Fastwrite

Rewarding/Frustrating/Funny: Describe an experience you’ve had with writing online that fits one of those categories. Use this story to introduce yourself to the class.

Introductions

Digital Writing

Michael Wesch, The Machine Is Us/ing Us

Near the end of his video, Wesch lists a number of terms and concepts we’ll need to “rethink” in a digital age, including:

• copyright
• authorship
• identity
• ethics
• aesthetics
• rhetoric
• privacy

Pick one of the terms on this list whose meaning seems to you to have shifted in recent years. Describe what you see happening to this concept.

Aims and Structure of Course

• Rethink writing in digital environment
• Two main projects: blog and digital essay
• Readings and responses

Miscellaneous

• Deadlines, punctuality
• Food
• Laptops

Blogs

Some examples from Spring 2011:

• Chris Keith, The Cover Stories, analyses of remakes and remixes of popular songs, and the issues concerning intellectual property raised by them;
• Molly Mack, Generation “Why”, interviews with Duke students about the role of faith and religion in their lives;
• Margaret Baughman, Pop Culture Evolutions, reflections on recent media and consumer trends;
• Celeste Clipp, Tobacco Roads Less Traveled, descriptions of road trips from Duke to points in North Carolina beyond the Research Triangle;
• Britt Walden, Digital Decorum, tips on online etiquette.

To Do

• Set WordPress account
• Set up Dropbox account
• Set up Twitter account; follow #E109S
• Tues, 1/24, 9:00 am: r1; email URL to me

Moment of Zen

Stephen Fry: Kinetic Typography: Language