HIUS 3559
Digitizing America, 1980 to the Present

Brian Balogh, professor 

TO BE OFFERED FALL, 2009, M, W 10:00 plus
section

THIS COURSE IS INCORRECTLY LABELED AS "New Course in United States History". IT IS AVAILABLE TO TAKE IN THE SPRING 2009.

This class will explore the history of the United States
from 1980 to the present through the lens of the information revolution that
occurred during this period. We will examine the origins of technological
changes like the mainframe computer, cable television, and the emergence of the
internet and the impact that they had on the economy, politics and social
interaction. We will consider the ways in which the speed and ease of access to
information served as a catalyst for globalization. On the one hand the
combination of cable and satellite technology brought news of distant places
into every living room. On the other hand, the powerful ability to collect and
sort data allowed individuals to express a range of preferences, and be targeted
based upon these preferences, in ways that created a variety of new identities
and associations (meetup.com is a good place to see this in action from the
Yorkshire Terrier Meetup to Prosperity Gods Way.) We will also consider the
varied impact of the information revolution along class and racial lines. We
will also examine futuristic visions of the digital age, and the ways in which
digital technology changed the way Americans work and play.

Students will be asked to read approximately 150 pages a
week, including books, articles and a range of primary sources. Each week,
students will either watch a film or participate in a web-based exercise (we
held one of our discussion sections in “Second Life” this past semester.) The
films will be on reserve in Clemons or most can be viewed instantly using
streaming services such as Netflix or even youtube. Students will be asked to
create a digital timeline that will count for twenty percent of their total
grade. The timeline will be based upon interviews and primary research that
provides the historical context for twelve key digital moments that span the
lifetime of a relative older than fifty, and the student.  There will also be a
short paper that counts for twenty percent of the grade. Participation will
count for twenty percent of the grade, the mid-term will count for twenty
percent of the grade and the final exam will count for twenty percent of the
grade.

http://www.virginia.edu/history/DigitizingAmerica/ (SPRING 2009
Course Site)

If you have questions, feel free to e-mail Professor
Balogh @ baloghvirginia.edu">baloghvirginia.edu