Winter quarter 2008
Week Ten (March 11 & 13)
Tuesday, March 11:
Learning goals seminar. Your seminar ticket will be your response to the learning goal you were assigned. You must use citations from at least three of the sources we've studied (books, plays, films articles, etc.) In addition, we'd like
you to include one additional aspect of your learning that has influenced your thinking about the program themes
(a sentence or two at the end of your seminar ticket will suffice).
Each group will meet to discuss their findings prior to a full class seminar.
Group 1 (Jessica, Emma, Carl): In what ways do we identify, understand and distinguish between information,
entertainment and propaganda?
Group 2 (John, Kirsten): In what ways do politics and performance intersect in film—both narrative and
documentary—and theatre? What conventions are employed and what function do they serve?
Group 3 (Matt, Alex, Angelina): How does popular culture influence political discourse? How do money,
media concentration, show business?
Group 4 (Crystal, Chad, Rene): What is the difference between civic intelligence and social capital and why are
these terms important?
Group 5: (Lorna, Andy, James): How have the Internet and other media altered traditional relationships between
politics, performance and the public?
Thursday, March 13
Doug would like you to read the final chapter of We the Media and "The Second Superpower..." Please consider
the following question: Why are the authors hopeful and what do they suggest (implicitly or explicitly) that we as citizens should do?
Wrap up and screening of final film. Schedule evaluations.
POT LUCK.
Week Nine (March 4 & 6)
Tuesday, March 4:
Choose a scene from Titus Andronicus and be prepared to discuss in class using the same questions from Feb. 28
DUE: Political Engagement project paper (group and individual). Forum will be on Thursday.
**Doug will be in Toronto, speaking about "Civic intelligence and Social Entrepreneurism in the Digital Future" at
"Digital Ontario" at the University of Guelph.
Thursday, March 6
Political Engagement Forum. Groups will present research and materials. If you missed class on Thursday,
Feb. 28, you should check in with your group members to find out what you missed.
READ: Towards Civic Intelligence (this chapter is from the book Community in the Digital Age, edited by Andrew Feenberg and Darin Barney. Civic intelligence is a concept that Doug is exploring that builds on the work of John Dewey, Robert Putnam, and other advocates of civic and community engagement.
Week Eight (February 26 and 28)
Tuesday, Feb. 26:
It's always a good idea to read Shakespeare out loud. A reminder to read the introduction to Titus Andronicus
after you read the play.
Thursday, Feb. 28:
Because of the debate, we were unable to cover Act IV, scene 2 of Titus Andronicus. You will be asked about the
theme of the play, citing specific examples to support your answer. Here are some other questions to consider:
--why is the scene important to the play?
--how does it change the action of the play?
--how does the scene relate to the overall theme of the play? (the introduction is useful regarding theme)
Reflective essay DUE if you didn't turn it in Tuesday because of the misprint on the due date calendar.
Week Seven (February 19 and 21)
Week Six (February 12 and 14)
Tuesday, Feb. 12:
Cornell Boxes due (including one typed page discussing your analysis of the play and creative process)
Please review the Monaco reading and glossary of film terms.
Thursday, Feb. 14:
READ and bring to class:
Political Comics and Cartoons
DUE: Mid-quarter self-evaluation
A REMINDER that before Super Tuesday (February 5) everybody should have read about the event from at least
two blogs or other citizen journalism sources that differ in one significant way. For example, you could read
from a conservative and a liberal non-professional blog in New Jersey. Be sure to take notes on what you find.
What are the major issues? How are these citizen journalism sites different from mass media sources? Then,
look at the same blogs AFTER Super Tuesday and take more notes. We will be discussing what we've learned
in class on Thursday, Here is a reference list for blogs.
Week Five (February 5 and 7)
Tuesday, Feb. 5:
Class field trip to attend The Breach at the Seattle Rep. Directions. . Tickets for students who did not get them
in class will be available in the lobby. Please arrive no later than 7:15 pm whether or not you have a ticket.
Thursday, Feb. 7:
Super Tuesday debrief and WA caucus preview
READ and bring to class:
MonacoExcerpt
Recommended reading:
CNN debate broadcast
Week Four (January 29 and 31)
Tuesday, Jan 29:
READ and bring to class:
TheBreach (please use your Play Reading handout as you think about this play)
PutnamCivicAmerica
Pinter Nobel Lecture
Thursday, Jan. 31:
Check your email for Florida primary workshop assignment from Doug
READ and bring to class:
We the Media (chapters 5-7)
Recommended reading: "Porgy Meets Katrina" and New Orleans Godot
Seminar topic: "Can civic journalism help reverse the decline in social capital?"
Your response could address the likelihood of this happening or what factors might be involved in the process.
You must cite specific passages from the readings (the two Putnam chapters from Weeks 1 and 4 and We the Media)
to support your conclusions. Please also take care to use concepts, practices and vocabulary in your analysis (from the
readings and lectures). Seminar ticket should be one page typed, single space if you wish.
Week Three (January 22 and 24)
Tuesday, Jan 22:
READ and bring to class:
Durov'sPig
Thursday, Jan. 24:
READ and bring to class:
We the Media (intro and chapters 1-3)
Illegitimate Theater pattern
SEMINAR TICKET: Read carefully and briefly discuss that main point of one scene from Mother Courage (excluding
scene 5) that you consider particularly important to the play. Include a line or two of dialogue that best captures
the meaning of the scene and explain why you've chosen it. Please also comment on how the "lesson" from your
scene might apply to the Iraq war (one typed page).
Week Two (January 15 and 17)
Tuesday, Jan 15: Be sure to rent and screen Network over the weekend for seminar.
READ and bring to class:
TheAgeofShowBusiness
Communication Networks Pattern
BRING ideas for Political Engagement Project
SEMINAR TICKET: What are Neil Postman's central concerns about public discourse in the age of show business
and televised electoral politics? Network takes a different approach as film satire but addresses some of the same
issues in dramatic form. What are these issues and how do they relate to the two chapters you read from Amusing
Ourselves to Death? (one typed page)
Thursday, Jan. 17:
READ and bring to class:
Mother Courage (please read the introduction after you read the play)
Economic Conversion Pattern
Reading and Thinking About Plays
Brecht: a brief overview
Week One (January 8 and 10)
Tuesday, Jan 8: Introduction to the program. The following materials will be handed out in class:
Syllabus
Covenant
Political Engagement Project
Moyer transcript
Calendar
Thursday, Jan. 10: Frame analysis and Introduction to Social Capital
Be prepared to discuss the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary in light of Moyer transcript and the Lakoff and Luntz
reading below.
READ and bring to class:
PutnamSocialChange
Strategic Framing Pattern
Luntz and Lakoff
Some examples of boxes created by Joseph Cornell. The titles below are not by Cornell. They are just a means of identifying images.
