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Student Learning Outcomes - - A successful student will analyze assumptions of race, class, generation, and gender embedded in popular culture.
- A successful student will critique aspects of popular culture as a reflection of its social/historical context.
- A successful student will evaluate artifacts of popular culture and its relationship to a commodity culture.
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Description - |
| Overview, history and critical analysis of popular culture as a window for understanding American society. Theories and methods of analyzing artifacts of popular culture. Overarching themes: history/social theories of popular culture; popular culture as a product of American multiculturalism; the relationship between a commodity culture and intellect/artistry; philosophical/ethical issues surrounding popular culture. The honors section offers deeper theoretical content, assignments that require more sophisticated cognition/critical thinking, more rigorous assessment, and an additional summative project. |
Course Objectives - |
| The student will be able to:
- evaluate the influence of popular culture on contemporary society.
- interpret artifacts of popular culture from an historical and social perspective.
- synthesize critiques of popular culture.
- identify and analyze the sources of popular culture.
- engage in critical thinking concerning assumptions of race, class, and gender imbedded in popular culture.
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Special Facilities and/or Equipment - |
| - Classroom computer with internet access.
- Video/DVD projection equipment.
- CD player.
- When taught via 17勛圖 Global Access: on-going access to computer with email software and capabilities; email address; JavaScript-enabled internet browsing software.
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Course Content (Body of knowledge) - |
| - Introduction and Background
- Historical overview of late 20th/21st century American culture
- Defining popular culture: high culture versus popular culture
- Popular culture and artistry
- Advertising
- Advertising and American capitalism, ethical issues
- Advertising: critical analysis (e.g., conscious/subconscious imagery)
- Images of women in advertising, feminist critique
- Television
- Television as a reflection of American cultural values/ideals
- Current television phenomena (e.g., reality shows)
- Television and social criticism: The Simpsons, Modern Family, etc.
- Music
- Multiculturalism and American popular music
- Popular music versus classical music; historical perspectives and shifting boundaries
- Rock, rap, and the Doctrine of Ethos; can music influence human behavior?
- Music and visual culture (e.g., music videos)
- Technology
- Technology and evolving communication/language
- Democratization and cyberspace
- Technology and shifting social contracts
- Sports
- Football and semiotics (football as an American metaphor)
- Critical analysis; sports as Dubord's Spectacle
- Film
- Reflections on the American dream--Hollywood as a purveyor of American culture
- Race and gender stereotypes in contemporary films
- Film analysis--artistry in American films
- Student Presentations
- Topics of special interest to students
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Methods of Evaluation - |
| Evaluation methods may include but are not limited to:
- Cooperative learning assignments
- Analytical essays
- Objective exams
- Honors Institute students are required to attend on-campus lectures and participate in a group research project that culminates with a class presentation designed to foster deeper understanding of a specific aspect of American popular culture
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Representative Text(s) - |
| Danesi, Marcel. Popular Culture: Introductory Perspectives. 4th ed. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2019. Open source readings (various authors), provided as links on the course website.
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Disciplines - |
| History or Music
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Method of Instruction - |
| - Lecture presentations and classroom discussions on the history and analysis of American popular culture.
- Readings offering diverse perspectives on aspects of popular culture.
- Individual and group analyses of artifacts of popular culture.
- Participation in a collaborative project.
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Lab Content - |
| - Students apply theoretical knowledge to popular culture artifacts (films, television, music, advertising, etc.) in a problem-based environment.
- Discussion forums on theories of popular culture.
- Weekly reflections on topics within popular culture.
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Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing and Outside of Class Assignments - |
| - Weekly reading assignments ranging from 10-20 pages per week.
- Written analyses of artifacts of popular culture.
- Weekly learning reflections in which students identify the large ideas presented that week.
- Online discussion forums based on course readings and analyses of artifacts of popular culture.
- Individual research project.
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