THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO,
BOULDER
SOCY 4047-OC2
Maymester 2006
S. Couch
Course Hours: M-F, 9:00-12:15 Classroom: MUEN E131
Office Hours: M,T,W 1:00-2:00 or by appointment Office: Ketchum 214
Fax: (303) 492-8878 Phone: (303) 735-2389 (ofc)
(570) 449-5023 (cell)
Email: SRC@PSU.EDU
From TV to movies to music to magazines and newspapers, popular culture is all around us. It reflects and teaches us our wants, needs, desires, and values. It is so pervasive that we seldom stop to reflect on it or study it. When we do, we learn a lot about our society and ourselves.
This course is about how popular culture views disasters. We will learn how popular culture helps define how we view different disasters and the meanings we attach to them. We will study disaster myths and how they are perpetuated through media portrayals of disasters. We will watch disaster movies and learn how they reflect and shape societal values. We may take a field trip or two. We will develop a framework by which to study and analyze the popular culture of disasters. And we will discuss what the popular culture of disasters tells us about our society.
After an introduction to the course, we will review the basic concepts and frameworks of the social sciences – especially sociology. We will discuss the basics of the relationship of the media and society. We will examine a linguistic analysis of selected 9/11-related material as an extended example. We will discuss what we have learned from the social scientific study of disasters. We will learn how the social sciences study popular culture, and how social scientists have approached the study of disasters and popular culture. We will study the social construction of disasters, emphasizing the very important role played by the mass media. We will also consider how the victims of disasters construct meaning to what has happened to them. This will be followed by a section on the importance of place in the popular culture of disasters, and of the role of disasters in shaping a community’s culture and in influencing social change. We will look at disaster movies and other performances of and about disasters. Then we will take an in-depth look at popular culture dealing with the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and by a comparison of Titanic-related popular culture with popular culture that has appeared in the wake of the September 11 disasters and of Hurricane Katrina. The final class periods will consist of student group presentations.
EVALUATION:
The major evaluation tool in this course is a required group presentation to the class. The topic will be chosen by you and approved by me. The presentation will be a maximum of twenty minutes in length and will take place during the last two days of class. Grading will be based on how well you research and describe the topic, how well you analyze what you find, and how well you present your material. Your analysis must draw specifically on one or more of the analysis frameworks presented in class.
The presentation will be worth 100 points toward your course grade.
Also, there will be one in-class test in the course. The test will examine what you have learned to date and help prepare you for your presentation and paper. The test will be worth 50 points.
In addition, you will be expected to watch two movies outside of class and to write a 1-2 page synopsis and analysis of each movie. You must watch a movie from two of four categories; a list of categories and movies will be distributed in class. Each synopsis/review will be worth up to 20 points.
This is an advanced seminar requiring much commitment from all involved. In order for the course to be successful, all students must work independently, cooperatively in a group, consistently, and share their knowledge with the rest of the class. Class participation is expected and will be rewarded. As part of the participation grade, each group will be expected to prepare a short summary of a set of readings for the course, present that summary in class, and begin a discussion of the reading. The remainder of the participation grade will be based on attendance and quality/quantity of class discussion. Participation will be worth up to 50 points.
The following is a summary of evaluation instruments and points for this course:
Test 50
Presentation 100
Movie synopses/reviews 40
Class participation 50
TOTAL POINTS: 240
Final grades will be determined by the following percentages:
92-100=A
90-91=A-
88-89=B+
82-87=B
80-81=B-
78-79=C+
70-77=C
60-69=D
0-59=F
READINGS:
Each student should purchase a copy of the following books:
Biel, Steven (ed.). 2001. American Disasters. New York: New York University Press.
Biel, Steven. 1996. Down with the Old Canoe: A Cultural History of the Titanic Disaster. New York: W.W. Norton.
Croteau, David and William Hoynes. 2003. Media Society: Industries, Images and Audiences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge.
Silberstein, Sandra. 2002. War of Words
The following book is also recommended:
Biel, Steven. 1998. Titanica: The Disaster of the Century in Poetry, Song and Prose. New York: W.W. Norton.
Additional required readings will be placed on reserve in the library or will be distributed in class.
DISABILITY SERVICES:
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability please submit a letter to me from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs may be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities (303-492-8671, Willard 322, www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices).
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES:
Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments, or required attendance. In this class, I will make every effort to accommodate students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with class requirements. Please contact me if you have such a conflict or if you have any questions.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
Students and faculty each have a responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Students who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Faculty have the professional responsibility to treat all students with understanding, dignity and respect, to guide classroom discussion and to set reasonable limits on the manner in which they and their students express opinions. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student’s legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the term so that I may make appropriate changes to my records.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
All students at the University of Colorado are responsible knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including, but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/
DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The University of Colorado policy on Sexual Harassment and the University of Colorado policy on Amorous Relationships apply to all students, staff and faculty. Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Sexual Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or sexual harassment can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh.