- Docente: Alice Mattoni
- Credits: 8
- SSD: SPS/08
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Media, Public and Corporate Communication (cod. 6766)
Learning outcomes
The course aims to develop an in-depth understanding of how social mobilizations and information campaigns develop in highly digitized contexts, characterized by increasing datafication and the rapid spread of emerging technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence. At the end of the course, participants will be able to: (1) describe and discuss the main concepts and different theoretical approaches related to the use of digital technologies and media in the context of social mobilization and information campaigns; (2) identify and analyze the opportunities and challenges that the use of digital technologies and media poses for the organization, implementation, and maintenance of social mobilizations and information campaigns; (3) evaluate and explain specific cases of social mobilizations and information campaigns based on the use of digital technologies and media in our country and in other parts of the world.
Course contents
The course presents and discusses some key aspects for understanding the context in which social mobilizations and information campaigns develop, also taking into account some important characteristics of the social actors who organize and participate in them. After examining these basic aspects, the course explores the relationship between media, social mobilizations, and information campaigns. It does this by also discussing some forms of activism that make extensive use of media and digital technologies. The course concludes with several lessons dedicated to how different forms of artificial intelligence can be used to support social mobilizations and information campaigns, also discussing the challenges this entails. The topics covered by the course, week by week, are listed below.
WEEK 1
Day 1: Introduction to the course
Day 2: Definition of social mobilizations and information campaigns
WEEK 2
Day 1: Political opportunities
Day 2: Discursive opportunities
WEEK 3
Day 1: Resources
Day 2: Organizational structures
WEEK 4
Day 1: Collective identities
Day 2: Interpretive frameworks
WEEK 5
Day 1: Transnational social mobilizations and information campaigns
Day 2: Consequences of social mobilizations and information campaigns
WEEK 6
Day 1: Mainstream media
Day 2: Alternative media
WEEK 7
Day 1: Social media
Day 2: Connective action
WEEK 8
Day 1: Analytical Activism
Day 2: Data Activism
WEEK 9
Day 1: Video Activism
Day 2: Journalism and Activism
WEEK 10
Day 1: Artificial Intelligence, Part I
Day 2: Artificial Intelligence, Part II
Readings/Bibliography
Required reading for regular course attendees are the following
Deseriis, M. (2024). Piattaforme e partecipazione politica. Mondadori Università.
Pilati, K. (2018). Movimenti sociali e azioni di protesta. Il Mulino.
Teaching methods
Lectures, case study analysis, class discussions, group work, class presentations.
Assessment methods
Methods of assessment and evaluation of learning for those attending the course
Learning will be assessed by means of an oral exam focusing on the contents—duly studied—of the compulsory readings and notes taken during the lectures.
Methods of assessment and evaluation of learning for those not attending the course
Those who do not attend the course must contact the professor in advance to define a specific program.
Students with SLDs or temporary or permanent disabilities
It is recommended that you contact the relevant university office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it) in good time: they will propose any necessary adjustments to the students concerned. These adjustments must be submitted 15 days in advance for approval by the teacher, who will assess their suitability in relation to the course objectives.
Teaching tools
PowerPoint presentations, multimedia content, platform Virtuale
Office hours
See the website of Alice Mattoni