Intro to Cultural Studies Course Theme: Magazines and Meaning English 207 – A01; Fall 2012 Monday & Thursday 1pm - 2:20pm HHB (Hickman Building) 116 Instructor: Dr. Matt Huculak Office: Clearihue D227 Office Hours: Monday 2:30-3:30pm Thursday 11am-12pm & by appt. Email: jhuculak@uvic.ca

“Culture is one of the two or three most complicated words in the English language.” – Raymond Williams, Keywords.

Description This course provides an introduction to critical approaches and debates in the field of cultural studies. Our primary (but not exclusive) approach to this field will be through magazine culture as we examine what Sean Latham and Robert Scholes call “The Rise of Periodical Studies.” Students will apply the theoretical approaches and methodologies of cultural studies to the material culture of magazines. Lectures and discussions will be particularly concerned with the following questions:

• How do understandings and ideas about culture emerge from historical as well as theoretical perspectives? • What arguments have historically been used to distinguish between high art and mass culture? • How are race, gender, and class produced and consumed in the mass market?

This course is writing intensive with an emphasis on developing skills in critical thinking and scholarly argumentation and documentation. David Foster Wallace notes that we should “draw no distinction between the quality of one’s ideas and the quality of those ideas’ verbal expression.” Required Texts Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: A Reader. Ed. John Storey Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction. John Storey Online Texts Modernist Journals Project (modjourn.org) Recommended Text MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers Other Texts Students are asked to purchase a current magazine for critical study

Format This course will employ a lecture and discussion format. Brief lectures will be given at the beginning of class in order to locate possible discussion topics. Students are expected to prepare discussion points for in-class conversation. Readings The assigned readings can be found in the course textbooks. Other readings can be downloaded from the course website. Please be aware that you are likely to find the readings in this course to be difficult. Give yourself time to engage properly with the texts. Grading Participation 20% Paper 1 10% Paper 2 10% Paper 3 10% Blog Entries 30% Quizzes 10% Final Exam 10% Attendance It is your responsibility to be in class on time. Since nearly a quarter of your grade depends on participation, you are asked to be active in the classroom community. Participation You are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the texts in an informed and public manner. You are expected to be an active learner (do ask questions!) and to participate in class discussions and group activities. Failure to be prepared and participate in class will affect your participation grade. Quizzes Brief will be given that will cover the reading assignment for that day. You will not be permitted to take the quiz if you are not in class on time, and make-up quizzes will only be offered in the case of an excused absence. Papers & Self-Evaluation Forms You are expected to write three short papers over the course of the term. Each of these papers will employ a different critical approach learned during class lectures and discussions. For example, if your first paper primarily examines gender and GQ, your second and third papers must address other issues like race or popular culture in magazines. Each essay MUST be accompanied by a self-evaluation form available on the course website. Papers will not be accepted without this form and will be considered late until it is completed. • Papers should be 1,000 words, double-spaced, with one-inch margins and a 12pt-Times font • You must use MLA guidelines to style your papers • You should have a title that is succinct and catchy

• You should staple your paper (a cover page is not necessary) • You should proofread your essay several times • Your paper must be turned in on time. You will lose 1/3 of a letter grade each day it is late • Your paper must be accompanied by a self-evaluation form Blog Entries You are expected to write three, 300-word blog entries over the course of the term. The blog is intended to give you a multimedia tool to explore a particular subject of your choice. Your blogs should be more than just text. You are expected to use images, links, mp3s or other media files to support your argument. The blogs are meant to encourage you to be attentive readers of your own culture. You might be inspired to write an entry on a news article (news.google.ca) or a commercial/show on television. You might want to examine advertising on a website. Be creative in how you approach these assignments. Final Exam The final exam will consist of identification, short answer, and essay questions. It will cover all of the reading and lecture material in the course. The final exam date will be announced in October. Technology Anything that has the potential to disrupt the class should not be used or accessed. Laptops should only be used for taking notes. Browsing the internet during class is disruptive to both the professor and your neighbours. All phones should be turned off and put away during class. Recording the class is strictly prohibited without the permission of the class. Academic Honesty We will discuss good research and citation practices in class. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you have any questions about academic honesty, please ask me or visit http://library.uvic.ca/instruction/cite/plagiarism.html Accessibility Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. In particular, if you have a disability/health consideration that may require accommodations, please feel free to approach me and/or the Resource Centre for Students with a Disability (RCSD) as soon as possible. The RCSD staff are available by appointment to assess specific needs, provide referrals and arrange appropriate accommodations http://rcsd.uvic.ca/. The sooner you let us know your needs the quicker we can assist you in achieving your learning goals in this course. How to Contact Me I hold regular office hours in Clearihue D227 on Monday 2:30-3:30pm and Thursday 11am-12pm. You can also set up a meeting by appointment if you are in class during those times by emailing me at jhuculak@uvic.ca. I also work in the new Maker’s Lab in TEF (2nd floor). Schedule of Readings Week 1 Thursday, 9/6 Introductions. Syllabus. Moodle.

Week 2 Making Culture

Monday, 9/10

Arnold, “Culture and Anarchy” (Reader) Latham and Scholes, “The Rise of Periodical Studies” (PDF) Morris, “A Question of Cultural Studies” (PDF)

Thursday, 9/13

Williams, “The Analysis of Culture” (Reader) Thompson, “The Making of the English Working Class” (Reader) Anderson, “Imagined Communities” (PDF)

Week 3 The Popular

Monday, 9/17

Blog 1 Due Bourdieu, “Distinction & the Aristocracy of Culture” (Reader) De Certeau, “The Practice of Everyday Life” (Reader)

Thursday, 9/20 Fiske, “The Popular Economy” (Reader) Schudson “The New Validation of Popular Culture” (Reader)

Week 4 Marxism

Monday, 9/24

Paper 1 Due Marx, “Base and Superstructure” (Reader) Gramsci, “Hegemony, Intellectuals and the State” (Reader)

Thursday, 9/27 Hall, “The Rediscovery of ‘Ideology’” (Reader) Laclau and Mouffe, “Post-Marxism without Apologies” (Reader)

Week 5 Feminism

Monday, 10/1 Radway, “Reading the Romance” (Reader) Butler, “Imitation and Gender Insubordination” (Reader)

Thursday, 10/4 Rakow, “Feminist Approaches to Popular Culture” (Reader) Winship, “Inside Women’s Magazines” (PDF)

Week 6 Psychoanalysis & Post-Structuralism Monday, 10/8 No Class (Thanksgiving Day)

Thursday, 10/11

Blog 2 Due Freud, “The Dream Work” (Reader) Lacan, “The Mirror Stage” Althusser, “Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses”

Week 7 Continued…

Monday, 10/15

Foucault, “Method” (Reader) Zizek, “From Reality to the Real” (Reader) Barthes, “Myth Today” (Reader)

Thursday, 10/18 No Class (Professor at Conference) Weedon, “Feminism & The Principles of Poststructuralism”

Week 8 Postmodernism Monday, 10/22 Paper 2 Due

Baudrillard, “The Precession of Simulacra” (Reader) Morris, “Feminism, Reading, Postmodernism” (Reader) Wilson, “Fashion and Postmodernism” (Reader)

Thursday, 10/25 Creed, “From Here to Modernity” (Reader) Perryman, “Doctor Who and the Convergence of Media” (Reader)

Week 9 Race

Monday, 10/29 Bobo, “The Color Purple: Black Woman as Cultural Readers” (Reader) West, “Black Postmodernist Practices”

Thursday, 11/1 hooks, “Postmodern Blackness” (Reader) Hall, “What is ‘Black’ in Black Popular Culture (Reader)

Week 10 Fashion Monday, 11/5 Simmel, “The Philosophy of Fashion” (PDF) Thursday, 11/8 Wilson, “Feminism and Fashion” (PDF) Week 11 Music Monday, 11/12 No Class (Reading Break)

Thursday, 11/15 Adorno, “On Popular Music” (Reader) Saeed, “Musical Jihad” (Reader)

Week 12 Digital

Monday, 11/19

Blog 3 Due Kirschenbaum, “What is Digital Humanities…” (PDF) Davidson & Goldberg, “A Manifesto for the Humanities…” (PDF)

Thursday, 11/22 Moretti, “Graphs, Maps, and Trees” (PDF) Week 13 Cyborg Monday, Haraway, “A Cyborg Manifesto” (PDF) Thursday, Hardt & Negri, “Biopolitical Production” (PDF) Week 14 Shopping Monday, 11/26 Fiske, “Shopping for Pleasure” (PDF) Thursday, 11/29 Kowinski, “Mallaise: How to Know if You Have It” (PDF) Week 15 Subcultures

Monday, 12/3

Paper 3 Due Class-Determined Reading Last day of Class

Final Exam TBA

Writing Assignment Self Evaluation Forms

Name and Student Number _________________________________

In order to help you achieve your goals, I require you to provide a grade for your work. This grade does not constitute your final mark, but rather provides me with information on your expectations. If your grade is significantly lower (or higher) than you expect, then we need to discuss the matter further. Be as honest as you can with your grades and comments. I realize that it is hard to grade your own work, but it is a valuable exercise. Remember, a “C” grade means average, so base your marks (either higher or lower) on this standard.

Attach this sheet to your writing assignment.

Grade Outline: Here is a guide to help you evaluate your work.

F = Failure - inadequate knowledge of material - inadequate use of material - contained numerous grammatical errors to the point where the clarity of the argument was compromised - plagiarism found (zero tolerance)

D = Below Average - contains numerous grammatical errors and is structured inadequately - covers the required content in a superficial manner - no analysis of points or ideas - uses description far too much, with little creative analysis

C = Average - contains few grammatical errors and is well-organized - covers the required content but goes no further - relatively simply ideas that are easy to prove - could prove points with more analytic depth (i.e. relies on description, not analysis to illustrate your points)

B = Good - contains few grammatical errors - appropriate use of material - fully explores all the ramifications of ideas - relatively creative thesis/ideas that requires analytic depth to prove - shows knowledge and command of the material

A = Excellent - contains very few grammatical errors - writing is not only grammatically correct, but also showed command of language and style - fully explores the required topics, but also engages more critical issues - creative, innovative and interesting thesis/ideas that require not only analytic depth to

prove, but genuine insight into the topic - shows mastery of the material

In the space below, please evaluate the general quality of your work. Using the “grade outline” (found above) to help you, answer these questions:

1. I should receive a grade of ______ on my content (did you use all required resources – i.e. lectures, readings, quotations, secondary material etc.).

2. I should receive a grade of ______ on my creativity (the degree to which your writing assignment attempts to answer challenging questions).

3. I should receive a grade of ______ on the quality of my ideas and writing (how successful were you in exploring your topics and ideas).

Overall, I believe that my final grade for this writing assignment should be ________.

4. I would like WRITTEN comments returned to me with this essay

YES ____ NO____

Additional Comments: