Melvin Wevers on History and 'the Digital'

Melvin Wevers on History and 'the Digital'

Video
The Editors
05/07/2023

You might think that the increasing amount of data that is becoming available is helpful to historians, and subsequently also to society. But that is not necessarily the case. In this video, Melvin Wevers explains how the "holy grail" of Big Data regularly obscures the fact that researchers still need good theories and hypotheses to do their academic work, and that more data does not always translate in better research.

You might think that the increasing amount of data that is becoming available is helpful to historians, and subsequently also to society. But that is not necessarily the case. In this video, Melvin Wevers explains how the "holy grail" of Big Data regularly obscures the fact that researchers still need good theories and hypotheses to do their academic work, and that more data does not always translate in better research.

Activists use a variety of digital technologies to try to change the world. Different social movements have, for instance, used live streaming technologies to promote transparency and to demonstrate how they distinguish themselves from (according to them) corrupt governments. Dr. Emiliano Treré from Cardiff University discusses his perspective on studying digital activism. 

Though memes often appear to be 'fun', memes can also have a dark side. In this video, Lucie Chateau explains what memes are, how memes are used to reproduce certain values and beliefs, and what can happen when memes are not properly understood. 

Tommaso Venturini

Tommaso Venturini on Controversy Mapping

Video
The Editors
19/09/2022

Tommaso Venturini avoided questions about the meaning of 'controversies' and 'Controversy Mapping'. But that's no longer the case. In this video, he explains what 'Controversy Mapping' is and why it is relevant.

When Richard Barbrook and Andy Cameron wrote The Californian Ideology over 25 years ago, people believed the whole world would soon resemble the United States. Today, the situation appears much different. China appears to be the most futuristic country in the world and the United States, together with its  monopolistic tech companies, might represent a past we'd want to leave behind sooner rather than later. 

a.s.r Vitality Application

Step, track, shop, repeat: how an insurance company motivates clients to stay healthy

Video
Lily Francois
19/11/2021

The video explores how the a.s.r. Vitality app communicates societal health norms and how important notions in Michel Foucault’s work - the panopticon, social hygiene and care of the self - are applied to this phenomenon. 

According to Dr. Taina Bucher, we should no longer talk about algorithms as purely 'technical'. Algorithms are complex socio-technical arrangements that are never devoid of human interference. In this video, Bucher talks about some of the arguments she makes in If... Then: Algorithmic Power and Politics. 

Dr. Paulan Korenhof

Paulan Korenhof on Article 17 GDPR and digital representations

Video
The Editors
25/06/2020

According to Dr. Paulan Korenhof, it is important to think about manners in which we can control our digital representations. Article 17 GDPR — which is popularly known as 'the right to be forgotten' — might play a significant role in this process. In this video, she explains why. 

Dr. Inge van de Ven

Inge van de Ven on big books in times of 'Big Data'

Video
The Editors
04/05/2020

In her book, Big Books in Times of Big Data, Dr. Inge van de Ven from Tilburg University explores the ways in which "the digital" has influenced, and will continue to influence, the novel as a genre.