Texts:

Maasik, Sonia and Jack Solomon, eds. Signs of Life in the USA: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers, 3rd edition. Boston: Bedford, 2000.

The films Forest Gump and Fight Club will be used as "bookend" texts for the course. We will being the course by viewing and discussing Forest Gump (and "whole citizenship") and end by viewing and discussing Fight Club (and "rebel citizenship").

Course Description:

This course provides an introduction to the study of contemporary American popular culture. Over the course of the term, we will explore the ways in which "American" citizenship is defined by popular culture narratives and the ways in which our "individual" desires both shape and are shaped by the technologies of popular culture. To do this, we will examine a range of texts: film, advertising, television, popular music, cyberculture, and text-based narrative sites. We will consider the ways in which critical factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, class, age, region, and sexuality are shaped by and reshaped in popular culture. Through course readings, classroom discussion, unannounced quizzes, exams, and short writing assignments, we will engage such questions as:

" How is "American" citizenship defined by popular culture narratives?

" According to some of the texts, who is excluded from citizenship?

" How do television shows, ads, films, comics, etc. constitute readable texts? Who makes these texts? With what purpose and under what constraints?

" How do different cross-sections of popular culture consumers make sense of the same texts?

" What is the relationship between the "surface" narratives of various texts and ones "below the surface"?

" How does popular culture shape our "individual" desires?

" What signs available to us in popular culture do each of us use to define who we are as individuals? How do we "use" them?

Attendance:

Mandatory. For each day that you miss after two class absences, you will lose 1/3 of your final course grade (from a "B" to a "B-" for your third absence, and so on) . It is your responsibility to find out about work/ discussion you missed and changes to the syllabus announced when you are not present.

Late Work:

I will accept no late work. Furthermore, you must be in class on time in order to come to class and turn in any work due. If you are late or absent, you may not make up work due that day or retake unannounced quizzes or exams. You will receive a zero (not just an "F") for any work that you do not turn in.

Evaluation:

" English 178 is a reading intensive course, so a large portion of your grade will be determined by quizzes and exams which allow you to demonstrate that you have done the readings and have developed analytical skills necessary to make sense of the popular culture texts we work with. You will take six short, unannounced quizzes. The five for which you receive the highest marks will constitute 10% of your final grade (each of the five, then, is worth 2% point of your final grade).
You will also be tested through formal exams (a midterm and a final).

" You will be responsible for one brief (5 min.) presentation. On the day of your presentation, you will also be expected to be a discussion leader.

" You will also be responsible for one short (3-4 page) paper which will be a semiotic analysis of an advertisement.

" You can get the full 10% for class participation if you come to class, come on-time, bring whatever materials you were asked to bring, treat other class members and your instructor with respect, and contribute something constructive to each class meeting (a thoughtful question or comment).

" Finally, you will be asked to write four "one-pagers" which will not be graded. A one-pager is a one page (single-spaced) response paper that you will xerox for, distribute and read to the class. Although these papers will not be graded, you must complete each, have copies for each member of the class, and be on-time and in class on the day the one-pagers are assigned. You will lose 3% of your final grade for each one-pager you do not distribute on-time to the class.

Unannounced Quizzes (10 @ 2% each; 2 dropped) 10%
Midterm Examination 25%
Final Examination 25%
Presentation and Class Discussion Leadership 10%
Class Participation 10%
One-Pagers 20%
(Each One-Pager "Missed" -5%)

Please familiarize yourself with the WVU's policies on academic honesty. Plagiarism and any other form of cheating will not be tolerated in this class and will result in a failing grade.

It is assumed that you are familiar with and can reproduce standard written English. All work written in this class must illustrate college-level proficiency with respect to grammar, punctuation, syntax, etc.

Social Justice Statement:

West Virginia University is committed to social justice. I support that commitment and expect to maintain a positive learning environment based on open communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. WVU does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or national origin. Any suggestions about ways to further a positive and open environment in this class are welcome.

Schedule of Weekly Topics

WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE: "Run, Forest, Run!"
View Forest Gump

WEEK 2: FITTING "IN": Whole Citizenship

WEEKS 3, 4: HANGING "OUT": Partial Citizenship

WEEK 5: FIGHTING BACK: Rebel Citizenship
View Fight Club

WEEK 6: WRAPPING THINGS UP: "Global" Citizenship