COMMUNICATION CRITICISM AND CULTURAL TEXTS (COMM 4510—01)

PROFESSOR: DR. CHRISTOPHER LYNCH

OFFICE: 411 VAUGHAN-EAMES

OFFICE HOURS: Before and after class OR BY APPOINTMENT

PHONE: 527-2683 or 527-3114 (Answering Machine 2349)

TEXTS: Foss, Sonja (1996). Rhetorical Criticism. Nachbar, J. And Lause, K. (1992). Popular Culture.

GOALS:

To appreciate the persuasiveness of everyday communication systems.

To become critical thinkers.

To sharpen analytical skills.

To learn about and use rhetorical methodologies.

To understand the social construction of reality through communication.

To think and write theoretically.

(Schedule Subject to Change)

May 17, 18, 20 Overview of Course

What is Popular Culture? What is Culture? "Equipment for living"

Music and Music Video (Spectacle, Simularcum, Hyperreal, gatekeepers, production)

Culture of Illusion (Wag the Dog, Truman Show, Bulworth)

Communication as "equipment for living."

Madonna, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Rap, Video: Dreamworlds

Read: Nachbar, 81-148, 196-210; Foss, 3-10, 121-130

Paper: Discuss the nature of fantasy themes. Identify key myths from the readings and relate to fantasy theme. Apply this to your personal life. What are your personal myths?

May 24, 25, 27

What is the Nature of Rhetoric? What is Communication?

- The nature of text

- Fantasy theme (social dramas)

- Building arguments (inferences, facts, organization, evidence)

- Perspective by incongruity

- Intensification/Downplay

- The reason for criticism

- Rhetorical situations

The Nature of Meaning (latent and manifest)

- Social Construction of Reality (boundaries, labels)

- Interpretive Communities (taste cultures, identity groups)

Mystification, ideology, reification, hegemony, resistance (residual culture/emergent cultures), polysemy, textual poachers

Mythic Foundations of American Culture ( myth of childhood, myth of science, myth of education)

Ideographs and Icons Grand Narratives (Reagan, Why We Fight, Martin Luther King)

Cultures of Consumption

- Themed Space

- Shopping Mall, Disneyworld (Mickey Mouse), McDonald’s, Las Vegas

June 1, 3, 7

Form and Narrative

- Metaphor (culture of success, culture of competition)

- Rhetorical Form and Cultural Genre

- Narrative vs. Rational Paradigms

Watch movie, "Rashomon"

King’s Mountaintop Speech

Sitcom as Humor and Cultural Narrative

- Dennis the Menace

- Are You Being Served

- Beavis and Butthead

Evening News as Narrative

- Para Social Relations

- Exnomination/nomination/ inoculation

Read: Foss, 357-365, 399-408 464-471; Read King’s Mountaintop Speech and Edward Kennedy’s Speech to the People of Massachusetts; Read Margaret Morse "The Television News Personality and Credibility"

Paper: Sum up the readings. Analyze the national news as story. Is there a plot? Who are the characters? Villains? Heroes? What is the role of the narrator?

June 8, 10, 14

Reception Theory

- Mediums of Communication

- Audience and Fans (dominant, negotiated, oppositional readings)

- Text (open/closed, readerly/writerly)

- Amos and Andy

Stereotype and Social Type

Social Drama and Identification

Cultural Heroes and Gender (Rhetorical Persona)

Monomyth, Rocky, Evita, Elvis, Superman, Princess Diana, Bishop Sheen, Mother Teresa, Howard Stern, Mark McGwire

Childhood Toys: Barbie and GI Joe

Baseball

Read: Foss 181-197, 346-356; Nachbar 211-231, 235-245, 262-313, 331-343. Read article on Mark McGwire

Paper: Relate Readings to Mark McGwire

June 15, 17

Psychoanalytic Criticism of Film

- Lacan and the Nature of Gaze

- Jung and the Shadow (Archetype)

- Horror and Suspense

Read: Foss, 260-268 509-530; Nachbar 430-444, 463-475

Paper: View movie and relate readings

See movie, "BATMAN"

June 21, 22

Ritual (Carnival, Liminality)

- Mummer’s Parade

- Olympics

- Memorial Day

- Haloween

- Spring Fling

- Santa Claus

Read: Nachbar, 375-412; Read L. Warner on Memorial Day

June 24 Final Exam

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION: Much of the course depends on group participation and discussion. You are expected to be present for each class. Students will be graded on participation and respect for class procedures. Students are allowed one absence for the course. (This includes sickness). If a student misses more than the accepted classes he/she will be graded down by one letter grade (or more if excessive absences) at the end of the semester.

ASSIGNMENTS: Classwork, outlines will be assigned in advance and are expected to be typed and double spaced. No late work will be accepted. You are responsible to find out due dates or assignments, if for some reason you are not present when the project is assigned. Students will be given short persuasive assignments through the semester that will be graded toward participation.

Remember that a C is an average grade. A B or A grade means exceptional work above the average

A. Final Worth 100 points (Essays and Concepts)

B. Reaction Papers: Based on class readings you will be asked to write four reaction papers. These reaction papers will show you have an understanding of the readings and help provide ideas for class discussion. Papers should be four complete pages as a minimum. Each paper is worth 100 points each. Papers must be typed and double spaced. No late papers will be accepted. On a cover page put your name and date. Staple all papers. Papers due May 24, June 1, 8, 14

1. Read the articles as thoroughly as you can..

2. Sum up the article. What is the main idea(s)? What is still confusing? Are you convinced by the author? Remember more specific is better. Avoid superficial phrases, such as "in this article the author writes....."

3. React to the article. Incorporate other readings or concepts from this and other classes in your reaction (This will be seen as a plus in grading). Be persuasive in your writing. Although personal reaction is encouraged avoid phrases like "I think" or "I feel" or "I believe." These are superficial statements. If you can just state your claim and give evidence to back it up your reader will know it is your personal thought, but now it becomes stronger because you have not focused on yourself but on the evidence. Avoid stating claims with no proof to back it up.

4. Watch out for grammar, spelling, syntax errors.

5. Be sure to fill four complete pages.

6. Your font and margins should be standard size.

C. Class Participation: You are expected to show evidence of reading and contribute quality ideas to the class. If you have good questions to raise based on the readings this is considered participation. I will keep track of participation over the semester. There may be a few short assignments as discussion starters. These can be fairly short. No more than two pages. If the class does not show evidence of reading there will be short in class quizzes. These will be unannounced. I am not planning to give these quizzes otherwise.

CLASS POLICIES: For the most part the class will be organized in a relaxed, informal manner.

The following guidelines will help preserve an atmosphere of learning.

1. One person speaks at a time

3. Raise your hand before speaking

4. Desks should be clear of books, etc. when a student is presenting. (Put your own notes aside and concentrate on the presente

5. Do not walk in the room if a student is presenting.

6. Be respectful in giving feedback to others.

7. Be open to feedback from others. Beware of defensive listening.

8. Remember more specific feedback is better.

9. Be present at the beginning of class.

10. No food or drink in class.

11. Do not pack up before class is over.

12. Do not leave during class

13. Avoid plagiarism. Cheating or handing in a paper that is not yours =course failure.

14. Avoid hasty generalizations that degrade a person or a group

15. Do not bring beepers to class.