Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

US Pop Culture (Face-to-Face)

SOC 3200-01

Course: SOC 3200-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: HSOC
CRN: 32377

Course Description

Using general theories of the nature of social and cultural structures, this course provides a sociological analysis of everyday American culture. Examining popular culture such as print, media, television, sport, and other aspects of a consumer-driven culture helps understand prevailing values and anticipate changing norms and behaviors. (As Needed) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Required assigned reading articles will be posted on Canvas.

Learning Outcomes

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Students will gain skills in cultural analysis through exposure to sociological theories and case studies in the study of U.S. popular culture.

2. Students will gain skills in data collection methods through exposure to research methods often used in the study of U.S. popular culture.

3. Students will become skilled in interpreting cultural products from multiple vantage points.

4. Students will broaden their knowledge of aesthetic and cultural traditions within various genres of music, film, and other forms of entertainment.

5. Students will have the opportunity to engage in guided, self-directed learning as they select a pop culture case study that interests them in a final mini-research project and paper.

6. Students will gain skills in close, analytical reading or observation and written communication centered around evidence-based argumentation/ well-supported interpretations.

Course Requirements

10% Attendance & Participation

30% Exam #1 (in class, multiple choice & short essay)

30% Exam #2 (in class, multiple choice & short essay, with questions on Yellowstone & course content)

5% Research design proposal (1 or 2 page document) 

25% Final mini-research project & class presentation on a pop culture case study that interests you (it is 

strongly recommended that this be a group project, but solo projects are OK too)

Course Outline

SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS AND ACTIVITIES

 

Week #1

Theme: Fans & Why Pop Culture is "Popular"; Pop culture as positive vs. negative force

Assigned reading - Pop culture as a positive force:

"Ted Lasso: The Servant-Leader we need right now" + “Ted Lasso, Holy Fool”

"Pro-development soap operas"

“The New Wonder Woman”

 

Week #2

Concepts: Orientalism, the "Politics of Representation"

Assigned reading - Pop culture as negative force:

"Star Trek as Fascist?"

"Learning to Imagine Better” (Harry Potter essay)

“Stereotypes of Orient in Game of Thrones” (Least is East...) 

& “The Amazing Race: Global Othering”

 

Week #3

Assigned reading: 

Why the Hallmark Channel is Popular: “The commercialization of the commercialization of Christmas”

 

Week #4

Assigned reading on Content Coding methods: 

“I See Death Around the Corner: Nihilism in Rap Music”

“A Content Analysis of Violence in American War Movies”

“A Content Analysis of Female Characters in Video Games across 31 Years”

 

Week #5

[   ] Exam #1, in class on Thursday

Assigned reading - interview audience research methods: 

“Reconsidering Reflexivity: Audience Research and Reality Television”

Read also only the Abstract (or more if interested) of this article using survey methods: 

“Pop Music and Peer Groups”

 

Week #6

Focus: Theories of Pop Culture

Watch Yellowstone, Season 1, Episode 1

Assigned reading: 

“Nothing Changes on The White Lotus”

“The White Lotus is as clueless about Native Hawaiians as its characters”

Article on 3 theories of media effects: “Cosmetic Surgery Makeover Programs...”

 

Week #7

Watch Yellowstone, Season 1, Episode 2

Assigned reading: 

“Rez Life”

 

Week #8

Watch Yellowstone, Season 1, Episode 3

Assigned reading:  

“The Hunger Games and the Dystopian Imagination” 

 

Week #9

Watch Yellowstone, Season 1, Episode 4

Assigned reading:  

Read: “The Western Rides Again”

Readings on Yellowstone (a collection of short articles on the show will be posted)

[   ] Hard copy of your research proposal is due this week in class, Thursday (5% of Grade)

 

Week #10

Watch Yellowstone, Season 1, Episode 5

Assigned reading:  

Read: “GamerGate" + "For the Horde" (short essay on GamerGate)

 

Week #11

Before the exam, watch Yellowstone, Season 1, Episode 6

[  ] Exam #2, in class on Thursday

 

Week #12

Class time this week will review research methods (just-in-time help for your project)

Work on your final project

 

Week #13

Work on your final project

Final Presentations begin

 

OFF - - Thanksgiving Break

 

Week #14

Final Presentations continue

 

Week 15/ FINALS WEEK

Final Presentations will also take place during the Final Exam period scheduled for this course, which is set by the SUU Registrar.

 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

 

INSTRUCTOR’S POLICIES ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS AND/ OR MAKEUP WORK

If you are unable to take the Exams or submit assignments on the scheduled day and time, students should contact the professor right away by e-mail and schedule a time during his office hours the following week to submit the assignment or take a makeup Exam. If his office hours do not work for you, e-mail the professor and arrange to take it another time the following week, during regular business hours (Mon-Fri, 9 am to 5pm). If the assignment needs to be delayed further, students are required to see the Dean of Students. The Dean will ask for documentation that helps to explain your situation (e.g., a doctor’s note, etc.), but the Dean is here to support you, and to validate absences that should be excused by professors. In many cases, the Dean can keep the reasons for your absence confidential. 

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class meeting. Your attendance grade is based on how often you attend (students who miss more than 3 classes will see their attendance grade drop). If you miss 8 or more times (equivalent to missing 1/3 of classes), you will automatically fail the course.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.