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.