CSOC 202 Fall 2019 Course Outline PDF

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Ryerson University CSOC 202: Issues in Popular Culture Fall 2019 Instructor: Graeme Metcalf Section: 310 Wednesday’s 6:30-9:30 Location: DCC 350 Office: Jorgenson Hall 322 E-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: Monday 1-2 & Friday 12-1 Course Description: This course is designed to provide the opportunity to develop a general sociological understanding and perspective with which to evaluate, interpret and understand popular culture. In this course we will explore several meanings and manifestations of popular culture exhibited through the mass media. Of particular relevance will be discussions of ownership, authenticity, appropriation, consumption, representation and high/pop culture. Our investigations into popular culture will be informed by classical sociological theory and contemporary cultural studies, including film, television and media studies. Ultimately, the course should help you develop a new, critical perspective through which to view popular culture. Moreover, this course explores the socioeconomic structure that shapes and controls the popular culture we consume. Students will study media, culture, socialization, power and inequality, critically examining images of race, age, ethnicity, gender, social class and sexual orientation. Strategies and responses of various groups will be considered along with an analysis of cultural and social change. Course Objectives: We need to communicate and exchange knowledge with each other. On one hand, the media are viewed by the public as a necessary and irreplaceable source of information in large, modern, democratic societies. However, popular culture is constructed as part of a pervasive, consumption-oriented entertainment social structure. Our purpose in this course is to understand the structured relationship between the owners, producers, products, representations of identities, and audiences of mass media in contemporary North American culture, with a focus on visual media cultures.

Course Readings: assigned via D2L, and all D2L materials are eligible for exams.

Course Evaluation: Midterm Exam: 25% (Oct 30) Major Essay: 35% (Nov 27) Final Exam: 30% (Dec 11) Participation: 10% Attendance: Attendance is expected and paramount in order to succeed in this course. You are responsible for all materials presented as well as for all readings and assignments. Under no circumstances will entire lectures be posted on D2L. If you miss a class it is up to you to track down lecture materials from a fellow student, this is very strict. Course Requirements: Midterm Exam: The format of the midterm will be 55 multiple choice questions drawn from all addressed course materials including lectures, readings, discussion points and screenings. Research Essay: Your research essay is required to be 5 double spaced pages employing standardized margins and a 12pt font and a Times New Roman typeface. This does not include either the title page or the bibliography. Your essay will demonstrate a mandatory undertaking of research, a theoretical framework grounded in sociology and/or cultural studies, originality, clarity, critical analysis, and sound writing skills. You will choose your essay topic from a list of 5 topics announced on October 30th. Final Exam: The final exam will be comprised of 60 multiple choice questions. The exam is not cumulative, however, core (primary) concepts used throughout the semester will be included on the exam. Teaching Methods: This course will be taught using class lectures, class discussions, screenings, Q&A sessions, and many relevant media examples and documentaries. Each class will have a 90 min lecture, where primary ideas and concepts will be introduced, and a 90 min section to examine those ideas and concepts more closely through screenings and discussions.

Course Schedule: Sept 11: Introduction to SOC 202 – Popular Culture Sept 18: The Origins of Contemporary Popular Culture Sept 25: Critical Thinking, Popular Culture and the Role of Audience and Spectatorship Oct 2: Representations of Class and Social Economics Oct 9: Popular Culture, Youth Culture and Deviance Oct 16: Reading Week – Ryerson Closed Oct 23: Representations of Race in Popular Culture Oct 30: Midterm Exam Nov 6: Popular Culture and Gendering the Image Pt 1 Nov 13: Popular Culture and Gendering the Image Pt 2 Nov 20: Sexuality, Sexualities and Representations of Difference Nov 27: Postmodernism: Interrogating Reality, Realities, Spectacle and Social Media Dec 4: Social Media and Celebrity Dec 11: Final Exam - In class. Screenings: This class makes regular use of both television and film screenings. You are responsible to be in class, to pay attention and to take notes and be familiar with these screenings. They will be on both exams and I cannot guarantee all screenings are easily tracked down online. Finally, do not be that student who leaves class as the screening begins. They will be discussed at length each week and are included on both the midterm and the final exam.

Missed Exams and Late Assignments:

Make-up exams will be granted with approved documentation only. If you have a conflict with one of the exam dates, it is your responsibility to discuss it with the Academic Counseling office at least one week before the regularly scheduled exam and provide documentation of the conflict. If approved, you will be allowed to schedule a make-up exam. If you miss an exam date or the due date for an assignment due to illness or for any other unforeseen reason, you must provide notification and documentation to your Academic Counselor within 48 hours. CSOC 202: Notes & Policies:

● Students are not permitted to record or take photos of slides: you will be asked only once to adhere to this rule. This is Ryerson University policy. ● Do not find yourself so focused on your phone instead of class material that you do not realize that I’m asking you a question. ● Please be in class on time. If you arrive late, please do so quietly and take the nearest possible seat ● The course content will arrive quickly: be certain to be paying attention throughout our class time and refrain from using your phone or computer ● Do not be those two friends watching something on a computer and attempting to have a conversation, nor be that student attempting to listen to something through headphones during class. It’s rude and inappropriate. You will be asked only once to refrain from this. ● All students are encouraged to participate actively. Please be aware of those around us. That is, be aware of your language, word choices and at times unsavory attempts at humor. ● You are responsible for all course content and this includes lecture materials, readings and any images, films or television programs examined in class ● You are also responsible for any additional materials posted to D2L throughout the duration of the course should there be any. ● Do not expect lecture slides to be posted on D2L. You are expected to be in class and each slide will remain up for as long as we need. There are 65 students enrolled. Make a friend and ask this friend for their notes. Do not email me asking me to send you the lecture you missed. ● We will have screenings on a regular basis. I will announce in advance if the screening includes material that some students may find unsettling and/or inflammatory. Finally: Ryerson University Intellectual Property Policy: You may not record, photograph, share, post, or distribute course materials with others without permission. The unauthorized use of intellectual property of others, including your Professor’s, for distribution, sale, or

profit, including, but not limited to slides, lecture notes, presentation materials used in and outside of class, quizzes, and assignments is expressly prohibited in accordance with Policy 60 Academic Integrity (Sections 2.8, 2.10) http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol60.pdf

Course Related Information Important Notes Regarding Course Evaluation and Related Matters: Students are required to inform their instructors of any situation which arises during the semester which many have an adverse effect upon their academic performance, and must request any considerations and accommodations according to the relevant policies and well in advance. Failure to do so will jeopardize any academic appeals. ● Medical Certificates – If a student misses the deadline for submitting an assignment, or the date of an exam or other evaluation component because of illness, he or she must submit a Ryerson Student Medical Certificate AND an Academic Consideration Form within 3 working days of the missed date. Both documents are available at www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/medical.pdf. If you are a full-time or part-time degree student, then you must submit your forms to your own program department or school. If you are a certificate of non-certificate student, then you submit your forms to the staff at the front desk of the Chang School. ● Religious Observance – If a student needs accommodation because of religion observance, he or she must submit a Request for Accommodation of Student Religious, Aboriginal and Spiritual Observance AND an Academic Consideration form within the first two weeks of the class, or, for the a final examination, within 2 weeks of the posting of the examination schedule. If the required absence occurs within the first 2 weeks of classes, or the dates are not known well in advance as they are linked to other considerations, these forms should be submitted with as much lead time as possible in advance of the required absence. Both documents are available athttp://www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/relobservforminstr.pdf. If you are a full-time or part-time degree student, then you must submit your forms to your own program department or school. If you are a certificate of non-certificate student, then you submit your forms to the staff at the front desk of the Chang School. ● Students with disabilities - In order to facilitate the academic success and access of students with disabilities, they should register with the Access Centrehttp://www/ryerson.ca/studentservices/accesscentre/index.html. Before the first graded work is due, students should also inform their instructor through an “Accommodation Form for Professors” that they are registered with the Access Centre and what accommodations are required. Late Penalties for Assignments:

Students are responsible for all required readings and other content presented in lectures, class discussions, and films shown in class. Students who miss an exam will be assigned a grade of zero, unless prior notification is given to the course instructor AND a university-authorized excuse is given (legitimate medical or compassionate circumstance). Assignments / essays are due at the beginning of lecture. Any assignment not received at the beginning of lecture will incur a 5% penalty. An additional 5% penalty will be applied for each working day that an assignment / essay is late. The maximum penalty that can be assessed to a late assignment is 30% (5% for not submitting at the beginning of lecture, and five working days @ 5% per day). Coursework will NOT be accepted by fax or e-mail. Students must keep a copy of any coursework that is submitted. If you wish to receive coursework that is not returned in class (e.g. the research essay), you must provide a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage. This coursework will be mailed after final marks have been submitted. No marks will be given by email or phone. Students must abide by the deadlines and attend lectures of the section of the course in which they are enrolled. Grade Assessment: The following represents Ryerson’s official allocation of numerical and letter grades: A+ 90-100 A 85-89 A- 80-84 B+ 77-79 B 73-76 B- 70-72 C+ 67-69 C 63-66 C- 60-62 D+ 57-59 D 53-56 D- 50-52 F 49-0 Throughout the term, assignment grades will be posted on D2L. Your final grade for the course will appear on RAMSS in letter form. Midterms will be assessed and grades posted to D2L within 1.5 weeks of completion. All other coursework submitted will be assessed and grades posted to D2L between 1 to 2.5 weeks. Grade Reassessment: Requests to recalculate or reconsider any grade received must be made directly to the course instructor within 10 working days of the return of the graded coursework. Coursework will not be reassessed after the 10-day time period. Religious Observance and Other Considerations: It is the individual student’s responsibility to inform the course instructor of any situation that arises during the semester that affects their performance in the course (e.g. ability to complete coursework on time or to attend an exam). These issues must be brought to the course instructor’s attention as soon as is possible. Any conflicts due to religious observance must be brought to the course instructor’s attention during the first two weeks of classes. Students who are unable to submit coursework on time and / or attend a course exam must inform the course instructor as soon as possible (and no later than 3 days after missing an exam or other deadline). Documentation (e.g. medical) may be requested. Access Centre Students must follow the policies and procedures established by the Access Centre. Access Centre Students are also responsible for providing the course instructor with the appropriate documentation (with respect to any accommodations) in advance. Failure to abide by Access Centre policies and procedures may result in a grade of zero, or may jeopardize an academic appeal. E-Mail:

All Ryerson students are required to obtain an official university e-mail account for official university communication. When e-mailing the course instructor, please indicate your full name and section of the course in which you are enrolled in the subject line. Effort will be made to respond to e-mails in a timely fashion. Please note that e-mails asking questions about matters clearly stated in the course syllabus (e.g. dates of exams, assigned readings, etc.) will not be answered. Student Learning Support Centre If you require learning support or have accommodation needs please visit the Student Learning Support Centre. Students who require accommodation are encouraged to register with the Centre and must decide for themselves whether to seek out this help. You can locate more information on the Centre here:http://www.ryerson.ca/studentlearningsuupprt/index.html Student Code of Academic Conduct: The Ryerson Student Code of Academic Conduct defines academic misconduct, the processes the University will follow when academic misconduct is suspected, and the consequences that can be imposed if students are found to be guilty of misconduct. Further information is also available at www.ryerson.ca/academicintegrity. Academic misconduct includes: ● Plagiarism (claiming words, ideas, artistry, drawings, or data of another person as your own, including submitting your own work in whole or in part in more than one course) ● Cheating ● Misrepresentation of personal identity or performance ● Submission of false information ● Contributing to academic misconduct ● Damaging, tampering, or interfering with the scholarly environment ● Unauthorized copying or use of copyrighted material ● Violations of departmental policies on professional behaviour and/or course requirements...