Disinformation, Demagoguery, & Democracy

a Discovery Core Experience

This is a BCORE 118 (Social Sciences) course

About This Course

The COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 U.S. presidential election. Climate change. The Russian invasion of Ukraine. All of these events loom large in the public mind today, and they all have something in common: they are ongoing crises that have been shaped significantly by misinformation (false or misleading info spread unintentionally) and disinformation campaigns (lies, falsehoods, and misleading information spread intentionally to achieve political or social goals).

What’s more, this isn’t just about bad information — it’s about a breakdown in how we deliberate and make decisions in democratic communities. Thus, we have to understand the concept of demagoguery to really understand how mis/disinformation can be so effective in our contemporary public discourse. In this class, we explore this major problem and engage with it critically and creatively.

Along the way, we will have fun with conspiracy theories, memes, and producing the most exquisite bullshit. You will have an opportunity to complete a creative project (produce an artifact or perform an action) that shows an artful engagement with and response to this problem.

Professor Ian Porter (he/him/his)

School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences

About Professor Porter

Ian Porter is a teacher and librarian whose courses focus on the intersection of communication, information, culture, and democracy. In his free time, he loves hanging out with his wife and daughters, eating good food, and listening to good music on Seattle’s amazing local radio station KEXP.

Contact

Email: iporter@uw.edu