Assignment 1: Short paper.
Pick a contemporary information ‘case’ or phenomenon and analyze its
contributions to and/or limitations on democratic practice, using
analytic frameworks supplied by two of the following theorists:
Habermas, Dewey, Lippman, Marion Young, Mouffe, Barber, Schudson, or
Putnam. Your paper should include: an abstract of the argument (1
single-spaced paragraph); a succinct description of the case (2-3
double-spaced pages); and an analysis section that uses concepts and
frameworks supplied by your two theorists to analyze and evaluate the
case at hand (5-6 double-spaced pages). [nb: your analysis
needn’t agree with your two selected theorists; if your case
contradicts or calls into question some of their ideas, feel free to
argue this].
Assignment 2: Project sketch / concept
piece.
This project asks you to sketch the concept, outline the design of,
and/or build a ‘democratic thing’ – i.e. an object, system, process,
installation, or performance that supports, extends, or reflects on
democratic practice (of a deliberative, agonistic, pluralist, etc.
sort). Your thing should come with: a one paragraph abstract; a
description explaining the background and rationale of your thing,
including a description of the democratic problem or limitation it is
meant to address (4-5 pages double-spaced); and any supporting
materials (sketches, photos, screenshots, models, etc.) you think
useful to include. Teams of 2-3 are welcome but in no way
required.