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Visionary NYU professor and charter cyberpunker Douglas Rushkoff is offering an eight-week online course through Maybe Logic Academy (Technologies of Persuasion: From Propaganda to Paranoia) that breaks down the fundamentals of media “persuasion, influence, psychology and coercion,” then explores how the powers that be adapt such technique specifically to interactive media in an effort to, you guessed it, control the masses.
Readings will include “Coercion” and “Media Virus” by Rushkoff, as well as writings by Adorno, Richard Barbrook, Edward Bernays, Norbert Weiner and Walter Benjamin. Weekly online discussions are guaranteed to be electrifying, and students are encouraged to go beyond the syllabus and come up with topics of their own.
Rushkoff’s own blog is already buzzing with anticipation from perspective students. Class starts October 1, and at $145 this is likely one of the best education deals you’ll find anywhere. Plus, where else are you gonna find a cool professor like Rushkoff, who when he’s not busy writing scholarly media tracts can be found putting in appearances as guest keyboardist for Psychic TV and penning his excellent, religion-inspired graphic novel series “Testament.”
Rushkoff warns, “You may not be able to go back to your job at the advertising agency after this.”
