David A.
Sonnenfeld, Ph.D.
Washington State University Tri-Cities
Fall 2006, MW 9:00 - 10:15 am
Office hrs. West 207E, WTh 10:30-11:30 & by appt.
tel. (509) 372-7375, fax 372-7100
E-mail: crs@tricity.wsu.edu
Often, technology is seen as a frightening monster beyond human control. "Living in the modern age," so this view goes, "we have no choice but to bend to its wishes. Inevitably, technology determines who we are, what we do, even how we think. We cannot escape from its clutches!" In the last several decades, however, scholars have created a vital new sociology of science and technology challenging such deterministic views of the relationship between people and technology. This course explores a complementary array of new "classic" and contemporary social constructionist perspectives on society and technology, and concludes with an exploration of their application in the realm of environment and technology. Students in this class will read course texts, participate in classroom discussions, view related films, and conduct semester-long "ethnographies of technology," at work, home, or in the community.
last updated November 15, 2006