The Digital and Its Discontents

Curatorial note from Digital Pedagogy in the Humanities: This course Web site by Janaki Srinivasan examines digital spaces and their influence on social, economic, political, and cultural inequalities, with particular focus on so-called developing countries. The course, taught at a South Asian university, looks at digital divides through the lens of development, looking especially at parts of Asia, South America, and Africa. The course assignments work in a sequence, asking students to choose a country that the World Bank lists as low or middle income. Through a series of essay assignments, the students explore the background of the country they selected, ultimately discussing a World Bank Information and Communication Technologies project underway in the country. The syllabus on the site offers an innovative way to teach and discuss technology projects of the “developing” world and how these projects may redefine ideas about digital divides