GRADUATE SEMINAR

THE INTERNET AND POLITICAL DISCOURSE

Viviane SERFATY - Tuesday 10-12
As of 2000-2001, the seminar will be conducted in English



Brief bibliography

Research topics

I) History of the Net

- Origins
- Current structure
- Role of the state in scientific research
- The founding myth of the Internet : form and meaning


II) The Internet in the History of Ideas

- The Enlightenment and the idea of progress
- The ideology of communication
- How do people relate to technology ?


III) The Internet and the imaginary

- The Internet in relation to the representations of modern communication technology
- Meaning and function of stereotypes
- Internet and utopia


IV) Political debate on the Internet

- USENET : History, structure, activities
- Case studies : comparative approach of political newsgroups in France and in the USA
- Forms and functions of online communities