Not the Daily Show

Final Group Web Project

Due Friday, December 7, 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM, LLA 223: (1000-2000 words)

Your final group project will be on a topic chosen by your group relating to the issues raised in Lessig's Free Culture and will be presented to the class during our regularly scheduled final exam period.

Each group will focus on one specific web site that deals with copyrighted digital content such as YouTube, Pandora, Flickr, LastFM, GarageBand, iTunes, MySpace, GoogleBooks, MarvelDigitalComics, NetFlix, BitTorrent or any of the many, many other sites you may find. Making explicit and substantive use of Lessig, you will examine the ways in which current copyright laws are impacting these sites and the services they offer and suggest specific policy changes that might better serve the various interests involved.

Your group will publish online and then present to the class for discussion your particular case study, arguments, conclusions, and recommendations using an online medium or combination of mediums: blog posts, web pages, youtube video, podcast, or other online form/s. Be clear, creative, specific, focused, and complete in your exposition.

Post the address of your group project to your individual class blogs.

Groups:
1. Jackie K., Laura P., Kyle M., Cara P.
2. Billy S., Heather W., Chiara C.
3. Claire M., Mark C., Billy C.
4. Kevin H., Lauren C., Eric K.
5. Adrian T., Mouse, Jeff P.
6. Colby B., Jud S., Link
7. Jessica O., Emily K., Randy C.

Code Monkey

Third Web Writing Assignment

Due Tuesday, 10/23 (1000-2000 words):

"What are we thinking about when we think about computers?" (Turkle 47). Pick one specific text, character, representation, TV commercial, print advertisement, film, TV show, software, game, or other cultural artifact dealing with computers and analyze and explore the ideas it conveys about computers and our relationship to computers. Compare and contrast those representations with one of the science fiction portrayals we have discussed in class: 2001, Blade Runner, Neuromancer, or The Matrix. Making substantial use of Sherry Turkle's Life on the Screen, explore how these portrayals might affect the way we think about and interact with computers, with each other, and even with ourselves. Please use MLA bibliographic style for any works cited.

Post your paper as a Web page (or pages). Think carefully about how to best articulate the thesis and themes of your paper as a Web page (or pages) through your use of appropriate links, graphics, etc. You will be graded on both your writing and Web design. When you are finished, post a link to your paper on your blog.

Please also bring a printed copy of your paper to hand in to me in class, or put a copy in my box.

Computers of the Future

This is a pretty funny, if perhaps apocryphal, viral video found by Mark on a 1960's vision of computers today.

Second Web Writing Assignment

Due Thursday, 9/13 (750-1500 words):

Write an essay reflecting on the creation of your new blog in light of our readings from both Vannevar Bush and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

How does the internet in general, and your blog in particular, fit into the very different visions of the relationship between technology and society expressed by these two authors? Does the internet and blogging seem to you like a realization of Bush's dream of the memex? Or is it more like the insidious threat to social and domestic life Hawthorne sees in his new-fangled wood stove? Or is it something else entirely?

Take a clear position and argue for your view making specific use of both articles. Please use MLA bibliographic style for all works cited.

Post your essay as an entry in your blog using links and graphics as appropriate.

Please bring a printed copy of your paper to hand in to me in class, or put a copy in my box.