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September 27, 2005
COMS 498S Mid-Term
COMS 498S
Issues in the Information Society
Professor Leslie Regan Shade
Take-Home Midterm Exam
September 27 2005
Due: October 12 in class or e-mailed to me by noon (lshade@alcor.concordia.ca. Name file last name_498mid).
Instructions: Answer 2 questions only. Minimum 750 words, maximum 1000 words per question. ONLY USE THE COURSE READINGS, weeks 2-5. Try to use a wide variety of the readings. When using quotes, cite author and page numbers.
1. Given the course readings so far, what are some of the optimistic/utopian analyses of the information society, versus the more pessimistic/dystopian analyses?
2. What is meant by the theory of post-industrialization? What were Daniel Bell’s contributions? What are criticisms of Bell?
3. Analytically, one can distinguish five domains of an information society: the technological, economic, occupational, spatial, and the cultural. Create a map/graphic of your understanding of the information society, given these domains. As well, provide a brief (~250 word) explanation of your map/graphic.
4. Kumar asks “What kind of ideology is the ideology of the information society, and what are its particular contradictions.” Reflect on his question with respect to the course readings.
5. John Urry asks, Is Britain the first post-industrial society? Can we say the same about Canada?
6. What does Manuel Castells mean by the ‘network society’ and what are some of its criticisms?
7. Take an advertisement and analyze its information society implications using the course readings. Attach the ad (print) to your response; if you are using a television ad please provide a transcript/good description of the ad.
Posted by shade at September 27, 2005 09:52 PM