Artificial Intelligence and Creativity in Global Contexts

FaculteitFaculty of Humanities

NiveauMaster

Studiejaar2026-2027

Beschrijving

Course goals

By the end of this course, students will have gained the ability to:

critically examine the role of AI in shaping contemporary understandings of creativity across global contexts.
analyze cultural and ethical dilemmas arising from the use of traditional and artisanal knowledge in AI systems, particularly focusing on underrepresented communities.
explore theoretical frameworks in media anthropology, critical data studies, and cultural studies to investigate creativity as a cultural, economic, and political phenomenon.
interrogate power dynamics in the global data economy, with a focus on the Global South’s contributions to AI-driven creative industries.
develop nuanced perspectives on the socio-political implications of AI technologies in media and cultural production.

Content

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not only reshaping how we understand creativity but also challenging the socio-cultural and political foundations of creative practices. This course examines how AI technologies are impacting notions of creativity as they relate to labor, rights, and learning of cultural value in a globalized and highly mediated world. Focusing on the role of data-driven technologies in the creative industries, the course critically interrogates how power, representation, and agency operate in the evolving dynamics between humans and machines. By interrogating AI's impact on traditional and contemporary creative practices, we investigate diverse cultural and artistic production, consumption, and distribution in the data economy.

Through case studies, critical readings, and engaged discussions with diverse global experts, students will explore questions such as: How does AI challenge traditional notions of creativity? What roles do underrepresented communities, particularly in the Global South, play in shaping AI's creative processes and outputs? How do we value creative labor in the global data economy? What are the cultural and ethical implications of using underrepresented communities’ creative practices in AI models? How do we ensure equitable recognition and remuneration for creative contributions in a data-driven age?

Ultimately, the course asks students to rethink creativity beyond Eurocentric paradigms, considering artisanal knowledge, platform economies, and cross-cultural ethics in an increasingly digital landscape. By engaging with diverse stakeholders—including tech industry experts, content creators, artisanal communities, and heritage activists—we aim to reimagine creative value in a globalized AI context.

Additional information

Only open for students in the RMA Media, Art and Performance Studies.

Transitional provisions

This course is the equivalent for course MCRMV16039 - Mec-Data-Driven Research & Digital Tools for Media, Art and Performance Studies.

If you've completed MCRMV16039 Mec-Data Driven Research and Digital Tools for Media, Art and Performance Studies before, you cannot take the course MCRMV25001 AI Cultures.

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