English 313: Popular Culture
"The Radical Romance "
Fall 2008
WebCT: https://webteach.csun.edu
Section 02
Jerome Richfield Hall 319
T R 11:00AM-12:15PM |
Section 03
Jerome Richfield Hall 304
R 4:20PM-6:45PM |
Introduction
Ah, the radical romance. . . .This course looks closely at popular culture by way of the radical romance in film, television, literature, and cyberspace. We begin by asking, What signifies love and relationships in the 21st century? What texts resist and reaffirm class, gender, and the romance genre itself? In what ways has the internet transformed human relations?
Method
A play, novella, film, TV show, and internet site. We’ll define radical romance through these primary texts with the help of literary theory, film theory, new media studies, and cultural studies. Our friendly, workshop-style class environment will promote productive peer review, class discussions, and inspiring group projects. There are no tests but much reading and writing.
5 Primary Texts
Apatow. The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Capote. Breakfast at Tiffany’s
MySpace.com
Sex and the City (HBO)
Williams. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Additional Texts
Barker, Chris. Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice
Baudrillard. The System of Objects (excerpt)
Bordo. "'Material Girl': The Effacement of Postmodern Culture"
Butler. "Imitation and Gender Insubordination"
de Beauvoir. The Second Sex (excerpt)
Derrida. "Differance"
Fiske. Television Culture (excerpt)
Foucault. The History of Sexuality (excerpt)
McDonald. The Romantic Comedy: Boy Meets Girl Meets Genre
Saussure. Course in General Linguistics (excerpt)
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
- Recognize cultural diversity and cultural literacy through experiencing films, internet sites, and literary works
Course Evaluation
There are five class projects:
- Response Paper
- Primary Text Class Presentation
- Final Essay
- Blog
- WebCT Posts (weekly)
1. Response Paper
Your three-page response paper (@850 words, not including Works Cited) addresses an “outside” text that sheds lights on one of our primary texts. Draw from our theory, supplemental readings, and class discussions. Created and posted on your blog (see “Blog” below). The response paper should include:
- A logical flow of ideas with unified paragraphs and effective transitions
- Effective incorporation of research materials, primary text(s), and other texts
- MLA documentation including Works Cited page
2. Primary Text Class Presentation
In groups of seven, select one our primary texts (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Sex and the City, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, or MySpace.com) and discuss their relation to our course theme (and other texts) in a 30-minute class presentation (discussion not lecture). Help your classmates analyze content, genre, and technique. Consider how your text presents class and gender and resists and/or reaffirms old ways of seeing human relations. Note the following:
- Each group is responsible for one academic journal article related to the topic. Copy and distribute your article to the class one week before your presentation date.
- Each individual is responsible for a one-page (@ 250-word) analysis that states in explicit terms how s/he contributed to the group presentation. Created and posted on blog.
3. Final Essay
Your final, ten-page essay uses one primary text and supplemental readings to put forth a specific critique of a contemporary issue that you find interesting and important. That is, go beyond our texts to establish a clear position on a main topic. How, for example, do our primary texts and supplemental readings shed light on political, economic, and institutional realities? Like your response paper, this longer essay should represent careful scholarly work. First and final drafts required. Final essay created and posted on blog.
4. Blog
During the first week of class, create a blog devoted to our theme, the radical romance. Be prepared to discuss your blog to the class. All writing projects will be created and posted on blogs.
5. WebCT
Each week, post an informal yet thoughtful response to our readings and class discussion on our WebCT page. This reflection is a very important part of our coursework and a great opportunity for you to establish a meaningful dialogue with your classmates since they will post there, too. I don’t count words, but I do look for clear, convincing reflections in a conversational tone. Make connections to texts and things outside the class; go beyond summarizing.
Begin here: https://webteach.csun.edu
Participation
Class participation includes discussions, WebCT posts, student-instructor conferences, and workshop activities. Everyone has something to contribute to the class, and there is always an opportunity to learn from each other. If you do not feel comfortable speaking in class you may participate in other ways. Although participation grades will not be distributed, I will be happy to discuss any questions you have about your progress.
NOTE: 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.
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. Section 02 meets twice per week, so grades are dropped one letter after three absences and an F is given after six. Section 03 meets once per week, so grades are dropped a letter after one absence and an F is given after four. 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. 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.
Grades
I grade holistically, so no final grades will be given until your work is assessed in its entirety at the semester’s end. Until then, I’ll write comments and suggestions on your papers and WebCT posts and discuss your progress in person. Please feel free to come by my office, email, or phone me if you have concerns.
Academic Honesty
It is important for you to be scrupulously honest in documenting the work that you have drawn from others. Like other institutions, CSUN Primarytains 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 E313.
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