Media, politics and your body

What it covers

In this unit, you will explore how digital technologies shape the way our bodies are seen, tracked, and controlled in everyday life. We’ll look at how images, data systems, and online platforms influence what bodies mean and how they are treated in society. You will study topics such as how ideas about gender and race show up in digital media, how digital technologies are used to identify people and to optimise our exercise and daily routines, and how workplaces use data and algorithms to manage workers. Using these examples, you’ll learn how bodies are increasingly turned into data that can be measured, watched, and regulated. At the same time, we’ll consider how people push back against these systems and use technology in their own ways. The unit will introduce key ideas from media and technology studies to help you understand how power works through digital tools today. You’ll also be encouraged to reflect on your own experiences with social media, apps, and other technologies in your daily life.

Assessment

When and where