Infrastructure and Society

Infrastructures make their social impact felt in a variety of ways, including through the technologies they use, the materials from which they are made, and their sensory and aesthetic presence in our everyday lives. What does a bridge do besides allow a crossing? How does waiting in an airport influence our understanding of time and place? How do database designs impact how we relate to government? How does gamification shape our perceptions of work? Each of these anchor diverse landscapes of experience across populations, communities, and individuals, often impacting how we understand what is necessary for social life. In this course we see just how far the idea of infrastructure can be applied, how it can transform perceptions of our environment and history, and how it can shape the interpretations of our hopes for the future. In doing so, we explore how our everyday perceptions of infrastructure shape how we describe and evaluate the social conditions of accountability, inclusion, justice, and progress.