One of the best ways to see how a society projects its hopes and fears onto technologies, and technological systems, is by looking at the popular culture it produces. In the final paper, therefore, you will apply the skills learned in the course to historically interpret a piece of contemporary popular culture. The goal of the assignment is for you to interrogate and critically assess your primary source and consider the ways in which technologies are portrayed and/or discussed. In doing so, you need to provide an argument that addresses the following (broad) question: In what ways does the piece of popular culture you chose reflect or speak to the ideas and/or themes related to the history of technology and American society/culture? In answering this question, and developing your argument/analyses, you might what to consider some of the following questions:
Does your source explicitly or implicitly reinforce ideas about technological determinism (the idea the technology drives history)? If so, why might this be problematic?
Does the source explicitly or implicitly suggest a progressive narrative about technological change? In other words, does it uncritically presume that new and better technologies will inevitably make society a better place for all people? Here you might think in terms of how race, class, gender, or ethnicity can help you unpack who is understood to be the developers of particular technologies or systems and who is using those same technologies and systems
How is the source historicizing the technologies and technological systems and how might that portrayal be beneficial or problematic? Important point here for those of you interrogating fictional sources: you should not discuss the historical accuracy of how the technologies or systems are portrayed/discussed.
Who is depicted as an important innovator(s) of a particular technology/system in your source and how can you unpack such narratives using materials from the course?
How does the source talk about the innovation of new technologies? Is the source overly optimistic about new technologies or pessimistic? Using what we have learned, why do you think the creators of the source take the stance on innovation that they do?
These are just some examples as to how you might begin to address the central question being asked in the assignment. Just keep in mind the core focus of the assignment: to provide a historically informed, critical analysis of how a technology, technologies, or technological system(s) are discussed and/or portrayed in the popular culture source you chose. Most importantly, have fun with this assignment!
Assignment Parameters
Thesis/argument: the paper has to make a claim that answers the question prompt.
Sources from the Course: the paper must use at least 3 secondary source readings and 1 primary source from the course. These are the minimum needed to get full credit. You are encouraged to use more sources from the course, but it is not required. If you want to substitute course readings with outside readings, you must check with me first.
Historically Informed: the paper must be historically informed. This means that paper needs to use the historical examples from the course drawn from the secondary sources, primary sources, and lectures in supporting your claim/analyses
Papers Analysis of the Popular-Culture Source: the paper must provide analyses of the technology/technologies and/or technological systems portrayed in the source.
Paper Length and Components: the paper must be between 6 8 pages; double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, and 12-point font (Times New Roman or Arial); the paper must have an introduction, evidence supporting the your answer to the question/claim, and a conclusion; the paper must cite readings, primary sources, and lectures when used; the paper must have a bibliography.
Assignment Rubric:
20
Paper answers the question and has a thesis that is a clear and effective
20
Paper uses at least 3 secondary source readings and 1 primary source. Additional course readings can be used
15
The paper effective and clearly summarized the popular-culture source used and the technologies and/or systems portrayed; it is historically informed and effectively demonstrates a grasp of course materials, themes, and ideas
15
The paper provides an effective analysis of the popular cultural source using course readings, primary sources, and lectures.
10
The paper is clearly structure with and introduction; it clearly and effectively uses evidence and examples; and it provides an effective and clear conclusion
10
The paper includes citations and bibliography
10
The paper length is not lower than 6 pages (points will be deducted for papers that are less than 6 pages); it is double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, using 12-point font (Times New Roman or Arial)
I HAVE PROVIDED SOURCES USE THEM PLEASE
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