About This Class/Syllabus

Kate Hoyt - Communication Studies, University of Denver

COMN 1600.2 - Communication and Popular Culture

TR 4:00-5:50pm

Office Hours: By appointment, Sturm Suite 166 Room 169 (First floor by the entrance from guest parking lot)

Framing Thoughts: [Remix] has been used by film and television producers for the last 50 years. The importance is that that technique has been democratized. It is now anybody with access to a $1500 computer who can take sounds and images from the culture around us and use it to say things differently. These tools of creativity have become tools of speech. It is a literacy for this generation. This is how our kids speak. It is how our kids think. It is what your kids are as they increasingly understand digital technologies in relationship to themselves. -Lawrence Lessig

Course Description: This course uses various landmark theories and perspectives to analyze popular culture, with a particular emphasis on the importance of communication in the production and consumption of culture. We will examine various artifacts of popular culture including music, movies, texts, advertisements, clothing, and other relevant pieces of popular culture. In the course of this exploration, we will study the development of culture by applying different theories or 'lenses' to these artifacts. Students will experience and analyze various aspects of popular culture including production and consumption, in addition to how these processes work within the context of globalization. We will take a critical perspective in which we will challenge our own conceptions and consumption of popular culture. The goal of this course is to combine relevant theories with your own observations and interests in order to develop a careful, critical, and constructive analysis of popular culture.

Course Objectives:

1.) Awareness and deeper understanding of the critical issues that lie within popular culture events.

2.) Critical thinking about the use of one’s own voice within the converged public sphere.

3.) The ability to evaluate policies and practices of networked communication within the issue areas of access, free speech and social justice.

Class Schedule, Resources and Canvas Site

Class schedule is subject to change; although I will email with any pressing changes, you are responsible for regularly checking the class site for updates, supplemental readings and blog-response assignments.

Real-time updates on class schedule and other resources and information can be found on the class blog: www.CommInPopCultureSpring2015.blogspot.com

Required Texts

Ott, Brian & Mack, Robert. Critical Media Studies. Wiley & Sons, West Sussex, UK. *Note this is available for free as a library electronic resource: http://ca.eblib.com/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=1557284 (must sign in using PioneerWeb credentials).

All other texts will be provided/posted via PDF or link.

Other equipment may be optimal for certain assignments, and a full list of equipment available for checkout is located at: http://library.du.edu/services/computers-tech-availability.html. Equipment utilized beyond this list will be up to your discretion, and any (reasonable) requests for additional technology will be sought by myself in conjunction with the University of Denver Department of Communication Studies.

Library Liaison

The Communication Studies department encourages vigorous and ethical research as part of information literacy for all of its students. For assistance with research go to the Penrose Library @ the Anderson Academic Commons..

Dropping and Adding

You are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, and similar topics found at http://www.du.edu/registrar/regbill/reg_dropadd.html

*Since this is a full class, please EMAIL me if you plan to drop the class so I can let in students on the waitlist.

University Policies

Academic integrity

Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at the University of Denver, and the University’s Honor Code (see http://www.du.edu/honorcode) requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. The University of Denver expects students to recognize the strength of personal differences while respecting institutional values. Students are encouraged to think and act for themselves, as that is the purpose of higher education. However, they must also understand that the University has non-negotiable values in which it believes strongly. The purpose of the Honor Code is to communicate these values to the University community, and promote an environment conducive to education, work, recreation, and study. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Conduct. The policy on academic integrity can be found at the Office of Student Conduct website at http://www.du.edu/studentlife/ studentconduct/policies.html

You should, therefore, submit your own, original work for this course. I will uphold University of Denver’s policy on academic honesty. Consequently, an instance of academic misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, cheating, taking credit for others’ work, submitting work for another course as work for this one, etc.) will likely result in a failing course grade at a minimum.

University Disability Services

The Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP) is a comprehensive, fee-for-service program that provides academic support services beyond basic academic accommodations. See http:// www.du.edu/studentlife/disability/lep/index.html for more information. The Disability Services Program (DSP) is a no-cost program that facilitates delivery of basic accommodations to undergraduate and graduate/law students with documented disabilities. DSP provides accommodations at no cost to any student who has a documented disability as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Accommodations afford students equal opportunity to participate in the University's programs, courses, and activities. If you need accommodations for this class, please contact DSP immediately and provide me with the necessary documentation and information within the first 2 weeks of class. See http://www.du.edu/studentlife/disability/dsp/index.html for more information. You may request to meet with DSP staff by calling 303-871-2278 or stopping by the Driscoll Student Center.

Attendance, Participation and Late Work Policy

Communication and Popular Culture is a participation-intensive class. Your willingness remain open to in-class exercises and to take risks will enhance your mastery of the course learning objectives outlined above. Additionally, a large percentage (25%) of your grade will be determined by the frequency, quality and thoughtfulness of your participation in this class. Attendance is a given in this class, with the exception of personal and health emergencies, which must be excused by me; unexcused absences will result in a 0 for that day’s participation and a 5% drop in the attendance grade. Three late arrivals (15 minutes late or more) will count as one absence. Four absences will result in automatic failure of the course. If you miss class on a day in which you are expected to give a presentation, you will not be able to make up that opportunity unless it is a genuine emergency and you contact me beforehand.

Grading for participation will occur on a daily basis as follows:  

5 - Superior thought and effort in participation, unique perspectives offered and respect shown to fellow students/instructor

4 - Adequate thought and effort in participation, respect shown to fellow students/instructor  

3 - Student was present and alert but did not verbally participate; respect shown to fellow students/instructor

2 - Student actively avoided/rejected opportunities to participate

1 - Student disrupted the class, was disrespectful to fellow students/instructor or affected the class negatively

0 - Student was absent

Please be aware that I will only accept late work in cases of extreme personal emergency; furthermore, such work may be subject to a fifty percent grade penalty or additional, elaborative, assignments. You should be aware of the importance of backing up your work and frequent saving, as technological failure is not an acceptable excuse for late work.

Electronic Devices

All cellphones must be silenced or turned off before the start of class. Laptops may be used during class discussions for note-taking and looking up references pertaining to class only. All laptops must remain closed during presentations given by students; inappropriate usage of laptops/smartphones will result in a reduction of your total participation grade. *Note - if it is the first time you are using a mobile device or computer out of turn, or if multiple students in the class are doing this, I will issue a warning; after that I will simply assign you a “1” for that week’s participation grade (see above; 1=Student disrupted the class, was disrespectful to fellow students/instructor or affected the class negatively); I will be especially strict about this policy on days on which your peers are giving presentations.

Email Protocol

Although I typically receive and read your emails in a timely manner, please do not expect an immediate response during nights/weekends.

Although I welcome thoughtful and pressing inquiries about how to take your work further, if you are truly stuck on an assignment, please come see me during office hours, as face-to-face communication is more ideal in talking through your ideas about your work. Furthermore, your ability to find answers to your questions about assignments/readings on the website or in this syllabus will factor in to the priority your email takes. Please do contact me regarding emergencies, as these emails will take priority and I have an open-door policy about these matters.

Assignments:

Daily Currents (150 pts): Each class day will begin with a 5 minute presentation followed by a 10-minute discussion facilitated by a team of two students. Each team will choose a current (i.e. having occurred within the week) event or development in popular culture and include in their presentation: a.) the history/context of the event b.) the media context of the event (where was it covered/consumed by the public) c.) a cultural analysis of the event through the lens of intersectionality and d.) 2-3 open-ended discussion questions for the class.

Final Topic Proposal (150 pts): Your final project will analyze a popular culture event, product, artifact, campaign etc. (examples: Guardians of the Galaxy, Robin Williams’ death, Wes Welker Molly scandal, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, etc.) from an intersectional point of view. Your analysis must cover as many “lenses” as possible and discuss how these lenses intertwine. Post a 250-500 word proposal on Canvas covering: a.) what the object of your analysis is b.) the background and context of the object c.) the media context of the object d.) your personal connection to the object (why it is of interest to you) and e.) what various critical lenses are applicable to the object.

Final Topic Social Media Series (150 pts): You must either create a social media account for this project or use an already-existing account if you are comfortable with that. You can use any social media platform (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Reddit, etc.). Create a series (3-5) social media posts that use hashtags and replies to specific accounts that intersect interests with your final project - these posts must build upon your proposed final topic in an effort to engage in or begin a dialogue with the online community. The goal is to be as interactive as possible.

Final Topic Media Response Paper (150 pts): Find a media piece (article, blog post, comment, tweet, etc.) that addresses your cultural object and write 3 pages responding critically to it. Things to address: whether you agree with the point of view of the media piece (you may qualify your agreement, meaning you may agree with part but not all of it), what point of view the media piece was written from, whether the author exhibits any cultural “blind spots”, what issues the author adequately and inadequately addresses, and additional points of view that you would like to add to the dialogue. You may also find multiple media piece and bring them into conversation with each other. Use your creative freedom.

Final Topic Artifact and Presentation (200 pts): The final project will be your opportunity to express your own informed, critical view on the cultural event of your analysis. This can take many forms, from a traditional project (final paper, appx 6-8 pages) to a non-traditional project

(performance, play, music video,, digital campaign, physical artifact like a poster, clothing, installation) that illustrates a.) what the cultural object is that you are critically analyzing b.) your ability to think critically about cultural objects and events and c.) your critical assessment/statement of the object coming from an intersectional point of view. Please prepare a 5-10 minute presentation about your final project.

Participation (200 pts): Factors include attendance, reading response prompts, participating in Daily Currents in-class discussions, responding to lecture prompt questions, participation in group and solo exercises, and scheduling a required 5-minute meeting with me within the first three weeks.

Grades

Doing adequate work where you have followed directions and incorporated necessary items into your assignments constitutes “C” work. Going above and beyond the baseline of expectations requires taking ownership of your work, risk-taking and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. As a class based in emerging practices, the above three qualities are imperative for both finishing the course with the necessary skill set to advance within the Communication Studies program and to receive a competitive grade.

Grades will be entered on Canvas in a timely manner; for in-depth assignments, please click into the details of the grade you have received to read feedback, as I comment on both the successes and areas for improvement on all students’ in-depth assignments.

Grading Rubric

Participation	200
Daily Current Presentation	150
Final Topic Proposal	150
Final Topic Social Media Post Series	150
Final Topic Media Response Paper	200
Final Topic Artifact and Presentation	350
Total	1200