170742 UE Powers of Pleasure (2021S)

Assignments: Please note now the due dates of the assignments in the course schedule.

Presentation of article: 15%
Weekly Responses (250-500 words) 30%
Final Presentation 15%
Final Paper (2,500 words) 30%
Participation 10%

Late assignments will be penalized, (loss of 2 points per day late), except in dire, verifiable circumstances.

Assignments:

1. Weekly Responses:
Each week you will be asked to write a 250-500 word response to one of the readings assigned for that class, to be submitted to the MOODLE FORUM no later than 11:00am on the day of class. Please read each other’s responses before class and feel free to comment/discuss. Please also have a copy available during class and be prepared to share and discuss it.

Your brief response should take one of the following forms:
1) Pose a rich, but concise, discussion question raised by the reading and provide a brief exploration of how this question might be addressed, and what insights or difficulties it might point to, raise, or resolve.
2) Select a quote or very short passage that stood out (either resonates, challenges you, clarifies, provokes, etc.) and provide a brief commentary regarding your interest in the passage or its importance
3) Select a term or concept that is used by two or more writers. Briefly sketch the ways in which the term is understood or employed by the different scholars
[30%]

2. Final Paper (2,500 words): You will be asked to make a sustained and rigorous intervention into a theoretical issue or topic from the course and asked to draw directly from the insights and arguments made in the readings/videos and discussions. You may focus your investigation on a media text, theoretical problem; or cultural phenomenon of your choice. You may select 1) something that we have not dealt with directly in class (or, if so, only peripherally) but bears centrally on issues from the course; or 2) something we have addressed in class, but is a rich enough topic to warrant further exploration. In this latter case, your paper will use our class discussions as a launching pad for new insights.
Your final paper can take either of two approaches:
a) You may apply theoretical/conceptual material from the course to a media text or cultural phenomenon
or
b) You may use a media text or cultural phenomenon as a lens through which to interrogate theoretical/conceptual material from the course
[25%]
3. In-class Work and Participation: The course is designed as a seminar, which means there are high expectations for participation in our group discussions. Please prepare the readings in advance of each class meeting and review them before class so that they are fresh in your mind.

[20%]

4. Short Presentation of a Reading: During the semester, you will be asked to prepare a brief presentation (roughly 5-7 minutes) for a particular reading. You may be asked to collaborate with a classmate. Your contribution should stimulate discussion/questions/new ideas. Please come prepared with a few brief remarks regarding:
1. The intervention the piece makes/its key claims
2. Connections the reading makes with other ideas from the class and, if relevant, with current events/life experiences
3. Something(s) you found that are interesting/striking/surprising/provocative and/or puzzling/frustrating/disappointing.
4. Whether the article prompted you to think in new ways or raised new questions. If so, please describe
[15%]

5. Final Presentation: You will be asked to make a short in-class presentation about the work you are preparing for your final paper.

[10%]