In this class, we will explore what media philosophy is and does—along with the horizon of its possibilities—through a series of readings by some of its contemporary practitioners. These include Sybille Kramer (Medium, Messenger, Transmission: An Approach to Media Philosophy), John Durham Peters (The Marvelous Clouds: Toward a Philosophy of Elemental Media), Armond Towns (On Black Media Philosophy), M. Beatrice Fazi (Contingent Computation: Abstraction, Experience, and Indeterminacy in Computational Aesthetics) and Yuk Hui (Art and Cosmotechnics). Each author asks us to consider media philosophy in relation to intellectual histories and contemporary challenges including new media art, ecologies and the Anthropocene, Gilles Deleuze, the history and philosophy of technology, racialization, Black Feminist Theory, Chinese art history and philosophy. The class will be structured as a reading group: Each seminar will engage one or two essays or chapters and will be facilitated by two students (along with the instructor). Students will be asked to write weekly responses in reading journals and should expect to come to class with questions prepared and texts in hand (hard copy or computers/tablets are fine), ready to delve into close reading as a full class and in break out groups. A significant final project is also required but here you can choose your own adventure: I encourage students to follow their interests in developing ideas and to work in the medium and form that best suits their project (i.e., essay, video essay, art project, podcast, etc.). NOTE: This course is open to Lang Juniors and Seniors only. [Tracks C, M]