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Course Description:
When we speak of "popular culture" what exactly are we talking about? Is something "popular" merely because it is consumed in large quantities, or does the label "popular" refer to a particular style of production, reception, or participation? This course will assume a critical stance toward American popular culture, asking about the origins of both the category and the media that convey it. We will begin by surveying the emergence and democratization of "leisure time" in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As wages rose and work hours diminished, what sorts of "amusements" were available to fill this "leisure time," who took advantage of these amusements, and how did they do so? Once the historical foundation is established, we will investigate contemporary examples of popular culture with an emphasis on what people do with cultural “texts” (loosely defined). We will look at how such texts are constructed and circulated, how “fans” interact with them, and how the interactions between producers and consumers are changing in the contemporary era. We will use the figure of the “zombie” to center our discussions, so if you are not a fan of zombies—horrific or humorous—this may not be the course for you.
Evaluation will be based on periodic quizzes/assignments, one (5-7 pp) analytical response paper, one (8-10 pp) research paper, and two exams.
Texts:
David Nasaw, Going Out: The Rise and Fall of Public Amusements;
A zombie-related text of your choice (novel, graphic novel, film or TV show)
A selection of readings available in the "Readings" Folder of the Desire2Learn site for this course (https://oc.okstate.edu)
Policies:
Participation: Students are expected to attend every class and participate actively in class discussions, both real and virtual. Participation determines borderline grades and eligibility for extra credit!
Excessive absence may result in a failing grade for the course. Absences will be excused only for dire illness and family emergency, both of which must be substantiated by documentation (a Dr's note, a funeral notice, etc.). If you accumulate more than three unexcused absences, you forfeit the right to earn extra-credit points. More than 6 such absences, and you fail.
Active participation means:
You will have read the materials and completed any writing assignments, including on-line assignments, before you arrive in class.
You will bring the day’s reading materials with you to class so that you may refer to them.
You will engage with and respond to your peers during both large and small group discussions and during on-line assignments.
You will listen attentively to every speaker and respond respectfully to the ideas of others. You will NOT phone, text, or surf the internet while in class.
You will exhibit a deliberate effort to apply, extend, and challenge concepts we discuss in class. Ask questions, make comparisons, & share your observations in every class.
Quizzes/Assignments: I will periodically give in-class quizzes or out of class writing assignments (discussion posts) to test your comprehension of course materials and terminology. Writing assignments will be due by 5pm on Sundays with additional comments due before class on Tuesdays. They will always occur over weekends. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class and cannot be made up. If you are late, unprepared, or otherwise absent for the quiz, you will lose those points. Altogether, the quizzes/assignments will be worth 100 points & will comprise 10% of your course grade.
Essay One: You will complete a 5-7 page analytical essay over a zombie text of your choosing from a list provided by me. In the essay, you will analyze the text using appropriate course concepts and readings to ground your insights. See the ASSIGNMENTS folder on the D2L for full details, and the schedule of readings for the due date. This essay will be worth 150 points and will comprise 15% of your course grade. NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Essay Two: You will complete an 8-10 page research essay that applies course insights on globalization to a cultural phenomenon of your choosing. Topic: What factors—economic, political, historical, cultural—explain the popularity of this global phenomenon in the US? See the ASSIGNMENTS folder on the D2L for full details, and the schedule of readings for the due date. This essay will be worth 250 points and will comprise 25% of your course grade. 5% of that grade (50 pts) will be based on your completion of a research worksheet related to your phenomenon (Due 11/15). NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Exams: There will be one mid-term and one final exam in this class. The exams may consist of identifications, short-answer responses, and/or essay questions and will cover the course readings, lectures, media, and discussions in equal measure. Check the course schedule to determine the exam dates. The exams will be worth 250 points each, and together will comprise 50% of your course grade. MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN ONLY IN CASES OF DOCUMENTED EMERGENCY.
Special Needs and Disabilities:If you have a disability, physical or otherwise, you must register with the appropriate liaison in the Student Disability Services Office (103 North Hall; 918-594-8354). Once you have registered, I will be happy to make accommodations for your needs if at all possible.
Academic Honesty: All work you turn in for this class must be your own work. Incidents of minor plagiarism—including the failure to cite your sources properly—will result in a failing grade for the assignment. Any more egregious violation (turning in someone else's paper as your own, copying content from the internet, or cheating during an exam, for example) will result in a failing grade for the course. Consult OSU’s Office of Academic Affairs for more information on OSU’s Academic Integrity policy.
Media: Films assigned for both in-class and out-of-class viewing will be available either online or on reserve at the OSU Tulsa library. NOTE: You will not be permitted to check the films out of the library, so schedule the appropriate amount of time to view them. To access reserves, visit the circulation desk in the library, provide the staff member with the course number and title of the film/show, and he/she will check it out to you. I will provide links on D2L to media that are available online.
*Richard Dyer, “Entertainment and Utopia; In Defense of Disco”
Ways of Reading Popular Culture
9/18
Read:
Watch:
Reading Film I: Ideology Critique
*Jonathan Gray “Common Sense”
*Harry Benshoff and Sean Green, “Whiteness”
*Kyle William Bishop, “Imperialist Hegemony & the Cinematic Voodoo Zombie”
EITHER White Zombie (1932) OR I Walked with a Zombie (1943) – Both are available on Reserve in the OSUT Library, or you can watch White Zombie online at:<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N5-UzUxBss> DUE: Discussion Post – In lieu of a quiz this week, post an analysis of the film’s portrayal of race, gender, or power relations to the Discussion Board (on the D2L). Apply course concepts if and when possible. DO THIS BEFORE 5 PM ON SUNDAY 9/16. Read your peers’ posts and comment as appropriate before you come to class on Tuesday. You MUST respond to at least 2 of your peers’ posts to receive full credit.
9/20
Read:
Reading Film II: The Work of Genre and Formula
*John Cawelti, “The Concept of Formula in the Study of Popular Culture” – Find this article yourselves using the Library search engines and databases
*Barry Keith Grant, “Elements of Genre”
9/25
Read:
Watch:
Case Study: Genre and Ideology in George Romero’s Zombie Films
*Robin Wood, “Return of the Repressed”
*Terrence McSweeney “Land of the Dead and the Home of the Brave: Romero’s Vision of a Post-9/11 America”
Night of the Living Dead (1968; http://archive.org/details/night_of_the_living_dead)
In-Class Screening: Clips from Dawn of the Dead, Land of the Dead DUE: Discussion Post – In lieu of a quiz this week, post a response to Robin Wood’s analysis of Night of the Living Dead on the Discussion Board (on D2L). Read Wood’s analysis BEFORE you watch the film. Then discuss the merits or demerits of Wood’s analysis. What does he get right; what does he get wrong? DO THIS BEFORE 5 PM ON SUNDAY 9/23. Read your peers’ posts and comment as appropriate before you come to class on Tuesday. You MUST respond to at least 2 of your peers’ posts to receive full credit.
It’s the Economy, Stupid! Political Economy and Popular Culture
9/27
Read:
Basic Theories
*David Paul Nord, “An Economic Perspective on Formula in Popular Culture”
*David Hesmondalgh, “Industries that Make Texts: The Distinctive Features of the Cultural Industries”
Impact of Media Convergence on the Popular Arts: Film
*Henry Jenkins, “The Matrix and Transmedia Storytelling”
Tim Kring on Transmedia Storytelling http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWyo00IoXo8&feature=related
Due: Essay 1:Analysis of a Zombie Text (Due 10/7 by 5 pm to Dropbox)
10/9
Read:
Impact of Media Convergence on the Popular Arts: TV
*Jonathan Gray, “Expansion, Overflow & Synergy”
10/11
Read:
Visit:
Watch: Play:
Case Study: The Walking Dead
Henry Jenkins, “Making My Peace with the Bicycle Girl: Reflections on TheWalking Dead Web Series” http://henryjenkins.org/2011/10/a_conversation_about_transmedi.html
AMC’s Walking Dead Website: http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead
The Walking Dead, “Pilot” (on Reserve in OSUT Library)
The Walking Dead Webisodes, in “Video” tab of the above website (3 of your choice)
Social Game on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AMCTheWalkingDeadGame
10/16
Midterm Exam
Room for Popular Maneuver?: The Internet and Participatory Culture
10/18
Read:
The Internet and Fan Cultures
*Henry Jenkins, “Digital Cinema, Media Convergence, and Participatory Culture”
*Suzanne Scott, "Authorized Resistance: Is Fan Production Frakked?"
10/25
Read:
Has the Digital Age Made Us All Zombies?
*Rodney Clapp, “Attack of the Zombies”
Tony Dokoupil, “Could the Internet Bring On a Zombie Apocalypse?” http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/06/10/could-the-internet-bring-on-a-zombie-apocalypse.html
*Gary Small and Gigi Vorgan, “Your Brain is Evolving Right Now”
*Sherry Turkle, “Always On”
Interactivity and Identity: Video Games, the Self, and Social Relations
10/30
Read:
Video Games, Identity and Community: Some (Recent) History
*Zach Waggoner, “Videogames, Avatars and Identity: A Brief History”
*S. Craig Watkins, “We Play: The Allure of Social Games, Synthetic Worlds and Second Lives”
Amy O’Leary, “In Virtual Play, Sex Harassment Is All Too Real” http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/us/sexual-harassment-in-online-gaming-stirs-anger.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120802
11/1
Read:
Playing the Undead
*Tanya Krzywinska, “Zombies in Gamespace: Form, Context, and Meaning in Zombie-Based Video Games”
*Chris Suellentrop, "Putting the Guilt Back in Killing."
Watch: Tea Party Zombies Must Die!
Globalization and Popular Culture
11/6
Read:
Watch:
American Culture Abroad
*Neil Campbell and Alasdair Kean, “The Transmission of American Culture”
Japanese Monsters Catch On To The Thriller Dance Craze http://io9.com/5420306/japanese-monsters-catch-on-to-the-thriller-dance-craze
11/8
Read:
Watch:
Case Study: Heavy Metal Travels
*Deena Weinstein, “The Globalization of Metal”
Rob Zombie, “Living Dead Girl” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvsMPOfblfg OR “Dragula” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqQuihD0hoI&
In-Class Screening: Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey (clips); Global Metal (clips)
11/13
Watch:
NOTE: I will be at a conference this week. Thus, we will not meet face-to-face. You may contact me via email if you have questions. Here are your assignments:
Heavy Metal in Baghdad DUE: Discussion Post – In lieu of a quiz this week, post a response to the film Heavy Metal in Baghdad on the Discussion Board (on the D2L). Weinstein argues that “the geographical dissemination of heavy metal has both economic and cultural dimensions” (36). How do we see these “dimensions” reflected in the story of Acrassicauda? DUE BEFORE 5 PM ON SUNDAY 11/18. Read your peers’ posts and comment as appropriate before you come to class on Tuesday 11/20. You MUST respond to at least 2 of your peers’ posts to receive full credit.
11/15
No Class Meeting
DUE: Research Worksheet (submit to Dropbox by 11:59 pm, Sunday 11/18)
11/20
Read:
“Foreign” Cultures in America: East Meets West
*Ralph Linton, "The 100 Percent American"
*David Desser, “Consuming Asia: Chinese/Jap. Popular Culture & Am. Imaginary”
Role-Playing Games & Zombie Walks—What’s Up with That?
Kyle Mackie, “Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun” http://kylemackiemasters.wordpress.com/2012/02/ (esp, part II on Fun)
Optional: Sarah Juliet Lauro, “Playing Dead: Zombies Invade Performance Art . . . and Your Neighborhood” <http://io9.com/5875897/did-zombie-flash-mobs-help-pave-the-way-for-occupy-wall-street>
“Tulsa Zombie Walk” on Facebook—examine relevant responses
Humans V. Zombies website http://humansvszombies.org
The “Zombie Squad” website http://www.zombiehunters.org/
12/6
Read:
Watch:
(Don’t) Panic: The Zombie Metaphor Spreads
*David Flint, “The Living Dead Devour Pop Culture”
*Centers for Disease Control, “Preparedness 101: Zombie Panic”
Fox & Friends, “Are Bath-Salts to Blame for Zombie-like Crimes” http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/06/06/are-bath-salts-to-blame-for-zombie-like-crimes/
Greg McNeal, “Zombie Cannibal Apocalypse?” Forbes Blog
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregorymcneal/2012/06/01/zombie-cannibal-apocalypse-cdc-weighs-in-but-is-abcs-castle-to-blame/
In-Class Screening: Mad TV, “The Black Experience and Zombies”; Castle “Undead Again” (clips)
Due: Essay 2 --Globalization & Pop Culture(Due 12/9 by 11:59 pm to Dropbox)
