LT412-6-AU-CO:
Artificial Intelligence and Culture
2026/27
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 08 October 2026
Friday 18 December 2026
15
31 March 2026
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
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This module explores historical and contemporary representations – in screen, literature and digital culture - of artificial intelligence so that students can understand the meaning of the technology. The module examines AI as both an imaginary and actual technology, using speculative and critical thinking to form a view of artistic and corporate narratives of AI. It builds further upon critical thinking and creative practice as taught across humanities disciplines.
The aims of this module are:
- To introduce students to speculative thinking and practice.
- To provide students with an understanding of the historical and contemporary cultural representation of artificial intelligence.
- To enable students to apply speculative thinking in a technological, future-facing context, and to be able to analyse representations of artificial intelligence.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the history of artificial intelligence in culture.
- Critically evaluate contemporary claims for artificial intelligence and create meaningful speculations about it.
- Identify and explain the role that the cultural representations of artificial intelligence play in attitudes to and expectations of the technology.
Indicative Syllabus
Screen representations of artificial intelligence
Digital culture, deep fakes and memes generated using artificial intelligence
Novels and short stories exploring artificial intelligence
Extraction of resources to train and power AI
The future of work
AI and crime
A comparison between human and AI creativity
This module will be delivered via:
- One 3-hour seminar per week
Students are expected to read and view texts before classes, be prepared to engage in discussion and undertake formative creative practice and critical work for the purposes of regular workshopping.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Debate Presentation |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
Essay or Creative Practice 1 |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Essay or Creative Practice 2 |
|
45% |
| Practical |
Participation |
|
5% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Yes
Yes
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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