Women Studies (WMST) 339 L20
Gender in Popular Culture
Spring 2008
Mondays, Wednesdays, 14:00-16:45

 

 

Instructor:	Jo Kadi
Office Location:	Social Science 209
E-Mail:	jkadi@ucalgary.ca
Office Hours:	Mondays, 9:00 to 11:00, and/or by appointment

Course Description

Popular culture is a powerful force in our society, providing representations, messages, images, and ideas about gender, as well as race and class. In this course, we will think critically and analytically about these representations, messages, images, and ideas, about popular culture itself, and about the technology that produces it.  We will also examine representations offering alternative portrayals to those of the mainstream. We will draw from a variety of cultural forms, including film, video, music, television, advertising, books, and the internet.

Objectives of the Course

To develop strong critical thinking and analytical skills in order to assess popular culture.

To gain a historical perspective on popular culture.

To examine the ways popular culture simultaneously establishes, reinforces and challenges gender stereotypes .

Textbooks and Readings:

A course pack is available at the University Bookstore.

Assignments and Evaluation

-Attendance/participation grade, worth 10%. Since class discussion is a key element in this course, this portion of the grade is based on attendance, and also on the degree to which students contribute thoughtfully to class discussions and clearly demonstrate that they have read assigned readings. 

 

-In-class response paper focused on the reading for the day, worth 10%. Date will not be announced beforehand.

 

-Essay, worth 20%. This assignment involves critical thinking about the use of technology, as it connects to pop culture and as it connects to daily life. Due date: 28 May.

 

-Written assignment, worth 10%. This short paper offers students the opportunity to analyze the overt and covert messages that can be found within one or two examples of pop culture. Due date: 11 June or 16 June (students can choose).

 

-Group project, worth 25%. This assignment involves a presentation to the class as well as a short paper. Presentations will occur on 18 June and 23 June.

 

-In-class final exam, worth 25%. Due date: 25 June.

 

More information on these assignments will be available in class.

 

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:   No

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

 

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines.  Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research.  For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see the U of C Research Ethics "Information for Applicants," sections 3.0 to 9.0, inclusive: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/research/html/ethics/info_undergrad.html

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

 

A detailed syllabus will be available to students on the first day of class.