ENGL 245 -- Introduction to Cultural StudiesSpring 2013 -- Tuesdays and Thursdays245-01 -- 5:00 – 6:15 p.m. – Maguire 101245-02 -- 6:30 – 7:45 p.m. – Maguire 101

Instructor: Ellen Gorman Office: 336 New NorthOffice Hours: 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and by appointmentE-mail: elg27@georgetown.edu; elgorman@msn.com

Required TextsA Critical and Cultural Theory Reader, Anthony Easthope and Kate McGowanNo Exit and Other Plays, Jean-Paul SartreShoplifting from American Apparel, Tao LinThe Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot DiazIncognegro SC, Matt JohnsonHip Hop Matters, S. Craig Watkins

Recommended:The Elements of Style, E.B. White and William Strunk, Jr.A Writer’s Reference, Diana Hacker

Films (Gelardin Media Center): #ReGeneration (Montgomery 2012); The Social Network (Fincher 2010); This is England (Meadows 2006); Do The Right Thing (Lee 1989); Control Room (Noujaim 2004); Inside Job (Ferguson 2010); Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (Klayman 2012)

Additional readings (handouts and online)

Course Description:This course will focus on a history and examination of the set of theories, practices and methodologies that define the field of Cultural Studies. By reading and situating the theory, we can critique the production and consumption of cultural objects, including popular culture and avant-garde art. In order to pursue critical analyses of our own in the class, we will interrogate concepts such as culture, ideology, representation, taste, style and subculture, with attention to the specific tensions between language and visual images. Texts will draw from critical and cultural theory, literature, film, video, music and the graphic novel, with a particular emphasis on contemporary artistic modes of expression. The overall frame around any of our inquiries in this course is the development of critical thinking and writing skills.

There will be two formal papers required: one 6 -7 page interpretive critique and one 10-12 page researched critical analysis, which represents the final, both on the texts of your choice. Due dates are indicated on the schedule but are subject to change. Papers

should conform to MLA-style format and be typed, double-spaced, in a 12-point font and paginated with the author’s name on each page; for more specific information see the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers and http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/.Specific criteria for the response papers will be discussed in class; these papers should be no less than two pages, double-spaced.

All students are encouraged to avail themselves of the free services at the University’s Writing Center, http://writingcenter.georgetown.edu/.

List of assignments and percentage of grade

Paper #1/Interpretive Critique 25%Paper #2/Researched Critical Analysis 30%Response Papers (4) 20%Participation 10%In-class Quizzes (3) 15%

General PoliciesGradingPapers will be due in class on the due date; after class the paper becomes one day late. Grades for papers one day late will be dropped one full grade; papers two days late will be dropped two full grades. Note that weekend days count as full days. A grade of “No Credit” will be given for papers later than two days late. Papers cannot be submitted by E-mail unless specified by the instructor.

Participation/Attendance/QuizzesKeep in mind that class participation will count for 10% of your grade; participation includes contributing to class discussions, in-class writing assignments, peer review sessions, and regular attendance. The English Department stipulates no more than three absences per semester.Three in-class quizzes constitute 15% and will be given at various points in the semester. No laptops or tablet computers will be allowed during class sessions unless approved by instructor. No phones period.

University PoliciesAll Georgetown University policies, as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin, will be observed. http://www.georgetown.edu/undergrad/bulletin/.

All students are required to be aware of the University’s Honor Code regulations: http://www.georgetown.edu/undergrad/bulletin/regulations6.html#standards.

In ENGL 245 we will emphasize the skills necessary for:

Reading theory, by focusing on close reading and formal written analysis of critical and theoretical texts with careful attention to the specific features of analytic language.Situating theory, by introducing one or more theoretical perspectives for analyzing texts, cultures, and/or creative practices and encouraging students to think about the methodologies that they use in a deliberately self-conscious way.Applying theory, by giving students practice in understanding and applying critical methods (for example, to the analysis of literary or cultural texts or performance) that rely on the primary theoretical framework(s) of the course.

SCHEDULE

Jan 10 Introduction; review syllabus

Jan 15 Wired (Culture/Discourse/Sexuality/Reality)F.R. Leavis, “Mass Civilisation and Minority Culture” and Raymond Williams,“Culture and Society” (handouts);“The Tea Party Warns of a New Elite” – Charles Murray, The Washington Post (online);“Are You A Member of the New Elite” – Gawker.com (online);The Economist, “Class and Culture: Charles Murray’s New Elitism” – The Economist (online)“The Opiate of American Exceptionalism” – Scott Shane, The New York Times (online)Dead Prez video - “Propaganda”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=psdgRH_p3XI

Jan 17 Foucault, “History of Sexuality” and Freud, “Beyond the Pleasure Principle” (handouts);

Conor Friedersdorf, “Leave Sexters Alone!” – The Daily Beast (online);“Yes to Violence, No to Sex,” Robert Scheer, The Huffington Post (online); “New Frontiers of Extremism” – The New York Times (online)

Jan 22 Screen Skins UK, Generation One, “Tony” and “Chris”; screen a reality show;Reader – MacCabe, “Realism and the Cinema”; “The Reality Principle,” Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker (online)

Jan 24 Screen Control Room; “Muzzling a Marine” Salon (online) Reader – Zizek, “Welcome to the Desert of the Real”response paper 1 due

Jan 29 Class/IdeologyReader – Marx, “Critique” and Marx/Engels, “The German Ideology”;Definition of Ideology – Oxford English Dictionary (library database)“We Are Not All Created Equal” - Stephen Marche, Esquire (online)“Why Elites Fail” – Christopher Hayes, The Nation (online)“The Great Divorce,” David Brooks, The New York Times (online);“Missing the Wasps” – The American Spectator (online)

Jan 31 Screen Inside Job; “Stephen Colbert Super PAC’s First Ad” – Christian Science Monitor (online);

“Citizens United vs. FEC” - decision:http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/citizens-united-v-federal-election-

commission/“Super PAC Contributions Top $300 Million” – The Huffington Post (online);“Super PAC App Shazams the Truth” – Forbes.com (online);Beastie Boys video, YouTube – “This Government Needs a Tune-Up”

Feb 5 Shoplifting from American Apparel; Review, Steven Poole, The Guardian:http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/nov/14/shoplifting-american-apparel-

tao-linReader – Macherey, “A Theory of Literary Production”

Feb 7 Screen This is England; Review, Reverseshot.com: http://www.reverseshot.com/article/this_is_england“England, Their England” – Lauren Collins, The New Yorker (handout);

response paper 2 due

Feb 12 “Panic on the Streets of London,” Aljazeera.net (online); “A Clockwork Orange,” Rosemary Righter, The Daily Beast (online);“Big Brother Isn’t Watching You,” Russell Brand, The Guardian (online);The Economist, “Technology and Disorder: The Blackberry Riots” (online);BBC, “Public Sector Strike Rallies,” BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-

15953806British Parliament on Strikes, C-SPAN: http://c-spanvideo.org/program/302922-

1

Feb 14 DiasporaReader – Homi Bhaba, “The Other Question” and Edward Said, “Orientalism”“Paper Tigers” – Wesley Yang, New York Magazine:http://nymag.com/news/features/asian-americans-2011-5/Video: HelloHannahCho: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YClN2E0iQ5s“UCLA Student, Rants on Asians,” LA Weekly Blogs (online)

Feb 19 The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, pp. 1 – 165; Reader - Barthes, “The Pleasure of the Text”; response paper 3 due

Feb 21 The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, pp. 167 – 335;“Travails of an Outcast” – Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times (online)“Interview with Junot Diaz” - Meghan O’Rourke, Slate (online)

Feb 26 MasculinityTom Chiarella, “The Problem with Boys” Esquire (online);Tosh.O: video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMwPq-a-8W4“Princeton’s Woman Problem,” Evan Thomas, Newsweek (online);“Men’s Lib” – Newsweek (online)first paper due

Feb 28 ‘Boys on the Side” – Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic (online); “Dudes Relax” – Jezebel.com (online);

“One Gender’s Crash” – Debora Spar, The Washington Post (online)Michael Kimmel, excerpt from Guyland – USA Today (online);“40 Best Man Cities” – Maxim (online); “The Player” – Askmen.com (online)

March 5 – 7 No Classes/Spring Break

March 12 No Exit; Sartre, excerpt from “Existentialism is a Humanism:http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/sartre.htm

March 14 Screen The Social Network; “Manhood at the Movies” – Citizenshift.org (online);

“Generation Why?” – Zadie Smith, The New York Review of Books (online)

March 19 No class -- for Museum visit --“Ai Weiwei: According to What?” (ends February 24)Hirshhorn Museum, Level 2, Independence Avenue at 7th Street, S.W.http://www.hirshhorn.si.edu/collection/ai-weiwei-according-to-what/#collection=ai-weiwei-according-to-what“Is Ai Weiwei China’s Most Dangerous Man?” – Mark Stevens, Smithsonian

Magazine

March 21 Contemporary Art/MarketScreen Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry;“Art World Power Shifts to China” – Miriam Souccar, Crains New York: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20110327/SMALLBIZ/303279971 “Christie’s: Evolution of the Asian Art Market” – Anjani Trivedi, CNN:http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/30/business/asian-art-market-curiel/index.html

March 26 Race(isms)Franz Fanon, “Black Skin, White Masks” and Cornel West, Race Matters

(excerpts/handouts);“West on Obama”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4M4uBdrI_sVideos, YouTube: Public Enemy, “Fight the Power”; Snoop Dogg, “Gin and

Juice”;N.W.A., “Straight Outta Compton”; DMX, “Last Hope”; Kanye West , “Clique”

(lyrics)

March 28 Hip Hop Matters, Prologue, Introduction and Part One“President Drake: Hip-Hop’s Shifting Masculinity” - TheFreshxpress.com

(online);“Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and The Post-Racial Cleaning Power of Hip-Hop” – XXL

(online)

April 2 Hip Hop Matters, Part Two and Epilogue; response paper 4 due

April 4 No Class/Easter Break

April 9 Screen Do the Right Thing; “Spike Lee Gets Real About Race” – Emory University (online)

April 11 Incognegro; peer review

April 16 Language/Power/America “2012 = 1968?” John Heilemann, New York Magazine (online)Screen #ReGeneration; debate

April 18 Zizek, excerpt from The Year of Living Dangerously (handout)“UK Students Protest; US Students Apathetic” – YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GMSNNIakwU; research discussionProposal for final paper due (via e-mail)

April 23 CommodificationPierre Bourdieu, excerpt from Distinction and Wolfgang Haug, excerpt fromCritique of Commodity Aesthetics (handouts); Choose commercials for in-class

writing

April 25 Last class

May 6 Final paper due – Mailbox, 306 New North by 4:00 p.m.