California State University, Northridge       
College of Arts, Media, and Communication
Department of Communication Studies

COMS 301: Performance, Language, & Cultural Studies
Spring 2010
Mon & Wed 2 - 3:15pm

Christie Logan, Ph.D.
office hours: W & F 12:30 -2, and by appointment

301 Home |301 Syllabus | WebCT Newsgroup & Chat   | email Dr. Logan


revised 3/17/2010 - changes & additions in red; reading presentation groups in red

DATE TOPIC
Reading / Assignment Due

Week 1:

1/20

 

Introduction / Overview of Course

Varieties and Contexts of Performance

*Note: Many online readings require Adobe Acrobat Reader: free download here

Info sheets

online: Performance Fan, adapted & elaborated by Christie Logan. *Print and bring this to class.

Week 2:

1/25
Definitions & Processes:
Performance Theories and Methods
Bell - Chapter 1
1/27
Bell - Chapter 2

Week 3:
2/1

Textuality

Bell - Chapter 3
2/3 Semiotics

Roseda T., Lily T., Tony M.

Week 4:
2/8

Eruption and Social Drama: Public Liminality

view When the Levees Broke

Bell - Chapter 4
online: "Spike Lee on Race, Politics, and Broken Levees," Listen to the interview here, aired on NPR's All Things Considered, 8/13/2006.
2/10

Week 5:
2/15

Performance, Power & Cultural Processes

view Between Two Worlds

Bell - Chapter 5

added: Randy Lewis, "Chieftans Write Musical History with 'San Patricio'" LA Times, 2/13/2010.

2/17

Week 6:
2/22

 Performing Social Roles

online: E.J. Westlake, "Friend Me if You Facebook: Generation Y and Performative Surveillance," TDR: The Drama Review 52:4, Winter 2008.

Bell - Chapter 6

Toni R., Erin C., Katrina R.
2/24 Performing Social Roles

Bell - Chapter 6

Katherine M., Kelly B., Brian K., Sam B.
Week 7:
3/1

Performing Identity

Bell - Chapter 7

Savonne W., BiBi M., Ginelle C., Karina R.
3/3 Technology & Perf.

Bell - Chapter 9

Sara T., Ben W., Josh S., Angela F.

Week 8:
3/8

Identity Performances

Identity Performances & papers due

3/10

Week 9:

3/15

 Identity Performances
ID Perf's continued
3/17

Week 10:
3/22

 Identity Performances

ID Perf's completed

 
3/24

click here for assignment guidelines for the LA Ethnography project

Ethics & Ethnography

online:
Conquergood, "Performing as a Moral Act: Ethical Dimensions of the Ethnography of Performance," LIP April 1985.
Conquergood, "Rethinking Ethnography: Toward a Critical Cultural Politics,"Communication Monographs 58, June 1991

review Bell, Chapter 5

Jared C., Alycia T., Brittany D. Maria (Lupe) R.


Week 11:

3/29

 

Exam

Exam - bring blue books

3/31

Cesar Chavez Day - campus closed

 

week 12:
4/5 - 11

Spring Break
Performance West Festival 4/8-11

Week 13:

4/12

Ethnography Prospectus due - posted on newsgroup

Public Space, Power
and
Everyday Performance

 

set performance ethnography groups

online:
Jon Goss, "The Built Environment and Social Theory," Professional Geographer 40, 4 (1988), 392-403

Scott E., Vanessa G., Emilie N.
4/14

*new: online:
Christopher Hawthorne, Digital Video Runs a Screen on the Cityscape. LA Times, 1/24/2010.

Aronstam:
Susan Willis, "Disney World: Public Use/Private State," Signs of Life in the USA, 4th ed. 2003

Brandi K., Suzy M., Bart K., Gaby D.
Week 14:
4/19

Resistant Performance and Social Change

view Couple in a Cage

Bell - Chapter 8, pp. 199-207
online: Coco Fusco, "The Other History of Intercultural Performance," TDR 38,1 (1994)

Vanessa B., Olivia S.
4/21   Furlough day for Dr. Logan -- groups workday
Week 15:
4/26

Resistant Perf cont'd

Bell - Chapter 8, 207 - 231

online: Joni L. Jones, "sista docta: Performance as Critique of the Academy," TDR 41, 2, Summer 1997

Ram G., Sean V., Justin E., David B.
4/28 Groups workday
Week 16:
5/3 & 5/5
Group Presentations

Group presentations
Week 17: 5/10

Final Exam Period
Mon 3 - 5 pm

Group presentations completed

Individual Papers due

301 Home Course Syllabus WebCT Newsgroup & chatrooms

Last Update: March 17, 2010
Please Send Comments, Suggestions, etc. to christie.logan@csun.edu