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Course Description
This team-taught seminar, to be taken during senior year, constitutes the senior exercise required to graduate with the IMS major. It prepares students with the skills and knowledge to continue their media studies practice and research post-graduation. Students will attend both large group meetings as well as smaller section meetings focused on one of the three tracks (film/video, critical studies, and digital/electronic) and on the students' chosen medium and topic. Instructor: M-Y Ma
Course Goals and Statement of Student Learning Outcome
The Media Studies Senior Seminar functions as the culminating course of your studies in the field and is required of all majors. It aims to bring together insights gleaned from your various paths through and engagements with media studies in order to develop a cohesive vision of the field. We strongly discourage Capstone projects or papers that do not directly emerge from your training. For example, we do not teach production classes in traditional narrative, therefore we discourage traditional narrative films, videos, and screenplays as Capstone projects.
By the end of this course, students are expected:
- To be able to conduct advanced level independent research/production in their chosen specialty area, culminating in an individual final paper or project;
- To demonstrate their understanding of the overall field of media studies—its major debates, schools of thought, methodologies, and approaches to the study and production of media;
- To be able to articulate in both written and oral presentations how their paper or project contributes to larger developments within the field of media studies;
- To be able to critically evaluate their own and each other’s work in both group and individual settings, across the three tracks of the media studies major (film/video, critical studies, digital/electronic);
- To practice media production and writing as a process that involves drafting, getting feedback from viewers/readers, and revising.
Course Requirements
Capstone Project / Paper (50% of class grade)
As the Capstone of the Media Studies major, each student will undertake a semester-long independent project or paper that synthesizes what you have learned during the major. A non-written (i.e. media) project must be accompanied by a project paper that is written in two parts (history/theory and production/reflection) and comprises 10% of the project grade. The requirements for the Capstone project are format dependent as follows:
- Critical Studies: a 20-25 page seminar paper that makes a reasoned, well-supported analytical argument in which you appropriately use theoretical/conceptual/historical material to make original insights about the media object or phenomenon of your choice.
- Digital/Electronic: an original, complete web-based or digital media project.
- Film/Video: an original, complete film or video project of no more than 3-5 minutes in length.
- Gallery/Installation: an original complete artwork that is installed in the gallery or in a site-specific place on campus.
The Capstone should synthesize what you have learned in the course of the major. Be thoughtful about your choice of subject and format. Your Capstone should reflect and demonstrate the knowledge and skills you have acquired in the Media Studies classes you have taken thus far. It should be a culmination of your Media Studies career at the 5Cs.
Please note that in order to choose the film/video or digital/electronic options, you must have completed two production courses, at least one of which should be in the intermediate or advanced level, in the medium in which you intend to work. For a Critical Studies paper, you should choose an area or topic which you have taken classes in (i.e. a paper about Instagram should be informed by courses taken in digital media studies and social media)
Project Papers: A non-written project must be accompanied by a 10 to 15-page paper that elaborates on how your project addresses and resolves a question, topic, or other concerns that represents the culmination of your work as a media studies major. The paper will be done as two 5-7 page papers that are handed in at specific due dates throughout the semester. Paper guidelines:
- Paper 1: delineates the conceptual basis of your project – why this format and subject matter? What are the media or other theories you set-out to engage through your project? Who are your influences (film and videomakers, visual and performance artists, writers, etc.)? Make a strong argument about why this subject and format is compelling to you as a Capstone for your media studies major. How does your project contribute to the field as a whole, and also to the sub-field or genre you have chosen to work in. This paper should demonstrate your existing knowledge of the medium and genre of your Capstone, as well as the existing histories and debates about this area in media studies.
- Paper 2: discusses the process through which you will realize your project – what is your production schedule and how have you planned to execute your project? What are the media and techniques you will utilize? In short, what is your methodology in realizing this project? At the end of your production, reflect on your experience working on this project – did it turn out as you expected? If not, what are some of the surprises and challenges, and how did you adapt to or modify your project in response to them? What did you learn in the process of creating this project? Relate your process discussion back to the conceptual/subject discussion in the first paper. Your reflection can be your paper's conclusion.
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Abstract / Proposal (5% of class grade)
In preparation for completing this, you will develop an abstract (for CS papers) or proposal (for media projects) due Week 4. (750-1000 words, typed)
Your abstract should contain the following information:
- CONTACT INFO: Your name and email
- SUBJECT: What is the subject of your research? Give your reader a concise description and some background knowledge on the topic. Also discuss why it is an important contribution, both to you personally, as well as to the field of media studies and other disciplines.
- LITERATURE REVIEW: A summary of existing scholarship on your research subject. What has been written about this topic? What are the main theories and methodologies that have informed discourses on this subject. What are the major debates? This is where you demonstrate your existing knowledge about your chosen subject.
- METHODOLOGY: Based on what you know about your research subject, how will you approach your research trajectory this semester? What are the texts, media objects, and other sources you will consult or study? What methods and theories inform your research, and how does your work contribute or challenge the existing scholarship on this subject? Outline a work plan and writing schedule. Include a preliminary bibliography of at least 5 sources. You are expected to present multiple drafts and other works-in-progress for this paper.
Your media project proposal should contain the following information:
- CONTACT INFO: Your name and email
- SUBJECT: What is your project about? Give your reader a concise description and some background knowledge on the topic. Also discuss why it is an important contribution to the medium and its histories.
You should reference important contributions other media-makers have made to your chosen medium, as well as media and other scholar's existing discourses on it.
- PROJECT FORMAT: What will your short project look and sound like? Is it web or screen-based, an installation, an object, digital photography, etc.? Does it fit into an established genre such as net.art, artist games, animation, documentary, narrative, experimental, or a hybrid? How does form and content interact in your project?
- METHODOLOGY: How will you go about completing your project? What Intermediate or Advanced production or theory courses have you taken? What are your primary sources and conceptual tools for research? What experience and resources (financial, technical, artistic, etc.) do you have and what will you need to execute your ideas? A timeline can be useful in describing your process. Please explain the relationship between your final project and your studies.
| All abstracts and proposals must be uploaded as MS Word (with ".doc" or ".docx" suffix) documents to your Sakai/Drop Box by 5pm on Friday, September 20th. It is your responsibility to ensure that Seminar Professors receive your proposals by this deadline. |
Pitch (5% of class grade)
You will develop and present a 5 minute pitch (including questions and comments, I recommend you plan a 3-4 minute presentation) based on your abstract /proposal. Presentations can include images, slides, other media, (e.g. sound recordings) quotes, examples of works that you are studying, referencing, or ones that have inspired you. Your pitch will be presented to the entire class in Week 4 (September 17th and 19th).
Work-In-Progress Review (15% of class grade)
You will present 5 minutes of your Work-in-Progress (WIP) in Week 10 and 11. Each student will have 7-8 minutes, including questions and comments, to present. Presentations should include works-in-progress, slides, theoretical framings, drafts, and any other material that would best represent your progress.
Peer Review (10% of class grade)
You will be broken up into peer groups early in the semester. These groups will work together on in-class exercises and do peer review of each other’s work throughout the semester. As a sign of respect to the other members of your peer group, please keep to deadlines and come to class prepared each week. Feedback is an essential part of developing your skills as a writer/maker. When reviewing your colleague’s work please be constructive and specific.
Peer reviews are due a week after the pitches and works-in-progress presentations. Each peer group can choose one of the following formats for their peer review.
- Group review
: Each group will organize a discussion group outside of regular class meeting time, in which each group member will receive verbal feedback on their work-in-progress. These groups must:
- Address in detail the WIPs of all of its members
- Have the participation and contribution by all members of the peer group
- Be attended by the professor, who will observe the discussion
- Be held within a reasonable and substantial (e.g. the equivalent of a class period) time frame.
- Written review: Each group is responsible for generating a written peer review of individual members' works-in-progress. Each individual review should be a paragraph to 1 page long. Bullet points are fine. They should be typed, and must contain the following information:
- Name and e-mail of group member who are the reviewers
- Name of group members whose project or paper are reviewed
- Organized by project/paper, each review should consider the intention, methodology, and progress of the project/paper at hand. Comments should focus on specific feedback, suggestions, and constructive criticism.
- Written peer reviews should be compiled into one document per peer group, and submitted to me plus to all group members reviewed.
We strongly advise that you submit evidence of your ongoing work at least twice during the semester to your seminar professor, and receive feedback in individual meetings. We also advise you meet outside of class with at least one professor from media studies or another discipline relevant to your Capstone for feedback on your works-in-progress. |
ALL final CS papers and media project papers are DUE on Friday, December 6th in your Sakai/Drop Box (and for SC students by email to your second reader)
NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. Please note that works for the gallery exhibition and screening will have earlier deadlines corresponding to these events. Since it is 50% of your grade, if we do not receive your Capstone project or paper on time, you will fail. |
Participation and Attendance (15% of class grade)
Your weekly attendance and active participation is central to the class’ success and to your success in the class, as is your thoughtful engagement with the work of your peers. You are expected to arrive on time for class and be present for the entire class period. Attendance is determined by when I take roll. Illness, COVID-19 symptoms, isolation, emergencies, or religious observances will be excused, and I normally ask for documentation (e.g. a note from Student Health if you are ill) Please contact me as soon as possible if you need to miss class for one of these reasons. If you are absent, you will need to submit any work that was due that day, within one week. We will not be offering Zoom as a method to attend class. You have two “free passes” for when you need a personal day. All other absences will negatively impact your total grade percentage by one point.
All assignments must be handed in on time and turning in assignments late will be detrimental to your grade at a rate of 1 letter grade per week. You must turn in a term project or paper (50% of the class grade) to pass the class.
Laptop computers with an internet connection and appropriate software, sometimes smart phones and other mobile digital devices can be used in class only for class-related activities (e.g. taking notes or relevant web searches). I ask students to agree to these conditions for class: no recording of audio, photo, or video unless pre-approved by instructor; no emails, texting, messaging, checking your social media accounts and other non-class related activities on your device. I encourage thoughtful experimentation with new media technologies (e.g. AI) in your work, and that you make these transparent in your projects or papers. Violation of class media technology policies will, in some cases, affect your class grade or result in your removal from class.
This class is founded on the premise that we develop individually and collectively in conversation with each other. Full participation includes showing up for class in a timely manner, and preparing for, engaging in, and facilitating thoughtful discussion and a generative environment in class. If you are someone who is less comfortable speaking in class, we encourage you to aim to lend your voice to the conversation at least once a class session. If you are someone who finds silence and attentive listening challenging, we encourage you to notice once you have contributed a few times to the day's discussion and to pause to make space for those who might need longer pauses to enter their voices into the room. If you are concerned or encounter barriers to your participation in the course, please arrange to meet with me so I can discuss how to best accommodate you and make sure you are able to share and engage with this course.
We may study sexually explicit, political, and otherwise challenging material in this course. These are not included for shock value, but are legitimate investigations of controversial subject matters in media. You are certainly encouraged to explore difficult and complex subject matters in your work, and you should be prepared to consider these issues intellectually and emotionally. Our class is a safe space in which students can express their beliefs and opinions. You always have a voice, but please be respectful of others as well. Abusive language and behavior are not tolerated. Open-mindedness is encouraged!
Grading and Other Policies
Grading
Your final grade will be based on the following |
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Abstract or project proposal 5% |
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Pitch 5% |
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Peer review 10% |
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Work-in-progress review 15% |
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Capstone paper / project 50% |
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Class participation* 15% |
I try my best to make my grading criteria as clear as possible,
and you are welcome to come and discuss your grades and your class performance
with me. However, I only consider legitimate concerns, and be aware that
your grade is as likely to go down as it is to go up after I reassess
your assignment. I do not tolerate haggling, bribing, threats, and any
other pointless arguments. I consider all aspects of your performance
before I assign a grade, please respect my assessment as I respect your
efforts.
Academic Accommodations
The Claremont Colleges value diversity and inclusion; we are committed to a climate of mutual respect and full participation. As such, our goal is to create learning environments that are equitable, inclusive and welcoming. If you have a learning disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, please contact the academic support service of your home campus by email at the beginning of the semester if you have not already registered for accommodations. Your home campus is responsible for establishing and providing accommodations and notifying the faculty teaching the class. Below is a list of contacts for each campus:
CMC: accessibilityservices@cmc.edu
HMC: access@g.hmc.edu
Pitzer: academicsupport@pitzer.edu
Pomona: disability@pomona.edu
Scripps: ars@scrippscollege.edu
Academic Integrity
You are responsible for reading and adhering to the colleges’ policies regarding academic dishonesty and plagiarism (see below). If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism, you should direct them to the professor. Read your home college's policies on academic integrity here:
Claremont McKenna College Catalog
Harvey Mudd College Student Handbook
Pitzer College Student Handbook
Pomona College Student Handbook
Scripps College Student Handbook
All (research or project) papers should include proper citations. Here are two of the often used forms of academic citations:
MLA: https://libguides.libraries.claremont.edu/mla
Chicago: https://libguides.libraries.claremont.edu/chicago/
You are also encouraged to consult with your home college's writing center on the written assignments for this course:
CMC: https://www.cmc.edu/writing
HMC: https://www.hmc.edu/learning-programs/writing-center/
Pitzer: https://www.pitzer.edu/writing-center/
Pomona: https://www.pomona.edu/administration/writing-center
Scripps: https://www.scrippscollege.edu/departments/writing-program/writing-center
Email Policy
Responding to students via email is a courtesy we extend to you. During the week we will do our best to respond to you within 48 hours (so please note: a “night before” email may not get answered in time!). If you write to us over the weekend you will not receive a reply until Monday. The best way to get our time and attention is to visit listed office hours or, if these conflict with another commitment, to email to make an appointment. Office hours are yours; please use them. We do not discuss grades or class performance over email; please see us during office hours.
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Course Schedule:
Week 1: Introduction
Tuesday 8.27: WST Q116
__ • Course structure
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Syllabus
__ • Class policy/structure
__ • Info session with IMS staff
__ • Please come with your IMS Capstone Project/Paper Form filled out
__ • Student projects introduction (time permitting)
Thursday 8.29: Project Proposal, Funding Structure Overview WST Q116
__ • Student projects introduction (pair your introduction with one source: essay, book, media example, etc.)__
__ • Writing a good proposal - discussing of post-graduation funding structure
__________ • Off campus funding sources (non-profit)
__________ • On campus funding sources for projects and events
__ • Examples of successful proposals (all on Sakai/Resources/Week 1)
____ 1. Capstone proposals by former students
____ 2. Media projects: 2 grant proposals by Prof. Tran
____ 3. Book proposal, essay and panel abstracts by Prof. Ma
Week 2: Project Conception, Pre-Production, Individual Meetings, Research & Thesis Workshop
Tuesday 9.3: Proposal writing and Project conception WST Q116
__ • Writing a good proposal - discussion of sample material
__ • Preproduction
__ • Project organization and planning
Thursday 9.5:
__ • Individual meetings - Q123
__ • Research and Thesis Workshop with Andrea Ketterer, Art and Humanities Librarian - Hannold Library, Ponderosa Classroom
Week 3: Individual Meetings, Production Workshop 1, Practice Pitch
Tuesday 9.10
__ • Individual meetings - Q123
__ • Production Workshop with Eddie Gonzalez: New equipment and lighting workshop - WST Q116
Thursday 9.12: Practice Pitch - WST Q116
__ • Group meeting - please come to class with your pitch presentation and accompanying materials (if you plan to use PowerPoint slides, put that in your Sakai DropBox for easy access both during your practice and actual pitches)
__ • Peer Group Meeting: Students meet with their assigned peer groups to plan pitch presentation and feedback format.
Week 4: Pitches (Sections 1, 2, 3 Combined), Fall Project/Paper Proposals Due
Tuesday 9.17 and Thursday 9.19 both days meet in WST Q116, Pitzer Campus or, Crookshank Room 08, Pomona Campus (see Pitch Schedule for when and where your peer group will be presenting)
__ • 3-4 mins. for each presentation, including Q&A (5 mins. per student)
__ • Upload your pitch presentations (PPT slides, media clips, images, etc.) Sakai/Drop Box for your pitch presentation
Friday, 9.20 all abstract / proposals DUE at 5pm (Please upload your proposals to your Sakai/Drop Box as MS Word documents - with .doc or .docx suffix - by 5pm)
Week 5: Peer Groups, Reading Selection & Peer Reviews Due
Tuesday 9.24 and Thursday 9.26 - Q116
__ • Peer group meetings to discuss peer reviews and reading selection
Friday, 9.27, 5pm DUE: all pitch peer reviews and peer group reading selections
__ • Upload readings (PDFs) to your Sakai/Drop Box
__ • Each peer group email me ONE compiled document containing all of your pitch peer reviews (MS Word documents only - with .doc or .docx suffix)
Week 6: Production Workshop 2, Peer Group Meetings (with Professor), Paper Drafts Due
Tuesday 10.1
__ • Production Workshop with Eddie Gonzalez: sound for film, video, installation - Q116
__ • Peer Group Meeting (Space, Place, Location: Elliet, Maggie, Max) IMS Courtyard
Thursday 10.3
__ • Peer Group Meeting (Recoding Representation: Fiona, Haimanot, Lucy, Oriole) Q116 or IMS Courtyard
Friday, 10.4, 5pm DUE: first drafts of media project Paper 1 (conceptual basis, theory and history) upload paper drafts (MS Word documents - with .doc or .docx suffix) to your Sakai/Drop Box
Week 7: Gallery Workshop 1, Peer Group Meetings (with Professor)
Tuesday 10.8
__ • Gallery Workshop with Matt Pagoaga - Kallick Family Gallery
__ • Peer Group Meeting (Identity, Community, Memory: Ana-Sophia, Chloe, Isabel) Q116 or IMS Courtyard
Thursday 10.10
__ • Peer Group Meeting (Questioning Hegemony: Chelsea, Ethan, Malia, Sydney) Q116 or IMS Courtyard
Friday, 10.11, 5pm - peer review of media project papers DUE - upload reviewed drafts (use "track changes" in MS Word documents) to your Sakai/Drop Box
Week 8: Fall Break, Peer Group Meetings (with Professor)
Tuesday 10.15: Fall Break - No Class Meeting
Thursday 10.17:
__ • Peer group 5 Meeting Q116 or IMS Courtyard
Week 9: Individual Meetings
Tuesday 10.22
__ • Individual meetings WIP preparation - IMS Courtyard
Thursday 10.24
__ • Individual meetings WIP preparation - IMS Courtyard
Week 10: Work-In-Progress Presentations
Tuesday 10.29 1:15PM, Q116, Pitzer Campus
Thursday 10.31 1:15PM, Q116, Pitzer Campus
__ • Present work-in-progress and other visual material (PowerPoint, flowchart, images/footage, web site or installation mock-up) to IMS faculty. Be ready for discussion and feedback
Week 11: Work-In-Progress Presentation, Peer Group Meeting
Tuesday 11.5 1:15PM, Q116, Pitzer Campus
__ • Present work-in-progress and other visual material (PowerPoint, flowchart, images/footage, web site or installation mock-up) to IMS faculty. Be ready for discussion and feedback
Thursday 11.7
__ • Peer group meetings Q116 or IMS Courtyard
Friday, 11.8, 5pm DUE: media project paper 2 draft (process and reflection - you can write or revise the reflection after you have completed the project Week 14-15) upload papers (MS Word documents - with .doc or .docx suffix) to your Sakai/Drop Box
Week 12: Peer Groups and Individual Meetings, Work-in-Progress Peer Review Due
Tuesday 11.12
__ • Peer group or individual meetings Q116 or IMS Courtyard
Thursday 11.14
__ • CS Peer review meeting (1:45PM-2:30PM) in LOCATION TBA
__ • Peer group or individual meetings in IMS Courtyard
Friday, 11.15, 5pm WIP peer reviews due
__ • Each peer group email me ONE compiled document containing all of your pitch peer reviews (MS Word documents only - with .doc or .docx suffix)
__ • All group reviews should be done by this date
Week 13: Individual Meetings
Tuesday 11.19
__ • Individual meetings - IMS Courtyard or editing room/gallery. Or we can also scheduled a group crit in which students present their works-in-progress for discussion and feedback this week if students prefer that to the individual meetings option.
__ • Gallery Workshop (installation prep) with Matt Pagoaga - Kallick Family Gallery
Thursday 11.21
__ • Color Correction Workshop with Eddie Gonzalez - TBA
__ • Individual meetings
Friday, 11.22, 5PM peer reviews of media project paper 2 due - upload reviewed drafts (use "track changes" in MS Word documents) to your Sakai/Drop Box
Week 14: Individual Meetings, Gallery Projects Due, Course Evaluations, Thanksgiving
Tuesday 11.26:
__ • Course evaluation discussion
__ • Individual Meetings
__• All Projects for gallery exhibition due, drop off 9AM-12PM, Kallick Family Gallery
Thursday 11.28: Thanksgiving Holiday - No Class Meeting
Week 15: Last Week of Classes, IMS Graduate Presentation/Conversation, All Projects Due, Senior Screening and Presentations, Final Draft of All Papers Due
Monday 12.2: All Projects for screening due
Tuesday 12.3: WST Q116 Presentation/Conversation with IMS graduate
Thursday 12.5: Senior Screening and Presentations (Attendance Mandatory!)
Tentative Schedule
11:00AM-12:15PM: Critical Studies / Digital/Electronic Panel 1 Benson Auditorium
12:15PM-1:00PM: Lunch served Benson Lobby / Mounds
1:00PM-2:15PM: Critical Studies / Digital/Electronic Panel 2 Benson Auditorium
2;30PM-4:30PM: Film/Video Screenings, Benson Auditorium
5:00PM-7:00PM: Dinner / Gallery Opening Kallick Family Gallery, IMS Courtyard
Friday, 12.6, Noon: final drafts of CS and Media Project Papers due upload to your Sakai/Drop Box (MS Word documents only - with .doc or .docx suffix)
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