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Technology, Work, Culture - SOCA2104
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Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
 
 
School:  School of Social Sciences and International Studies
 
 
Course Outline: http://sociology.arts.unsw.edu.au/
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.125 (more info)
 
 
Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: 36 units of credit
 
 
Fee Band: 1 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

An introduction to sociological debates about the relationship between technological innovation, including especially that within the field of communications, and broader aspects of social life. Particular emphasis is placed on the theoretical and practical problems which result when the celebration of technological innovation is regarded as an explanation in itself. Includes an examination of such issues as the sociology of the future (including the future forms of work and leisure), the social role of aesthetic avant-gardism, the post-industrial society and information society (or superhighway) theses, competing conceptions of social change (e.g. technological innovation vs social movements), technological convergence and communications policy, and the social and political environments of policy-making.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:
  • Assess the role of technological determinism in an argument, whether within 'popular' (as in much journalism) or academic writing
  • Understand the difference between technologically determinist and social shaping - and related social theoretical - approaches towards technology
  • In the context of the above, provide a critical analysis of a chosen text or policy issue.

Assessment

  • Tutorial participation and presentation - 20%
  • Review (1500 words) - 30%
  • Essay (2500- 3000 words) - 50%

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