Final Reflection by Iffet Secil Kinsan
As someone working on Cultural Studies and having taken other courses in Critical Theory, the assignments in this course that required critical analysis and blog writing became my favorite part of the class. They allowed me to actively engage with theoretical frameworks and apply them to contemporary digital contexts.
For example, for my thesis, I use Michel Foucault’s concept of power over life (biopower). In this course, I combined this framework with the reading Fact or Fake: Information, Misinformation and Disinformation via Social Media (2024), as well as Artificial Misinformation: Exploring Human-Algorithm Interaction Online (2024). By bringing these sources together, I produced a critical blog post analyzing how misinformation and disinformation circulate on social media, especially through influencer culture and platform algorithms. In doing so, I connected theoretical discussions of power, algorithmic systems, and information disorder with everyday digital practices. This process helped me better understand how abstract theoretical concepts such as biopower can operate in subtle and normalized ways through social media, shaping behavior and perceptions. It also improved my ability to synthesize multiple academic sources into a coherent argument and apply them to real-world examples.
As another example, I combined Nathan Jurgenson’s (2012) concept of augmented reality with the course reading by Hiroko Oe, Yuki Yamaoka, and Mark Weeks (2022) on technobiophilia. In this case, I developed a critical analysis that questions the assumption that digital technologies naturally enhance our connection to nature. By bringing these two perspectives together, I was able to explore the tension between digital mediation and lived experience. This approach allowed me to move beyond simply summarizing readings and instead critically evaluate their assumptions. It also strengthened my ability to compare different theoretical frameworks and use them to build a more nuanced argument.
Additionally, as someone who works with publishing houses as a translator, editor, and proofreader, topics such as BookTok, writing technologies, the history of the book, and the future of books and narrative were particularly interesting and valuable for me. These themes not only aligned with my professional experience but also contributed significantly to my interest in taking this course in the first place. I also found the course readings in total to be very well selected, as they were written in a clear and accessible language, which made complex concepts easier to engage with critically.
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