LEC 100

American Idolatry: Popular Culture and the Liberal Arts

Fall 2009

Syllabus

Tuesdays 10:35-11:50 (N055)

Text(s):           Readings available online at http://waukesha.uwc.edu/eng/gahrenho/lec100syllabus.htm

Instructors:   Greg Ahrenhoerster        Timothy Dunn                 Joseph Foy

Office:            W-131                              S-022                                 S-014

Phone:            (262) 521-5479                (262) 521-5544                (262) 521-5527

Email:            gahrenho@uwc.edu       timothy.dunn@uwc.edu    joseph.foy@uwc.edu

“After I jumped it occurred to me: Life is perfect, life is the best!  Full of magic, beauty, opportunity… and television.” –Tom Tom, The Million Dollar Hotel

HANDOUTS

Reading Notes

Discussion Leader Schedule

List of campus events

COURSE OBJECTIVE:

The bulk of the course will be based on short writing assignments and student discussions of the themes presented in the weekly readings focusing on a variety of political and philosophical issues and examining how these issues are presented in popular culture (television, film, music, video games). We will also consider the question of whether popular culture itself is harmful to society, or if it is vital for a fuller understanding of American culture and politics.  Students should complete the course with an appreciation of the cross-disciplinary nature of the subject material.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1) Attendance: Because this course is focused around student discussion and participation, attendance is extremely important. 

We will be adhering to the English department guideline that, except in extraordinary circumstances, students who miss the equivalent of more than three weeks of class cannot pass.  You will also be assigned an attendance grade, which will make up 10% of your final grade. 

A:        0-1 absences

            B:        2 absences

C:        3 absences

            F:         > 3 absences

2) Reading Notes: In order to have a meaningful discussion, it is important for all students to complete the readings.  To help ensure that all students have done the reading, we are requiring that all students complete a “Reading Notes” sheet for each assigned reading. 

Your reading notes will comprise 40% of your final grade

3) Presentations, Participation and In-Class Discussion:  Students will be assigned to lead discussion in teams each week.  Discussion leaders will be responsible for preparing, in advance, discussion questions about the themes presented in the weekly reading.  These discussion questions must be handed in at the end of class.  Discussion leaders will also be responsible for developing questions in-class that link the assigned reading with the popular culture artifact being used for the week (i.e., tying together questions about the good life with clips from The Matrix, or questions about media censorship using “Itchy and Scratchy and Marge” from The Simpsons).

It will be expected that all students will have carefully read the assigned reading before class and will be prepared to discuss it.  All students are expected to listen attentively and contribute to the dialogue on a regular basis.

Leading discussion: 20%

Participation, in-class discussions: 20%

4) Campus Events: The final 10% of your grade will be for attending designated campus events.  In order to receive an A in this category, you must attend either

• Three daytime events (designated as 50-Minute lectures or Visions and Expressions or Day of Discussion events).
• One of the evening films in the film series and one of the daytime events.
• Two of the evening films.

A complete list of eligible events will be provided to you.

NO EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE GIVEN.      

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If you have a disability that will in any way affect your work in this class, please let us know so that we can work with you. Also, Judy Becker in Student Services would like to talk to you to make sure that if you need special parking, or any other services, she can arrange them for you.

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ACCOMODATION: Board of Regents policy states that students’ sincerely held religious beliefs shall be reasonably accommodated with respect to scheduling all examinations and other academic requirements.  Students must notify the instructor, within the first three weeks of the beginning of classes of the specific days or dates on which they will request accommodation from an examination or academic requirement. 

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: The University believes that academic honesty and integrity are fundamental to the mission of higher education and of the University of Wisconsin System.  The University has a responsibility to promote academic honesty and integrity and to develop procedures to deal effectively with instances of academic dishonesty.  Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others’ academic endeavors.  Students who violate these standards are subject to disciplinary action.  UWS 14 defines academic misconduct as any "action which a student:  1) seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or citation; 2) uses unauthorized materials or fabricated data in any academic exercise; 3) forges or falsifies academic documents or records; 4) intentionally impedes or damages the academic work of others; 5) engages in conduct aimed at making false representation of a student's academic performance; 6) assists other students in any of these acts."  UWS 14 allows for disciplinary sanctions that range from an oral reprimand to suspension or expulsion from the University.  A copy of the full academic misconduct policy through the Student Services office

The following is a tentative reading assignment schedule and is subject to change.

Important Dates

Sept. 16, Last day to receive 100% refund.

Sept. 30, Last day to receive 50% refund.

Nov. 11, Last day to drop/withdraw or change from credit to audit.