American Studies 475
Fall, 1991
Dr. April Schultz
Course Description:
In this course, we will examine popular culture in America from the turn of the century to the present. Rather than view popular culture as a "lure" for a mass audience that mindlessly consumes every product it is offered, we will analyze popular culture texts for their often contradictory meanings and uses and for the social and cultural dynamics they reflect. The first half of the course will deal with the growth of mass culture from the 19th century into the early 20th century. We will be looking at saloons, parks, dance halls, music and celebrations as examples of new forms of leisure that become commodified during this period. We will then turn to popular culture in the last five decades. Our explorations will include rock and roll music, Hollywood films, popular novels, and television.
Required Books (Available at the Book Store):
Butsch, Richard, ed. For Fun and Profit
Fiske, Hogn, Reading the Popular
Lipsitz, George, Time Passages
Mason, Bobbie Ann, In Country
May, Lary, ed., Recasting America
Rosenzweig, Roy, Eight Hours for What We Will
Required Materials on Reserve:
Allen, Robert, Channels of Discourse (selections)
Czitrom, Daniel, Media and the American Mind (selections)
Erenberg, Lewis, Steppin'Out (selections)
May, Lary, Screening Out the Past (selections)
Baraka, Imiri, Blues People
Long, Elizabeth, The American Dream and the Popular Novel
Graebner, William, "The 'Containment' of Juvenile Delinquency"
Lipsitz, George, Class and Culture in Cold War America (selection)
Hirshey, Gerri, Nowhere to Run: The Story of Soul Music (selections)
Assignments and Evaluation:
Leading discussion and general participation: approx. 15%
Each week, one person per reading will be responsible for giving a short (no more than 10 minutes) presentation on that reading. The discussion leader will present that author's main argument (do not summarize please), relate that argument to the themesof the course and/or to toher readings, and acknowledge its strengths and weaknesses. You iwll each get a number of chances to lead discussion, so I expect you will improve over the quarter. Don't panic yet! I will pass out a list during week two.
Midterm: aprox. 15%
Short interview paper and presentation: approx. 30%
See attached assignment sheet.
Research paper: approx. 40%
See attached assignment sheet.
Guidelines:
Attendance: This is a seminar and it therefore requires your regualr attendance and participation. I will permit only three excused absences (equivalent ot 150 minutes of class time) during the semester. Any more absences and I will begin to penalize your grade. Please let me know of any extenuating circumstances.
Due Dates; All papers and assignments are to be truned in at the beginning of class on the day they are due. Late papers will be assessed a penalty of one letter grade for each day they are past due (including the day of class).
Popular Culture Interview and Analysis
For this first assignment, I would like you to interview an older member of your family (or a friend of the family). Find out her or his favorite song, movie, dance, band, radio show or similar experience from the period 1945 to 1960. Discover why this item meant so much to her or him in the context of personal life. Then research the creation of that popular artifact, who created it, how popular it was, why it gained popularity. In this context, what do you think is the meaning--or multiple meanings--of this artifact? Place your interview in this context. How does your relative's experience illuminate the meaning of this popular artifact, and how does the cultural/historical context illuminate the artifact's meaning for your relative? Our readings and class discussions will prepare you to do thtis assignment. Pay close attention to the methods of the authors you read.
Write up your findings in an essay of not more than eight typed pages due September 30 at the beginning of class. You will give an oral report on our findings to the class on a day to be announced on October 2. I want to organize your reports roughly according to the topics we will be covering in class, so we will be hearing them throughout most of the second half of the semester. Please come to me with any questions. Have fun!
Research Paper
These are the general guidelines for the research paper in this class. I encourage you to start as soon as possible, and to check with me as soon as you've come up with something you think you might be interested in doing.
The topic for the paper is left up to you; however, the topic must deal with some artifact, practice, artist or artists, or subculture relating to U. S. popular culture, and the paper must relate the topic to some of the concepts we discuss in class. I expect you to analyze some popular culture practice and place it in its cultural-historical context.
Some Possible topics:
*Images of the family in "Married with Children" or "The Cosby Show"
*Images of race in "The Cosby Show" or class in "Roseanne"
*"Roseanne" as a working-class feminist space
*Youth culture, community, and Woodstock
*Los Lobos and Chicano rock
*Pump Up the Volume and the continuing appeal of the juvenile delinquent
*Gone With the Wind and Southern nationalism
*The new sequel to Gone With the Wind
*"The Oprah Winfrey Show" as a "female space"
*Dances with Wolves and Native-American culture
*Powwow Highway and Native-American culture
*A comparison of the last two
*The South Bend Farmer's Market
*An ethnic or civic celebration
*An Alfred Hitchcock film
*Double Indemnity or another example of film noir
*Ladies' Home Journal or a similar magazine from any period or a comparison
of two periods
*Barry Gordy and Motown--focus on one group, artist, or song
The list is endless--these are just examples to stimulate your thoughts.
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