@Preferred Customerrmccoy201999-09-02T20:46:00Z2006-08-31T15:03:00Z2006-08-31T15:03:00Z110285862 4813687711.8026Course: Introduction to Cultural Studies, English 244, Spring 2006, MW 11:45-1:00 pm, 509 Luther Bonney HallInstructor: Dr. Shelton WaldrepOffice: 321 Luther Bonney HallHours: MW 4-5pm and at other times by appointment by contacting waldrep@maine.eduDescription: This course will introduce the history, theories, and methods of cultural studies. We will focus on a number of key concepts and texts that have been instrumental in cultural analysis (culture, ideology, sign, consumption, etc.) and on critical readings of specific aspects of popular culture, such as mass media (fiction, television, film) and cultural sites (theme parks, shopping malls).Texts:1. The following are available at the Woodbury Center bookstore:Linder, Christoph, ed. The James Bond Phenomenon: A Critical Reader. Manchester: Manchester UP, 2003.Storey, John, ed. Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: A Reader. 2nd ed. Athens: The U of Georgia P, 1998.Photocopies of some essays will be passed out during class, but the following have been placed on reserve at the Glickman Library and will also be available through the on-line electronic reserves:De Certeau, Michel. “Walking in the City.” Ed. Simon During. The Cultural Studies Reader (New York: Routledge, 1993). 151-60.During, Simon. “Introduction.” In The Cultural Studies Reader (New York: Routledge, 1993). 1-25.Gendron, Bernard. “Theodor Adorno Meets the Cadillacs.” Ed. Tania Modleski. Studies in Entertainment: Critical Approaches to Mass Culture (Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1986). 18-36.Hebdige, Dick. “Subculture: The Meaning of Style.” Ed. Ken Gelder and Sarah Thornton. The Subcultures Reader (London and New York: Routledge, 1997). 130-42.McRobbie, Angela. “Settling Accounts with Subculture: A Feminist Critique.” In Feminism and Youth Culture From ‘Jackie’ to ‘Just Seventeen’ (Boston: Unwin Hyman, 1991). 16-34.McRobbie, Angela, and Jenny Garber. “Girls and Subcultures.” Ed. Ken Gelder and Sarah Thornton. The Subcultures Reader (New York: Routledge, 1997). 112-20.Morris, Meghan. “Things To Do with Shopping Centres.” Ed. Simon During. The Cultural Studies Reader (New York: Routledge, 1993). 295-319.Nelson, Cary. “Always Already Cultural Studies: Academic Conferences and a Manifesto.” Ed. Isaiah Smithson and Nancy Ruff. English Studies/Cultural Studies: Institutionalizing Dissent (Urbana: U of Illinois P, 1994). 191-205.Willis, Susan. “Hardcore: Subculture American Style.” Critical Inquiry 19.2 (Winter 1993): 365-83.Requirements: 1) You will write three short papers: the first assignment will be a four-page review of the work of a theorist in the Storey anthology that we do not read for class; the second paper will be a five-page analysis of either Dr. No, Goldfinger, or another film from the Bond franchise; the third paper will be a five-page analysis of a cultural or subcultural form—e.g., a subcultural group (Portland skateboarders or surfers), a site (a club, street, museum, etc.), a social practice (getting your hair cut, participating in a listserv), or an object (something sold at Wal-Mart—or on the side of the road). The second and third papers should involve the application of a critic or theorist’s work to the analysis of a cultural form. Papers must be typed, double-spaced and follow the MLA Handbook. 2) There will be a midterm exam that will cover concepts, terms, texts, and discussions in class. 3) Reading quizzes and in-class exercises can be held at any time.Grading: papers = 60% (15%, 20%, and 25%, respectively); midterm = 40%; up to three points may be added to or subtracted from the final grade to reflect attendance and any quizzes or exercises. Policies:Papers will receive a letter grade. Letter grades will be computed as follows: A = 95; A- = 92; B+ = 88; B = 85; B- = 82; C+ = 78; C = 75; C- = 72, etc. Late papers will be accepted by permission only. If accepted, one-half of a letter grade will be subtracted per day for each day of the week that the paper is late. Attendance in class is expected. If you miss more than the equivalent of one week’s worth of classes—for whatever reason—your final course grade will suffer. If you miss more than one-third of the scheduled classes for this course, you will receive a grade of “F” for the final course grade.Please do not be excessively tardy; do not eat in class; do not leave and enter the room during class except during scheduled breaks.Schedule:January 18: Introduction to the course; information cards filled out; syllabi distributed and discussed; general introduction to cultural studies.23: Part One: Theorizing Culture. 1.1 What is culture?: Arnold (Storey, pp. 2-12); Williams (Storey, 48-56). 25: 1.2 What is cultural studies?: Nelson (photocopy on reserve); During (photocopy on reserve); Rita Felski, “Those Who Disdain Cultural Studies Don’t Know What They’re Talking About” (photocopy).30: Cont.February 1: 1.3 “But, Mommy, I want to be a Marxist!”: Marx and Engels (Storey, 191-92); Marx (Storey, 193).6: Althusser (Storey, 153-64).8: Cont. 13: Gramsci (Storey, 210-16); For further reading: Bennett (Storey, 217-24).15: 1.4 Semiology and Simulation: Barthes (Storey, 109-18); De Certeau (Storey, 483-94).20: Winter Break. 22: Winter Break.27: Cont.March 1: Baudrillard (Storey, 350-57).6: 1.5 Subcultures: Britain: Hebdige (reserve photocopy); McRobbie, “Settling Accounts with Subculture: A Feminist Critique” (reserve photocopy); for further reading: McRobbie/Garber (reserve photocopy); FIRST ESSAY DUE.8: 1.6 Subcultures: America: Willis, “Hardcore: Subculture American Style” (reserve photocopy).13: MIDTERM EXAM.15: Part Two: Reading Culture. 2.1 Film: Excerpts from the Bond franchise.20: Screening: Dr. No (1962).22: Cont.27: Spring Break29: Spring Break.April 3: Bennett and Woollacott, “The Moments of Bond” (The James Bond Phenomenon, 13-33); Eco, “Narrative Structure in Fleming” (Bond Phenom, 34-55); Woollacott, “The James Bond Films: Conditions of Production (Bond Phenom, 99-117); Baron, “Doctor No: Bonding Britishness to Racial Sovereignty” (Bond Phenom, 135-150).5: Cont.10: Screening: Goldfinger (1964).12: Cont. 17: Denning, “Licensed to Look: James Bond and the Heroism of Consumption” (Bond Phenom, 56-75); Landenson, “Pussy Galore” (Bond Phenom, 184-201); Miller, “James Bond’s Penis” (Bond Phenom, 232-247).19: Cont.24: 2.2 Music: Adorno, “On Popular Music” (Storey, 197-209); Gendron, “Theodor Adorno Meets the Cadillacs” (reserve photocopy); musical selections; for further reading: Goodwin (Storey, 403-16) and Frith (Storey, 570-86); SECOND ESSAY DUE. 26: Cont.May 1: 2.3 Space and the Built Environment: De Certeau (reserve photocopy).3: Morris (reserve photocopy). Final exam day: THIRD ESSAY DUE by 4 pm in my box in 311 Luther Bonney Hall.