In this course we will explore contemporary issues of culture and power rooted in science, medicine, technology and futurist proposals to better the human condition. We will investigate anthropological and ethnographic-based theories and methods to propose alternative ethical solutions to those with narrow technological fixes. Our readings will be rooted in examining global stratification, economic sources of migration, human biases regarding climate and nature, as well as the routinization of norms around sexual power, labor exploits, privacy infringements, data sharing, and pervasive automation. The course will be structured as a writing workshop with frequent, short writing assignments to be shared with others in the course. The workshop format will facilitate the course goal of each person producing at least one publishable article or other product of public-facing intervention at the end of the quarter.
5 units · Letter (ABCD/NP)
In this course we will explore contemporary issues of culture and power rooted in science, medicine, technology and futurist proposals to better the human condition. We will investigate anthropological and ethnographic-based theories and methods to propose alternative ethical solutions to those with narrow technological fixes. Our readings will be rooted in examining global stratification, economic sources of migration, human biases regarding climate and nature, as well as the routinization of norms around sexual power, labor exploits, privacy infringements, data sharing, and pervasive automation. The course will be structured as a writing workshop with frequent, short writing assignments to be shared with others in the course. The workshop format will facilitate the course goal of each person producing at least one publishable article or other product of public-facing intervention at the end of the quarter.