Mondays, July 20, 27 August 3, 10, 17, 24
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The music streamed, the photos viewed, the real-time news consumed, and the books read or heard have all been reshaped by digital technology. This course explores how media is created, stored, and experienced in a digitized world. Fundamental concepts such as text files, encoding and decoding, pixels, and algorithms are explained in clear, accessible terms with no prior computer knowledge required. Each session focuses on a different medium, comparing its analog origins with contemporary digital forms. The course also examines the impact of generative AI and considers future trends. Topics include text, images, music, video games, social media, and media ownership.

Rafael Davis Portela is a PhD candidate in Latin American History at the Graduate Center, CUNY. His research examines the history of computing and technology.