • How have memes in digital culture changed?
      • How do platforms shape engagement with memes?
      • Where do internet memes come from?

    Past: Origins, Definitions, Critiques

    • Memes are units of culture (like genes or viruses) that replicate themselves (Dawkins, 1976)
    • Memes seek to copy themselves, a concept that has been rejected by researchers for not considering human agency.
    • Examples include recipes, folk songs, and “The God Meme."

    Week 4 - Exploring Platform Vernaculars and Affordances

    • Affordances: are the possibilities for action that objects offer to people.

    • Affordances mediate between technology features and their outcomes, shaping user action and experiences.

    • Affordances are social constructs.

    • Hidden affordances - are when technology doesnt force people to do things.

    Platform Vernaculars

    • AAVE (African American Vernacular English)
    • Everyday and ordinary communication patterns within a given platform.

    Funeral and Instagram: Death, Social Media, Platform Vernacular

    • Selfies (#sexy)
    • Self-presentation (e.g. formal dress in Western culture)
    • Self-promotion
    • Architectural Detail and Natural Environments (e.g., sky, trees)
    • Platform-specific language
    • How do users adapt to the affordances of the platform to communicate their experiences or create narratives around grief, death?

    ### Week 5 - Digital Activisms

    • Social media as a tool for activism

    Week 3 - Memes 17 September

    • Reading Guide:
      • How have memes in digital culture changed from their inception to now (2024)?
      • Do platforms structure the way we engage with internet memes?
      • Where do internet memes come from?

    Week 2, 10 September 

    •  What is analysed digital culture?
    • definitions: Self-presentation & Self-branding
    • the contemporary self - self as reflective project, flexible personality, relationship between capitalist acc & precariousness

    Week 10 - Algorithms & Fictions

    • Algorithms have a strong hold on public imaginations but are real, socio-technical objects.
    • Algorithms and their function have been fundamentally changed by the rise of AI
    • How are algorithms both codified in a process and something that is performed within social practices

    Week 11 - Al & Discrimination

    • Classifications are used fundamentally in algorithmic systems and processes, and can be based on prejudices
    • Al systems reproduce bias through historical use cases (e.g., the HOLC)
    • Explain how algorithms encode these historical forms of bias in order to produce current outcomes.

    Week 12 - Content Moderation

    • How does content moderation affect different groups on platform?
    • Explain how content moderation serves a role in the platform's business model.
    • What ethical dilemmas are posed (for example, the ethics of speech) through the moderating of platforms?
    • Define how "soft" and "hard" moderation differs

    Week 14 - Platform Labour

    • Context: The rise (and fall?) of the gig economy.
    • What are platform labours and why should we study them?
    • What are labor's characteristics within a platform?

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    Description

    Explore the critical aspects of digital culture in this survey course. Analyze how media shapes our self-representation and understand concepts like self-branding. Engage with topics such as visual culture, feminism, and gender studies under the guidance of Dr. Lucia Bainotti.

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