Course

The ubiquitous use of ICTs in daily life has led to a growing interest among scholars to address this phenomenon and study its impact on cultural, social and political practices and processes. We can identify a digital turn in the social sciences. The course makes use of insights and theories from different disciplines, such as media and communication studies, cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, political science and area studies in the study of Asian digital societies. Students are introduced to different theories, concepts, approaches, and methodologies with a particular focus on works addressing the Asian experiences. The course addresses different types of ICTs, including the Internet, social media, mobile phones and apps, in the context of both global processes and the cultural, social, political and economic context and development of different Asian societies. The course focuses on different themes and fields while paying attention to factors such as gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and age:

• Identity formation and socialization processes (for example through blogging, gaming, and mobile phone and social media use).
• Social networking and community building (for example among civil society, youth, interest communities)
• Social and political activism (for example in traditional politics, new social movements, citizen journalism).
• Digital methodologies and ethnographic practices

The course introduces students to theoretical and interdisciplinary studies, studies of the digital society in the West and Asia, and comparisons between and within different Asian societies. It encourages students to apply theoretical and methodological insights from the course in their own case studies/theses on different Asian countries and particular ICTs.