Welcome to the Cultural Studies Weblog for Year 3 Students

You can use this blog to:
Obtain copies of slideshow presentations of the course lectures;
Post comments and pose questions about those lectures;
Upload and download links to web pages and other resources;
Subscribe to the blog and receive updates as they occur by clicking on the RSS link below;
Discuss topics relevant to the course or the field of digital culture
There are some rules and here they are:
* Post questions about lectures using the comments facility
* Keep your comments brief, courteous and, above all relevant
* Don't post comments when you are tired, drunk or otherwise coping with the stresses of modern living
* Try to keep your postings polite and reasonable, Offensive posts will be removed
* You may not agree with everything said on the blog but try not to get too worked up or upset about it. It's only a blog
* Bullying or harassment will not be tolerated and will result in the offender's suspension from the blog

Please note, all comments to this blog are moderated. You should indicate who you are in the body of your comment if your email address does not make it obvious. Anonymous or non-identifiable posts will not be published.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Website of the week 1

I'm thinking of establishing a 'website of the week' as a regular feature of this blog. What I wish it to do is to draw our attention to ways in which digital culture can capture our attention and reveal the world and ways of thinking the world. Hopefully it will also raise some discussion of and engagement with the topics we encounter as the course progresses.

Anyway so, this week's site of the week was developed by Laurier Rochon and Marc Beaulieu of Concordia University and involves personal hygiene, deodorant, and a usb docking station.




As the author describes it

Iamclean.org is a critique of social networking sites and devices. I was talking to a friend on msn Messenger earlier, and after pointing out that she had spent the whole day at the computer doing nothing, she added "msn, aim, icq, facebook, myspace and music. Enough to waste complete days". More specifically, this project takes aim at the idea of online "status", where you can let people know where you are at any moment in time very easily with the help of a computer and a little Internet.
Click on the link and check it out. If you have any comments insert them below.

Nominations for website of the week are also being accepted. Please email me with any suggestions and an explanation of why you think a site should be included.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Learning Support Seminar Timetable

This popped up in my mailbox last night:

The service offers three facilities:
  • A series of seminars on essay writing and research held every Tuesday in H C room.@17.00
  • An individual tutorial service for those students who have difficulties. Room 16 Design School (orourkem@ncad.ie) tel: (6364314) .
  • A specialist support service for students with specific learning difficulties

The writing and research seminars are as follows:
  • Notetaking Techniques 21 Oct 17.00 & 18.00 -HC Lecture Theatre
  • Essay Writing 28 Oct 17.00 & 18.00 -HC Lecture Theatre
  • Essay Writing - 4 Nov 17.00 & 18.00 -HC Lecture Theatre
  • Research Strategies - 11Nov 17.00 & 18.00 -HC Lecture Theatre
  • Reading Techniques - 18Nov 17.00 & 18.00 -HC Lecture Theatre
  • Getting Started 25Nov 17.00 & 18.00 -HC Lecture Theatre
I know you're 3rd years now, but I strongly recommend anyone who has difficulty with any of these things to attend. It's never too late etc., etc.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Lecture 1


Uploaded on authorSTREAM by liamgr


Click on the play arrows to advance the slides. A printable PDF version of the presentation can be downloaded from the course website

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

The Future of the Book

Further to our classroom discussion this afternoon. I suggest the Luddites and paper fetishists amongst you take a look here