Today@Dal

Established in 1789, King’s College is Canada’s oldest chartered university and is associated with Dalhousie University. A small and extraordinarily lively academic community located in Halifax (Kjipuktuk), Nova Scotia, King’s is known nationally and internationally for its highly acclaimed interdisciplinary programs in the humanities, including its renowned Foundation Year Program, its professional programs in journalism and its fine arts program in creative writing. King’s is a community where students, faculty, alumni, and staff work to bring greater understanding, creativity, and compassion to the world.

The Contemporary Studies Program at the University of King’s College invites applications for one Teaching Assistant position for “Mass and Digital Media Culture” (CTMP 2201) in the Fall 2022 term. This class considers the development of mass and digital media in the 20th and 21st centuries. We read philosophical, journalistic, and literary responses to the radical changes in our communications technologies, and the way those mediums shape our understanding of the world, ourselves, and our relationships to others. We start with responses to film, radio, the telephone, and animation and wind up thinking about our relationship to the internet and social media.

The readings for the class are short theoretical texts from thinkers ranging from Walter Benjamin and Marshall McLuhan to contemporary digital sociologists such as Zeynep Tufecki and Tressie McMillan Cottom. Assignments for the class will include a short paper, a midterm project in PowerPoint or podcast form, and a final essay that engages with readings from the term in relation to an issue, problem, or online phenomenon that interests the student, who will develop their research topic in collaboration with the TA and/or the instructor.

This course does NOT engage with technical aspects of the internet; our interest is in culture, language, politics, and expressive styles across various platforms from the 1920s to now. This course also focuses on the American/Anglospheric internet once we get there, but we welcome applicants who know more about online life in the global south, Europe, or Asia and wish to share that knowledge with this class.

We consider some grim topics in our consideration of the internet, including but not limited to: fascism, eugenics, racism, sexism, censorship, and the distribution and ownership of these amazing new means of communication and expression.  We will continue to apprise students of readings that may be difficult throughout the term, and provide constructive feedback to support their research interests.

Duties include but not limited to:

·       Grading assignments

·       Reading course material online (all materials for CTMP 2201 are posted on Brightspace)

·       Holding office hours and workshopping ideas for assignments with students

·       Consulting on a regular basis with the instructor regarding the approach taken in teaching, grading, and other expectations.

Qualifications and Experience:

Candidates may come from various fields but should have at least an undergraduate degree. Graduates with some background in contemporary theory, media studies, or literary analysis are especially welcome. Prior TA experience (at the university level) is also preferable. We welcome meme contributions to the online discussion board, as an alternative mode of class participation for those averse to speaking in class. Online/visual literacy, curiosity about current events and cultural movements, and a sense of humour are assets.

Hourly Rate of Pay: $25.27 (classification of TA130). The position is conditional on the course’s final enrollment numbers

To apply for this position, please forward your C.V. (including a statement concerning your teaching experience) to Sharon Brown at sharon.brown@ukings.ca

Applications sent through Indeed.com or other website which posts job advertisements without permission will not be considered.

The University of King’s College is committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. We encourage and welcome applications from Indigenous persons (especially Mi’kmaq), persons with a disability, racialized persons, including persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), women, persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversification of our community.