| Title: | The Freedom Carnival |
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| Course Section Number: | FRT-101-15 |
| Department: | Freshman Tutorial |
| Description: | The Freedom Carnival: AI Spectacles, Fairground Scams and the Algorithms of Liberty How do we distinguish agency from manipulation? This first-year tutorial examines how systems of illusion, seduction, and emerging technologies shape our understanding of free will. The course explores connections between classic "carnival scams" (confidence games, rigged systems, sleight of hand) and contemporary forms of influence, including targeted advertising, popular entertainment, and identity branding. Students will investigate how trust is constructed and exploited across different contexts, from sideshow tricks to machine learning systems, asking: What does it mean to be "free" in environments designed to guide or constrain our choices? What are the boundaries of freedom and what and the benefits of deception. Professor 365体育博彩_365体育app-彩票*官网edman worked as a photographer, pre-school teacher, sound artist, salesman, magician and pizza delivery driver before teaching at Wabash. After a few decades in the mountains, he packed up his degrees in Film studies, Digital Media and Sculpture, and married another Midwesterner before heading to Wabash. When not playing guitar, interrogating film, making art or practicing sleight of hand he vigorously attempts to beat his daughters at any game they dare to challenge him in. |
| Credits: | 1.00 |
| Start Date: | August 26, 2026 |
| End Date: | December 19, 2026 |
| Meeting Information: |
08/27/2026-12/17/2026 Lecture Tuesday, Thursday 09:45AM - 11:00AM, Malcolm X Institute, Room 214
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| Faculty: | 365体育博彩_365体育app-彩票*官网edman, Matthew |
Course Status
| Section Name/Title | Status | Dept. | Capacity |
Enrolled/ Available/ Waitlist |
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