CSt 1101: Introduction to Cultural Studies

Course Outline
Fall 2006
10:00 - 11:40am T Th
Humanities 403

Dr. Mitra C. Emad
Office: Cina 212B
Phone: 726-7389
Email: memad@d.umn.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:30 - 3:00pm and by appointment
Home Page: http://www.d.umn.edu/~memad

Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the following:

So, what is Cultural Studies?

Scholars define it as "an interdisciplinary academic field focused on the poetics and politics of culture." What does this mean?

This means that Cultural Studies can focus on anything broadly defined as cultural -- from communion wafers to reality TV to the current anti-war protests - all of these cultural phenomena become "the stuff" that Cultural Studies workers read and interpret. Cultural Studies work focuses on methods for understanding the historical, social, and political world around us.

A primary method used in Cultural Studies is reading. This may sound annoyingly simple, but when we do CS work, just about anything can become a "text" that we can learn to "read" in order to learn about the culture within which we are situated: TV programs, rock concerts, political demonstrations, our own classroom, a doctor's office, a corporate farm, and even children's toys.

In this class, we will explore the ways we create and understand the world of American culture. When we do this, we get ourselves involved in "breaking the spell of the familiar." What has become so familiar to us suddenly becomes more complicated, even strange. Reading American culture as a text allows us to see and analyze who has the power to determine what is "normal" and familiar. Our method of reading can therefore be seen as a "double take" on American culture; it opens up possibilities for gaining a global perspective and envisioning strategies for social change.

 

Texts:
 A note about our readings: You will get several different points of view in every day's reading assignments. Through these readings, you will encounter the works of some of the most accomplished writers, scholars, poets, artists, and photographers in the interdisciplinary field of Cultural Studies.

You will be required to purchase the following book:
Seeing & Writing 3, 3rd edition . By Donald McQuade & Christine McQuade. Bedford/St. Martins, 2006.

You will also be required to pick up your free copy of the daily New York Times before class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Your free subscription for this course is for all five days of the week, and developing a daily newspaper reading practice will only enhance your success in this course. You may pick your newspaper up at the Kirby Information Desk.

You will also be required to print out, read, and bring to class selected PDF and web readings used in class.

Course Requirements:

Class Participation (200 points): While lecture presentations take up a portion of most of our class meetings, the lecture style will be an interactive one in which students participate. The primary teaching and learning method for this course is discussion, both as a class and in small groups. Three aspects of your daily contributions to class discussion are:
1. Daily preparation for class. This means not only completing the scheduled reading assignment for that day, but also being prepared for our class discussions. Some ways to do this might include recording your immediate questions, outlining the basic argument, and taking notes on the reading. We will cover these methods in class.
2. Active daily contributions to class discussion. This means sharing your questions, thoughts, and interpretations with others.
3. Consistent contributions to small group discussions. We will meet in small groups about once every week to two weeks. You will have the opportunity to develop your listening skills, organize the group's thoughts into coherent notes, and really hear a diverse range of perspectives. Remember to listen and hear with respect even when encountering views that oppose or even threaten your own views.

Forum Entries (200 points; 100 possible points before midterm, 100 possible points after midterm): Our class will have an online forum for continuing class discussions. The purpose of this forum is to give you an informal, enjoyable way to discuss course issues, ideas and materials. This is an unmoderated forum, which means that whatever you post will be sent automatically to the forum's webpage and can be viewed by anyone logging onto the Internet (though only members of our class will be able to post). Be discrete, respectful, and thoughtful; the same rules of etiquette found in the classroom should apply here, too; this means no "flaming" or intentionally posting comments that are designed only to anger, hurt, or humiliate your classmates. As your professor, I do reserve the right to delete flames from the forum.

To get things going, I will post questions to the list early in the semester; after that, my role will be minimal participation, as this is your forum. To earn full credit, your message or reply must be substantive; so if you want to raise a question, take a stab at what you are thinking about regarding the answer. You will be expected to post to the forum regularly. You will be graded on your overall contribution to discussion -- posting a question that sparks good discussion will be rewarded.

Click here to link to the CSt 1101 Forum!

 

Quizzes & Freewritings (100 points): There will be regular scheduled in-class quizzes (graded) and freewritings (ungraded) over the course of the semester. Quizzes will test your reading comprehension, ability to think critically, and observation and inference skills. Freewritings are short, timed writings to get your thoughts, opinions, and ideas flowing.

Midterm and Final Exams (200 points - 100 points each): There will be a midterm exam and a final exam as listed in the Course Schedule. Each exam will be composed of short answer and essay questions.

Group Presentation (300 points): For your semester project, you'll be assigned one of the Modules covered in class. Working in groups of four or five, your task will be to gather new information about that Module, find or create an artifact that fits with your information, and present your findings to the class during your scheduled presentation day. Your group will have approximately 20-30 minutes of our class period in which to present your findings and engage the rest of the class in your chosen artifact. You may design your presentations in any way you choose. Your Presentation Day is listed on the Course Schedule.

Presentation Groups:
Module 1: Gender
Module 2: Race
Module 3: Bodies
Module 4: Class
Module 5: Family
Module 6: War
Module 7: Representation
Module 8: Cyborgs
Module 9: Food
Module 10: Work
Module 11: Consumption
Module 12: America
Module 13: Icons

 

Grading:
There are 1000 possible points in this class. Note: You must complete each course requirement in order to pass this class!
Class Participation- 200 points
Quizzes & FWs - 100 points
Discussion Forum - 200 points
Midterm Exam- 100 points
Final Exam- 100 points
Group Project - 300 points
_________________________________
Total- 1000 points

920-1000 A 810-829 B- 685-709 D+
900-919 A- 785-809 C+ 650-684 D
885-899 B+ 730-784 C 0- 649 F
830-884 B 710-729 C-  

Attendance:
Attendance is crucial for a discussion-based course. If you need to miss a class, it is your responsibility to communicate with me in a timely manner. Without such communication, the day's assignments, discussion, and any exams collected will get an "F".


If you have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might affect your ability to perform in this class, please inform me at the beginning of the semester. I will adapt methods, materials, and/or testing to provide for your equitable participation.

 

This course fulfills requirements for Liberal Education Category 8 - Contemporary Social Issues and Analysis. As such, CSt 1101: Introduction to Cultural Studies analyzes contemporary issues surrounding and involving gender, race, social class, cultural bodies, food systems, memory, work and labor, and popular culture. Analyses will necessitate examination of the relationship of these issues to individuals and to social institutions in economic, political, and educational systems.

Course Schedule