Introduction
This course looks closely at popular culture by way of film, television, literature, music, and cyberspace. We begin by asking, What signifies nation, self, and other in the 21st century?  What texts and icons resist and reaffirm class, race, gender, and popular culture itself? In what ways has the internet transformed human relations?

Method
A play, novel, film, TV show, and internet site. We’ll define popular culture through these five primary texts with the help of cultural studies, literary theory, film theory, and new media studies.  Our friendly, workshop-style environment will promote productive peer review, class discussions, and inspiring group projects.

Primary Texts
Dorsey. Twitter (2006 - )
Ficarra and Requa. Crazy, Stupid Love (2011)
Fleming. Dr. No (1958)
Lloyd. Modern Family (2009)
Pomerance. The Elephant Man (1979)


Required Critical Text
Barker.  Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice

Additional Texts
(Some texts below are available on Moodle)
Allen. Annie Hall
Apatow. The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Bennett and Woollacott: "The Moments of Bond"
Baron: "Dr. No: Bonding Britishness to Racial Sovereignty"
Black. "Cold War Stories"
Bordo. "'Material Girl': The Effacement of Postmodern Culture"
Brooks. Young Frankenstein
Butler. "Imitation and Gender Insubordination"
Campell. Casino Royale (2006)
Clifton. Song Remains the Same
Cooper. King Kong (1933)
Crowe. Almost Famous
Crowe. Jerry Maguire
Cox. Sid and Nancy
DaCosta. The Music Man
de Beauvoir. The Second Sex (excerpt)
Derrida. "Differance"
Edwards. "10"
Fiske. Television Culture (excerpt)
Foucault. The History of Sexuality (excerpt)
Foucault. "Panopticism"
Gilbert. You Only Live Twice
Goldman. "Images of Technology in Popular Films: Discussion and Filmography"
Hamilton. Goldfinger
Hamilton. Man with the Golden Gun
Harron. American Psycho
Jordan. Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles
Karl. "Goldfinger’s Gold Standard: Negotiating the Economic Nation in Mid-twentieth Century Britain"
Lester. Hard Days Night
Martin. "Where Did the Future Go?"
McDonald.  The Romantic Comedy: Boy Meets Girl Meets Genre
McKay. Anchorman
Nichols. The Graduate
Nolan. The Dark Knight Rises
Parks. Shaft
Russell. Tommy
Said. Orientalism (excerpt)
Schumacher. St. Elmo's Fire
Shankman. Rock of Ages
Saussure. Course in General Linguistics (excerpt)
Stone. The Doors
Taylor. Zizek!
Wadleigh. Woodstock
Whedon. The Avengers (2012)

Course Objectives

• Understand that popular culture signifies and shapes political, familial, and institutional sources of selfhood and human relations
• Comprehend verbal and visual representations of these disciplinary forces through literal, implied, and symbolic levels
  
• Identify a text’s point of view, tone, exposition, and audience
• Analyze ideology through the textual and visual
• Gain cultural literacy through experiencing films, internet sites,  and literary works

Course Evaluation

• Weekly Moodle Reflection 10%
• Midterm Exam 30%   
• Primary Text Class Presentation 20%
• Final Exam 40%

1. Weekly Moodle Reflection 10% 
Each week, post an informal yet thoughtful response to our readings and class discussions on Moodle (@500 words). This reflection is an important part of our coursework and a great opportunity for you to establish a meaningful dialogue with your classmates since they will post here, too.  Aim for clear, convincing reflections in a conversational tone.  Make connections to texts and things outside the class; go beyond summarizing.

NOTE: To give your classmates' enough time to read and respond, Moodle posts are due no later than Sunday 6:00 PM before Tuesday's class.

2. Midterm 30%
Your Midterm exam will consist of multiple choice and/or short essay questions representing the course content up to midterm. Your midterm exam will consist of mutliple choice and short answers and cover thcourse content discussed up to midterm.
3. Primary Text Class Discussion 20%
Form small groups and choose one of our primary texts on which to lead a 30-minute class discussion (not a lecture). This discussion should help your classmates analyze your text in terms of its content, genre, and historical moment.  Consider how your primary text and its central figures represent class, race, gender, and nation. What is your text's politics in relation to the medium that presents it? How can our critical readings help illuminate your text's cultural significance? How does your text resist and/or reaffirm old ways of seeing human relations?

Note the following responsibilities:

• Design a classroom activity 
• Each individual writes a 750-word reflection (3 pages, not including Works Cited) that states in explicit terms how s/he contributed to the group presentation.

4. Final Exam 40%
Your final exam will consist of multiple choice and/or short essay questions representing the entire course content.  

Participation
There is no percentage or points ascribed to participation since participation is mandatory. Class participation includes attendance, discussions, student-instructor conferences, and workshop activities.  Everyone has something to contribute to the class. If you do not feel comfortable speaking in class you may participate in other ways, such as group activities and peer review.  You must complete all of your readings by their due date. Although participation grades will not be distributed, I will be happy to discuss any questions you have about your progress.

Policies
When you enroll in our class you make a commitment to your classmates. This is a participatory, collaborative workshop-style class and attendance is absolutely essential to our success.

Since we meet only twice per week, grades are dropped a letter after three absences and an F is given after six. 

All work is due on the date specified in our syllabus. You are responsible for completing and submitting any work due for a day that you miss and you must come prepared with any work required for the following class.  Let me know in advance if you'll be missing a class. Please feel free to contact me or see me during my office hours to learn what you missed and how to prepare for the next session. 

NOTE:

(1) Late work will not be accepted unless you have obtained an extension from me ahead of time. You must submit your essay even if you miss class on its due date. 

(2) Due to the participatory nature of this class, laptops and cellphones are not permitted.

Grades
You must complete all work to pass the course. Please feel free to come by my office or email me if you'd like to discuss your progress and/or other concerns during the semester.  

Academic Honesty
You must be scrupulously honest in documenting the work that you have drawn from others.  Like other institutions, CSUN maintains a strict academic honesty policy.  Plagiarism is illegal and dishonest.  All cases of academic dishonesty must be reported to the Dean, who may suspend or permanently dismiss you from CSUN.  You will receive a course grade of F if you plagiarize in ENGL313.