First Year Seminar: Youth and Popular Culture (FSH 003) tentative syllabus

                                                                                Prof. Dipa Basu 

                                                                                Tu/Th 2.45-4.00 in AV 201

                                                                                Office: Broad Center 215

                                                                                Office hours: Mon 11.00-12.00 Wed 11.00-12.00

                                                                                and by appointment

                                                                                dbasu@pitzer.edu  ext. 72833

 

Course Description:  This new course explores youth subcultures, identities and practices in relation to popular culture and criminalization. An emphasis is placed on developing students’ written and oral expression.  The seminar is a process-oriented course.  Each class develops as a new evolutionary process, so students must be prepared for the possibility of some class changes to the schedule/readings/assignments along the way.  Many of the suggestions for improvement will come from you. The final course grade will depend on demonstrating active engagement in class as well as with the writing process. 

 

Texts:     1 Pam Nilan and Carles Feixa (2006) Global Youth? Hybrid Identities, Plural Worlds.

2. Sanyika Shakur (1993)  Monster 

3. Karen Sternheimer   (2003)  It's Not the Media: The Truth about Pop Culture's Influence on Children.

4. Kathryn Montgomery (2007) Generation Digital: Politics, Commerce, and Childhood in the Age of the Internet.

5. Various handouts

Assignments and Grades:

  • For three weekly class sessions, students will prepare a "Stimulus/Response/Current Events/Controversies" paper. The "Stimulus," is a synopsis/summary of the main points made in the article.  The "Response” should be your critical response/reactions, and/or questions to the reading material.   The third part of your response includes “Current Events/Controversies.”  Here, students should report on a related current event or controversy as reported in the media (websites, bloggs, TV, radio, newspaper/magazine articles, etc) that is concerned with the topics covered in the readings.  These “Stimulus/Response/Current Events/Controversies" responses should be two to three pages, double spaced and typed.  These will be shared in class as part of our class discussion. They will be handed in to me on Thursday and comprise of the week’s readings/guest speakers/documentaries.  Students will sign up for the class sessions in the second week of class.                                                                                                                                                                        (30%)                                                    
  • When we finish a book/topic (tentatively scheduled on Thursday September 27, Thursday October 18 and Thursday November 29) all students will chose two dates and write either reflective papers and/or argumentative papers.   Students will sign up for the class sessions in the second week of class.             

Reflective papers are usually a personal essay that addresses an objective issue or event in a subjective (personal) way.  The goal is not to persuade the reader or propose a solution or definitive answer but rather develop insights into the topic.  Often, good reflective essays end with a question rather than a resolution.  (Two pages, double spaced, typed).                

Argumentative papers take a side on an issue. Students should be able to clarify their assumptions and identify competing assumptions that will help them make well founded and supported arguments.   The paper should begin with an introduction that states your premise or point of view, and then proceed with a series of arguments that increasingly support your position, and identify fallacies or logical pitfalls in opposing views.  (Two to three pages double spaced and typed).                                                                                                                                                            (20%)

                                                                                                                                                                               

  • Attendance and Meaningful In-Class Participation informed by critical readings, written responses, in-class writing exercises and discussions.  Attendance is mandatory.  For all class sessions students will write a critical one/two paragraph response to stimulate class discussion for the day (unless they are due to submit the "Stimulus/Response/Current Events/Controversies" paper for that week).  You should bring one copy for me and keep a copy for yourself (see below).   For these responses you will not be given letter grades.  Instead, they will receive a check, check plus or check minus at the instructor’s discretion.                                                                       (20%)                                                                                                                                                     

For all of the above assignments you will use a three ring binder that you will use to keep all your writing together.  This will act as your journal which you will bring to every class.  You will provide me with a copy of all your responses at the beginning of class. 

  • The final writing assignment will be a final paper.  This is an in-depth exploration of a topic of your choosing that relates to the course materials.  You will integrate and synthesize a variety of research sources—from library sources such as books and/or journal articles to on-line sources.  You will have the opportunity to write a draft and get feed back from your peers.  You also have an option of providing me with a draft copy for comment if you so desire. You will also make a ten minute oral presentation to the class.  The days and times will be allocated towards the latter end of the course.  Five to six pages, typed.                                                                      (30%)                                                                                                                                                                     

Further details on the assignments will be given during the course.

Schedule:  PLEASE NOTE THE PROFESSOR RETAINS THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE SYLLABUS AT ANY TIME.  IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP ABREAST OF ANY CHANGES.

Tuesday September 4                          Introduction /overview of the course. 

Thursday September 6                        It's Not the Media.  Introduction and chapter 1 or Andy Bennet ‘Subcultures or neo tribes?” this can be found on http://www.journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=27399

Click on PDF (99 KB) on the upper right hand corner.

Tuesday September 11                        It's Not the Media.  Ch 2 and 3         

Thursday September 13                      It's Not the Media.  Ch 4 and 5

Tuesday September 18                        It's Not the Media.  Ch 6 and 7

Thursday September 20                      Viewing:  Merchants of Cool  

Tuesday September 25                        It's Not the Media.  Ch 8

Thursday September 27                      It's Not the Media.  Ch 9 and conclusion

Tuesday October 2                              No Class.  Common freshmen seminar session “Social Responsibility/Community Based Learning/Service Learning” with Prof. Jose Calderon and students

Thursday October 4                            Monster

Tuesday October 9                              Monster

Thursday October 11                         Monster

Tuesday October 16                             Guest Speaker: Susan Phillips.

Thursday October 18                          Handouts:  Stephen Hawkins ‘Sentencing Children to Death’ Marc Mauer ‘Young Black Americans and the CJS’ Salim Muwakkil ‘The New Black Leadership: Gang Related?” and Adrien King ‘Black Women and Gangs’

Tuesday October 23                            **************Fall Break************

Thursday October 25                          Library Orientation for research

Tuesday October 30                            No Class. Common freshman session “Intercultural Education - External Studies” External Studies Office and returning study abroad students

Extra Credit *****Attend George Lipsitz ‘Footsteps in the Dark: Popular Music and the fierce Urgency of Now’ 4:15 in the Broad Performance Space*****************

 Thursday November 1                       Generation Digital.  Ch 1 and 2

Tuesday November 6                          Generation Digital.  Ch 3 and 4

Thursday November 8                        Generation Digital.  Ch 4 and 6

Tuesday November 13                        Generation Digital.  Ch 8

Thursday November 15                      Global Youth?  Introduction and Ch 3

Tuesday November 20                        Global Youth? Ch 1 and 10

                                                                First draft of final paper for peer review.

Thursday November 22                      ***********Thanksgiving***********   

Tuesday November 27                        Global Youth?  Ch 5 and 6

Thursday November 29                      Global Youth?  Ch  9 and post script

Tuesday December 4                           Student Oral Presentations

Thursday December 6                         Student Oral Presentations

                                                                Second draft of final paper for professor (optional)

Tuesday December 11                         Student Oral Presentations

Thursday December 13                       Student Oral Presentations

Final paper due