ADSO 3510 Race, Surveillance, and Society

Under the institution of slavery, Black bodies were heavily surveilled through severe monitoring, disciplining, and punishing practices. Although slavery has been abolished, these technologies for surveillance continue to resonate in the contemporary era. From data collection to ancestry tests or artificial intelligence, this course focuses on how society defines, automates, and monitors racial difference. Students will explore the concept of surveillance and its impact on conceptions of race and society from enslavement to the present day. The sociological framing of surveillance equips students with a language to not only unpack, but address contemporary issues within societal institutions such as prisons, health centers, and mass media.