Fandom, Social Media, and Authenticity in the Digital Age from Coursera

"Fandom, Social Media, and Authenticity in the Digital Age" focuses your attention on the interconnected dynamics of identity, representation, interpretation, and self-reflection. It asks the question: how, where, and with whom do we inhabit the worlds of fandom and popular culture in the digital age? We will explore the role of digital media in the production of celebrity and fandom, using social media tools and platforms as a running case study. More broadly, the course is about what media studies scholar Henry Jenkins has called “participatory culture,” the processes by which bring our selves into digital spaces, establish trust and authenticity (or challenge these concepts), and negotiate identity in and amongst others. Along the way, you will develop skills in critical self-reflection and communication, as well as analysis and interpretation. You’ll audit your own social media usage, and put this learning in context with major social media presences of our era.

Course-Level Learning Outcomes

* Define and describe the relationship between fandom, popular culture, and digital media as each impact our identity and interactions with others

* Apply critical self-reflection and close reading frameworks through personal and professional writing and online publication

* Engage with pop culture and fandom communities by leveraging online platforms to make connections and synthesize learning

* Reflect on your personal relationship to social media, identity, representation, and social interaction online

Course 1 Skills:

* Personal Development

* Analysis

* Digital Literacy

* Writing

* Social Media

* Close Reading

What's inside

Syllabus

Fandom, Popular Culture, and Digital Media in Context

In this module, you will explore the relationships between key dynamics of fandom, popular culture, and digital media. You will practice skills in self-reflection and interpretation, as well as begin the process of representing your own fandom through writing and digital publication in your very own blog.

Social Media, Representation, and Participatory Culture

In this module, you will explore social media as a case study for participatory culture and the modes of engagement and representation of the self that are possible in the digital age. Specifically, you will explore the concept of the “selfie” as a vehicle for the complex interplay of identity, memory, representation, and participation in popular culture. You’ll practice critical self-reflection as a means to better understand your engagement with fandom and popular culture.

Experience, Ideology, and Pop Culture Interpretation

In this module, you will explore the dynamics of personal experience and political ideology as each plays into the ways we engage and interpret popular culture and fandom around us. You will use Roxane Gay as a case study, particularly her framing of “bad feminism” as a means of discussing authentic engagement in the digital age. You will gain skills in analysis and interpretation, as well as close reading. You’ll also prepare your final blog project submissions.

The Dark Side of Social Media

In this module, you will explore some speculation about the future of social media engagement and the stakes for representation and identity. You will continue to apply your skills of self-reflection and close reading to prepare your fandom immersion blog project submission.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Engages with fandom and pop culture, which are topics of interest to many people

Taught by Christopher Haynes, a recognized figure in the field

Explores participatory culture, a highly relevant concept in the digital age

Develops critical self-reflection and communication skills, which are valuable in personal and professional settings

Provides hands-on opportunities for learners to engage with social media and fandom

Encourages learners to reflect on their own relationship to social media and identity

Reviews summary

Digital age fandoms and authenticity

Learners say this course focuses on the role of fandoms and social media in today's digital age. Students largely enjoyed the curated resources, especially the interviews. However, some learners felt that there could have been more video lectures and that the final assessment took longer than expected to grade.

Students enjoyed the resources shared in this course.

"really loved the curated resources this course shared"

"some really good insight and frameworks"

Some students felt that it took too long for their final assessment to be graded.

"My final assessment also took longer than I'd hoped before I received my final grade"

Some students felt that the course could have included more video lectures.

"although I think it would have also been helpful to have more video lectures beyond the interviews"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Fandom, Social Media, and Authenticity in the Digital Age with these activities:

Organize the syllabus and course materials

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Start the course off right with an organized system in place for your notes, assignments, and exams. This will encourage ongoing organization, improve your efficiency, and boost your confidence.

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Review syllabus thoroughly
Create a folder structure for notes
Set up a system for assignments
Designate storage for exams

Participate in online discussions with classmates

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Engage with diverse perspectives, broaden your understanding, and improve your communication skills through active participation in online discussions.

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Read the discussion prompts carefully
Formulate thoughtful responses
Respond to your peers' comments

Read 'Memes in Digital Culture' by Limor Shifman

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Expand your understanding of how memes shape digital culture and impact online communities.

View Memes in Digital Culture (The MIT Press... on Amazon

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Read Chapter 1 and 2
Summarize the key points of each chapter
Reflect on how the concepts apply to your own social media use

Five other activities

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Write a blog post analyzing a specific fandom

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Develop your critical thinking and writing skills by analyzing the dynamics, behaviors, and cultural significance of a specific fan community.

Browse courses on Blogging

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Choose a fandom to analyze
Research the fandom's history, values, and practices
Identify key themes and patterns
Write a blog post presenting your analysis

Complete self-reflection exercises on social media use

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Develop self-awareness and enhance your ability to navigate the complexities of social media by engaging in regular self-reflection.

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Track your social media usage for a week
Identify patterns and behaviors
Reflect on the impact of social media on your thoughts, feelings, and actions

Attend a workshop on digital media and social justice

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Gain insights into the role of digital media in shaping social justice movements and learn strategies for using media to promote positive change.

Browse courses on Digital Media

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Research and identify relevant workshops
Register and attend the workshop
Participate actively in discussions and activities

Mentor a younger student interested in digital culture

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Share your knowledge and experience while fostering the growth and development of others by mentoring a younger student interested in digital culture.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Reach out to potential mentees
Establish clear goals and expectations
Provide guidance and support
Evaluate progress and provide feedback

Contribute to open-source projects related to digital fandom

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Enhance your technical skills and contribute to the digital fandom community by participating in open-source projects.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Identify relevant open-source projects
Review the project documentation
Make contributions to the project
Collaborate with other contributors

Career center

Learners who complete Fandom, Social Media, and Authenticity in the Digital Age will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Social Media Manager

The skills developed in this course will help you when applying to Social Media Manager roles because you will develop your self-reflection and critical thinking skills. You'll also learn about the role of social media in building communities, representing oneself, and the impact that online presence has in shaping identity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

Community Manager

Social Media Managers are responsible for building and managing online communities, and often need to ensure that communities are authentic and representative of their brand or organization. This course will help you develop the skills needed to succeed as a Community Manager, including self-reflection, evaluation, communication, and an understanding of participatory culture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Manager

Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers must work with the public and media outlets, and need to be able to analyze and respond to feedback, and build relationships online. This course will help you to develop the self-reflection, communication, and analysis skills needed to understand how to shape public perception, and manage reputation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public relations manager

Digital Marketing Manager

Digital Marketing Managers use various online platforms to promote products and services, and need to understand online trends and best practices for engaging with customers. This course may be useful in teaching you the different ways that users interact with platforms, and the ethical considerations to keep in mind for marketing efforts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Marketing Manager

Content Creator

Content Creators develop a personal brand online and create relevant content to engage with their audience. You will learn about the participatory culture of online spaces in this course, developing skills that will enable you to create work that builds authentic connections.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator

Social Media Analyst

Social Media Analysts collect and analyze data to measure the effectiveness of social media campaigns. This course will introduce you to methods of analysis and give you hands-on experience putting your learning into practice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Analyst

Journalist

Journalists communicate important information to the public and must be able to represent stories accurately, fairly, and authentically. Take this course to help develop your critical thinking skills, understanding of participatory culture, and commitment to authentic representation in media.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Media Planner

Media Planners use data to recommend media and platforms to maximize the reach of marketing campaigns. This course will help you learn about how people interact with different media, which is an essential skill for helping clients succeed in online spaces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Media Planner

Brand Manager

Brand Managers build and maintain brand awareness in a variety of spaces, including online. This course will help you build a foundation for understanding brand representation in digital spaces, which is a valuable skill for any brand manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Brand Manager

Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists work to improve their clients' public image and respond to crises. In this course, you will develop critical thinking skills that will help you analyze public perception and build a strategy for effective PR campaigns.

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UX Designer

UX Designers make products easy to use and engaging for the end user, leveraging participatory culture and an understanding of online communities. This course may help you develop a deeper understanding of how people interact in online spaces, which is valuable to designing products that meet their needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Web Developer

Web Developers can use their understanding of digital spaces and participatory culture to build websites and online products that are intuitive and meet the user's needs. This course may help to build a foundation for thinking about online experiences, which can help you succeed as a web developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

E-commerce Manager

E-commerce Managers oversee the online sales of products and services. Take this course to develop skills in digital marketing and analysis and leverage your understanding to maximize online sales.

See salaries and explore the career path for E-commerce Manager

Data Scientist

Data Scientists analyze large datasets to uncover trends and patterns. This course may help you to build a foundation in data analysis, which would be a valuable skill for a data scientist working with social media or other digital data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers lead marketing campaigns to promote their organization, product, or service. This course may help you to build your understanding of marketing in the digital age, which is increasingly important for businesses to reach their target audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager