Langdon Winner Analysis

Description

• This is not a research project, so outside sources are not allowed. Use of outside sources may result in a loss of points or a “0” grade.
  • The goal is to demonstrate an understanding of the assigned reading by applying course concepts to real world issues. However, perhaps you could cite a small example from an outside source, but it should not be at the expense of addressing the prompt and demonstrating your understanding of the assigned reading. Check with me if you are ever unsure.
• No AI Policy
• Formatting: 12 point font, Times New Roman, 1 inch margins, and organize your writing into paragraphs when appropriate.
• Citations: Use in-text citations when citing or explaining evidence from the assigned reading/watching.
  • Be sure to explain any quotations in your own words. When citing evidence, use in-text citations: include the author’s name and the page number (if applicable). For example, (author name 88). If citing evidence from a video, then cite the time-stamp. For example, “Quotation from the assigned video” (author name time stamp).
  • Pro Tip: it’s ok to shorten the passages. You can include […] when you are omitting unnecessary text from the passage to shorten it.

Analysis Questions (The entire response must be within 400-600 words)

• Number and respond to all prompt questions below. Support your reasoning using only evidence from the relevant materials assigned this week. Be sure to explain any quotations in your own words.
• Read the rubric for an explanation of the grading criteria. Aim to be clear and concise: There is a small penalty for going over or under the word limit.
• When citing evidence, use in-text citations: When citing from the readings, include the author’s name and the page number. For example, “quotation from the assigned reading” (Winner page#).
  • CONTEXT: Over the last 15 years or so, people have come to rely increasingly on social media and other algorithmically curated systems for access to information. What news we read, which current events we learn about, the kinds of videos we watch, whose social media posts are prioritized as we scroll—all of these determinations are made not by news editors or even by us; they’re made by the algorithms powering Facebook’s and Instagram’s feeds, YouTube’s and TikTok’s recommender systems, Twitter/X’s timeline, and so on. The overarching questions to consider in this assignment are: what value or values are driving these systems, and what are the implications of having our information organized according to those values? How would things change if we organized our information differently?
  • WARNING: The number of students who use AI to plagiarize has doubled since last semester–it’s currently over 40% of my students. Frankly, this makes it really hard to do my job effectively. It now takes two-to-three times longer to grade assignments and I don’t like falling behind with grading. So, just a warning, AI ALWAYS gets these Langdon Winner questions wrong, so please don’t outsource your thinking to AI. It’s really obvious to me, but it’ll be extra obvious this week if half the class has the same wrong answers that ChatGPT provides for these prompts. Just do your own work and think for yourself.
  • • PROMPT:
      1. Why does Langdon Winner argue that technology is not value-neutral? Explain his reasoning and cite two examples from the reading titled, “Technologies as Forms of Life”.
      2. Why does Winner say that judging technology to be value-neutral contributes to negative consequences for society? Cite a short passage from the reading titled, “Technologies as Forms of Life,” to support your reasoning.
      3. Building on your response to Question 2, do you agree or disagree with Winner? Explain your reasoning with clear and specific real-world examples.
      4. What does the fact that we optimize information for engagement say about what we value? How else might we organize information (i.e., according to which other value or values), and how could we optimize for that instead? In your response, clarify which design changes to a specific technology will produce your desired results.