B2700 - MEDIA DIGITALI, CAMPAGNE POLITICHE E MOBILITAZIONI SOCIALI

Learning outcomes

The course aims to develop an in-depth knowledge of how political campaigns and social mobilisations develop in highly digitised and increasingly data-driven contexts. Those who participate in the course will be able to: (1) critically discuss the main concepts and different theoretical approaches that have recently emerged in the literature in relation to the use of digital media in political campaigns and social mobilisations; (2) understand how the digitisation and datafication processes typical of our societies intersect with the different practices that support political campaigns and social mobilisations; (3) recognise the challenges and opportunities that different types of digital media bring to the organisation, implementation and maintenance of political campaigns and social mobilisations; (4) evaluate specific cases of political campaigns and social mobilisations in relation to the use of digital media within a broader communication strategy.

Course contents

The course is divided into three parts. The first part presents and discusses some key aspects for understanding the context in which political campaigns and social mobilisations take place, also considering some important characteristics of the social actors that organise and participate in them. The second part examines different types of digital media and technologies and how they are used to support political campaigns and social mobilisations, also discussing some new and emerging forms of activism. This part of the course will also explore the relationship between journalism and activism in the light of the digitisation processes that have developed in recent decades. Finally, during the third part, the group work that those attending the course as participants will have developed during the ten-week course will be presented and discussed. The topics covered each week are listed below. The list of compulsory and recommended readings can be found on the Virtual Platform.

PART 1 - BASIC THEORIES AND CONCEPTS IN THE STUDY OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND SOCIAL MOBILISATIONS

WEEK 1

Day 1: Introduction to the course and formation of working groups

Day 2: Some basic definitions of political campaigns and social mobilisations

WEEK 2

Day 1: The context of political campaigns and social mobilisations: political opportunities

Day 2: The context of political campaigns and social mobilisations: discursive opportunities

WEEK 3

Day 1: Resources and organisational structures of political campaigns and social mobilisations

Day 2: Political campaigns, social mobilisations and collective interpretive frames

PART 2 - MEDIA AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND SOCIAL MOBILISATIONS

WEEK 4

Day 1: Social Media, Digital Platforms and Activism

Day 2: The Logic of Connective Action

WEEK 5

Day 1: Big and Small Data Activism

Day 2: Information Activism and Digital Platforms

WEEK 6

Day 1: Analytical Activism and Big Data

Day 2: Citizen Journalism aka Citizen Journalism

WEEK 7

Day 1: Digital Alternative Media and Journalism

Day 2: Video Activism and Journalism

PART 3 - ALGORITHMS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND SOCIAL MOBILISATIONS

WEEK 8

Day 1: Algorithmic Politics and Visibility

Day 2: Augmented Reality and Political Activism

WEEK 9

Day 1: Generative Artificial Intelligence and Political Mobilisation

Day 2: Democracy in the Time of Generative Artificial Intelligence

WEEK 10

Day 1: Classroom Presentations

Day 2: Classroom PresentationS

WEEK 11

Day 1: Classroom Presentations

Readings/Bibliography

Readings for those attending the course regularly

The compulsory readings will be listed via the Virtual Platform at the beginning of the course. All these readings must be read, understood and studied by the end of the course and in preparation for the final examination.

A person who attends at least 75% of the lectures is considered to be participating in the course. Attendance will be taken in class each day from the second week onwards.

Readings for those who do not attend the course regularly

Those who do not attend the course regularly must read, understand and study

- all the compulsory readings listed in the Virtual Platform

- three other texts to be agreed with the lecturer well in advance for the final examination

Teaching methods

Lectures, analysis of case studies, class discussions, group work, class presentations.

Assessment methods

Methods of assessment and evaluation of learning for those who attend the course regularly

Learning will be assessed through both group work and individual work in order to understand the level of knowledge of the topics covered during the course and the ability to present them coherently in oral form (oral examination), the ability to apply this knowledge to a real-world scenario by developing and presenting a concrete case (group work), and the ability to develop critical reflections in written form on the topic of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the context of social mobilisations and political campaigns (short written paper). More in detail:

Group work

- Elaboration of the communication strategy linked to a political/information campaign on the issue of climate change in Italy to be presented through:

1) a short oral presentation of 15 minutes, also with the support of slides and other materials, during the last week of the course (15% of the final grade);
2) a short 3-5 pages written report to be delivered on the day of the oral presentation (15% of the final grade).

The communicative strategy must also be developed with the help of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools and may include, as elements of the communicative strategy itself, one or more tools based on Generative Artificial Intelligence.

Please note: detailed instructions on group work, class presentation and written report will be given at the beginning of the course, during the first week, and during the course. Grades received for this mode of verifying learning through group work will be the same for each group member. No exceptions will be made and it is up to the group participants to organise their work as best they can, distributing it equally among all.

Individual work

- Short written paper (minimum 2,000 - maximum 3,000 words) reflecting, critically and also from what has been learnt during the course and through the readings, on the use of GenAI in group work and also, more generally, on the opportunities and challenges this brings for organisations organising political campaigns and social mobilisation (20% of the final grade)
- Oral examination covering the contents - duly studied - of the compulsory readings and all the lectures (50% of the final grade)

Teaching tools

Power Point Presentations, Multimedia Content, Virtuale Platform

Office hours

See the website of Alice Mattoni