Fall 2021 - CMNS 487 E100
Special Topics in Communication (4)
Class Number: 6291
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 8 – Dec 7, 2021: Thu, 5:30–8:20 p.m.
Vancouver
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Instructor:
Sun Ha Hong
sun_ha@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
Depends on topic; published before enrollment.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Intensive analysis of a particular topic in communication and/or attention to the work of a particular writer or school of thought. This course can be repeated for credit up to a maximum of three times, if topic studied is different.
COURSE DETAILS:
Surveillance Society
Surveillance is not limited to the familiar nexus of cops, terrorists and authoritarianism. Rather, surveillance describes the broader principle of social sorting, by which people are divided into different categories – whether in terms of targeted online advertising, or calculations of credit scores or welfare eligibility. The expansion of such surveillance is at the heart of new information technologies, and the promises of big data and artificial intelligence.
This course examines surveillance as a fundamental aspect of communication / information technologies. We will draw on key historical examples, theories, and plenty of contemporary debates. From 18th century prisons to COVID tracking apps, John Rockefeller’s credit score to Yelp and Uber driver ratings, we will examine how surveillance is not simply about detecting bad behaviour, but generating the societal norms by which we are governed. As Michel Foucault put it, it is a question of conduct of conduct.
If you have any questions about the course content / setup during enrolment, I’d be happy to chat – just email me at sun_ha@sfu.ca
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
We will learn together about the human and social implications of emerging surveillance technologies, from facial recognition for policing to online proctoring. In the process, we will learn to make use of scholarly research across surveillance studies, communication, and other fields, and to connect that research to concrete human consequences. We will learn how to situate these new developments in longer histories of classification, judgment and control. We will practice conceptualising and executing an independent research project that critically examines these issues.
Grading
- Weekly Participation 30%
- Final Project - Proposal 15%
- Final Project - Presentation 15%
- Final Project 40%
NOTES:
Grading breakdown above is provisional and subject to change.
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
No textbooks required. All readings will be listed on syllabus & available online via instructor.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2021
Teaching at SFU in fall 2021 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with approximately 70 to 80 per cent of classes in person/on campus, with safety plans in place. Whether your course will be in-person or through remote methods will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes. You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).
Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required. You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.
Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the fall 2021 term.