Submit your 9-page draft of your Social Construction of Technology essay on Canvas Friday, 3/22, 11pm!
Plan for Today
- Finish Discussing Neuromancer
- Social Construction of Technology
- Next Week’s Readings–How to access them
Cultural Analysis Cultural Analysis Cultural Analysis
Make sure the essay has at least 3 pages devoted to cultural analysis…yes, make sure the essay has at least 3 pages devoted to cultural analysis. These essays must begin the following way (after some reasonable introduction):
- Identify a cultural value or multiple values
- Explain how that value(s) is pervasive or prevalent in the culture–give examples
- Consider 3 places where this value appears
- American History
- Media, education, Family, or any institution would be a good place to find reinforcement of this value
- Then, after all the previous information, the essay should discuss how the technology you’re covering embodies those values
You should be able to find 3-4 supports for why the writer claims a particular value or ideology is prevalent in the culture they’re focusing on. If you bring up multiple values, that’s fine, but you should still be able to find 3-4 supports for EACH value. If not, you’ll need to incorporate more cultural analysis to fulfill the essay goal of explaining how a technology is a product of the culture from which it comes. Remember, you find prevailing cultural values by noticing what narratives get retold over and over and through your own critical thinking. Commercials, TV shows, films, novels, etc. all hold cultural values, and they can support claims about culture. If you’re stuck, ask yourself global questions to help expand upon our discussions of American Values.
Next Week
Don’t forget to do your Weekly Discussion Post before Friday, 3/22, 11:00 pm. Next week, we’re jumping into AI, so make sure you know what readings to do and where to find them on Canvas.