HIS2305 ¨C Censorship, information, and the digital: the production and consumption of knowledge throughout European history

Course content

Knowledge and power have always been linked, not only because of the popular adage 'knowledge is power', but also because unchecked knowledge can be a threat to established political power. Controlling the production of and access to knowledge has therefore been a major agenda item for European governments throughout history, and especially since the printing revolution in the fifteenth century. This course aims to introduce students to the historical dynamics of the control of knowledge, focusing on issues of censorship, printing laws, and other control mechanisms applied to the circulation of knowledge. This will be combined with a broad introduction to the tools and techniques of the digital humanities.

We will begin our exploration of 'information and censorship' in the 16th century and move through time to the 19th century, with a geographical focus on Europe, and while making comparisons and considering contemporary developments throughout the course. After a general introduction, we will zoom in on the history of intellectual property rights. Students will learn why these rights are relevant, but also how they have evolved historically. The digital side of the course is instead about finding information and getting to grips with the proliferation of information available digitally. Through a series of practical exercises, students will learn to work with inventories, but also with search engines and other digital tools, focusing on the reliability of sources and how to use digital tools (such as network analysis) to get the answers we are looking for before.

Learning outcome

By the end of the course, students will have a general understanding of how knowledge has been produced and controlled throughout European history, and will have developed research skills that will enable them to work not only in historical research positions, but also in a variety professional careers that require skills in searching, classifying and understanding digital data, such as project management or administrative positions in different organisations.

Admission to the course

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Recommended previous knowledge

A good ability to read and understand English is required.

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with HIS4305 ¨C Censorship, information, and the digital: the production and consumption of knowledge throughout European history.

Teaching

Teaching schedule and method: The course will be held every two weeks in three-hour seminars. The seminars will include both theoretical and practical components that will allow the dynamics of censorship to be linked to the use of digital tools.

Compulsory activities:

• A group video reflecting on the reliability of online sources and how to identify trustworthy information. The video must be done by using a case study chosen by the students and must be between 3 and 5 minutes.
• An individual entry of approximately 20 records into the Nodegoat database using the digital resources explained in class.

Examination

An individual text explaining the reason of choosing the sources for the database entry, and how those sources relate to the class subject. The paper should be between 2000 -3000 words, and must draw the concepts analyzed in class, including readings, lectures, and discussions.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.