INDG 3102 syllabus PDF

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DEPARTMENT OF INDIGENOUS STUDIES TRENT UNIVERSITY INDG 3102: Contemporary Images in Media: On-line (Intersession 2020) Instructor Kelly Harrison Campus On-line

Email [email protected] Office Location The Netherworld

Department Contact: Christine Welter Office Location FPHL/GCS

Telephone 506-851-9545 (text or message) On-Line Office Hours Per Request

Email [email protected] Telephone 705-748-1011

Course Description: This course is designed to encourage students to critically examine the Indigenous images that are perpetuated in the realm of popular culture via television and film. For many of us who were weaned on Sesame Street and Saturday morning cartoons, television and film are staples of our existence and this course will attempt to encourage viewers to critically assess the images Indigenous Peoples that are presented via mass media. While the Indigenous image is a popular representation in electronic and celluloid media, a true understanding of the historical and modern implications of the use of Indigenous imagery and its exploitation needs to be assessed for a complete understanding of the portrayal of First Nations Peoples in popular culture. By examining a variety of examples, this course will provide the reader/viewer with a better understanding of the power of television and film and the impacts of these images on the relationship, place and space occupied by Indigenous Peoples in contemporary society. Course Format: Type :

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On-Line Special Note on Format: So as to make manifest the notion that form mirrors content, the course is divided into seasons, episodes, commercial breaks, infomercials, productions, and after-school specials. (yes, I do have too much time on my hands!) Required Texts: Thomas King’s Truth About Stories (2003) O’Connor and Rollins’ Hollywood’s Indian (2003) + Other assigned readings via Blackboard You will also need access to a good internet connection that will allow you to stream videos and films from Trent’s Criterion-on-Demand, the National Film Board and Netflix.

Course Evaluation: Commercial Breaks = Special Short Assignments = 6 x 5 = 30%

Infomercial = 1 x 10 = 10% Public Service Announcements = 5 @ 3 =15% Production = Essay/Project = 25% After-School Special = Critical Reflection = 20%

Assignment Notes: Commercial Breaks: 30% (1st 3 are due on May 22 via Blackboard) (2nd 3 are due on June 5th via Blackboard) Each commercial break (6 x 5% each) allows you to investigate and use your creative imagination to complete short but special assignments associated with the cinematic materials in that particular episode and theme. Your work will be graded on your thoughtful insight, your diligence, and the completion of the assigned task. Infomercial: 10% (1st due on June 19th via Blackboard) The Informercial is designed to allow students to investigate an aspect of Indigenous representation in both a historical setting and in contemporary culture. The infomercial is valued at 10% and guidelines are provided on D2L. Public Service Announcements = 15% (5 @ 3%) Each public service announcement are designed to foster critical discussion amongst students. Students have the choice of participating in writing discussion posts or to attend 5 of the live Zoom sessions offered throughout the semester at various dates and times Production (aka Essay/Visual Media Project) (30%)(Due on July 18th via Blackboard) Option #1: Essay The essay is on the topic of your choice but must be related to the course. You may, for example, wish to focus on a variety of films and examine recurring themes and symbols. You might conduct a detailed analysis of a specific film or choose to look at a television show(s), commercial(s) or other examples of Indigenous imagery in Media and culture which interest you. The choice is yours! The essay should be approximately 12 pages in length (approximately 2500 words) and must contain outside academic research (minimum of 5 academic, peer reviewed sources). Please see the assignment handout on Blackboard for full details and requirements. Option #2: Visual Media Project This option is designed to meet the creative penchants of individual students (or groups of students) who desire a more "hands on" approach to scholarship. Create a comedic, dramatic, or horror short film (no animals or humans should be endangered during the film making process!), a spoof some of your favourite (or least favourite) commercials or produce a line of comic books, children’s books, photo-essay, etc. All students must keep in mind that the project must relate directly to the course and focus on the visual portrayal of the Indigenous image in mass media. You should discuss the numerous possibilities for this assignment with the instructor before starting any work. Remember the project has to be submitted in an e-format so keep that aspect in mind when deciding upon your project. Have fun with this assignment! Your project must be accompanied by an Artist Statement (500 words) which outlines your creative process. Option #3: Make Me an Offer I Can’t Refuse If you have something in mind that is so outside the box that it doesn’t fit into the other categories, let’s talk about it and see what accomodations we can make to have your academic dreams come true!

After-School Special (Critical Reflection) (20%)(Due on July 25th via Blackboard) The final paper prompt and instruction handout will be provided near the end of the course via Blackboard.

University Policies Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty, which includes plagiarism and cheating, is an extremely serious academic offence and carries penalties varying from a 0 grade on an assignment to expulsion from the University. Definitions, penalties, and procedures for dealing with plagiarism and cheating are set out in Trent University’s Academic Integrity Policy. You have a responsibility to educate yourself – unfamiliarity with the policy is not an excuse. You are strongly encouraged to visit Trent’s Academic Integrity website to learn more: www.trentu.ca/academicintegrity.

Access to Instruction: It is Trent University's intent to create an inclusive learning environment. If a student has a disability and/or health consideration and feels that he/she may need accommodations to succeed in this course, the student should contact the Accessibility Services Office (BH Suite 132, 748-1281, [email protected] as soon as possible. Complete text can be found under Access to Instruction in the Academic Calendar.

Indigenous Studies Declaration Indigenous Studies aims to create a safe and respectful leaning environment for all students. Due to the nature of the material studied, students may encounter information and perspectives that are new to them and which challenge their views of Canadian society and history. This may create a sense of confusion or discomfort. As you proceed through the course, we encourage you to speak with the instructors or the Indigenous Student Services Staff about personal and interpersonal issues and concerns that arise.

Additional Course Notes All written material submitted for grading MUST be: * Submitted via the Blackboard system. Personal e-mails (non-Trent issued) will not be read. * Late assignments will be not be accepted unless accompanied by a medical note. * APA documentation style is preferred. Please speak with the instructor if you choose otherwise.

Proposed Schedule --- Filmography and Readings Season 1 --- There’s a Story I Know Episode 1: You’ll Never Belive What is Going to Happen … Required Reading: King Chapter 1 (youtube/cbc) Commercial Break 1 = Creation Story = 5% Episode 2: The Indian I Had in Mind Required Reading: King Chapter 2 (youtube/cbc) Commercial Break 2 = Postcard = 5% Episode 3: Let Me EntertainYou Required Reading: King Chapter 3 (youtube/cbc) Commercial Break 3 = Trinkets of the Trade = 5% *** All 3 commercial Breaks are due by May 23rd at 11:59 pm. Late submissions will NOT be accepted.

Season 2 --- Go West Young (Wo)Man! Episode 4: Print The Legend: Classic Westerns Required Reading: Nolley (Hollywood’s Indian) Required Watch: The Searchers (Criterion ‐on ‐Demand) Commercial Break 4 = Cowboys and Indians = 5% Episode 5: No Sympathy for the Devil: Sympathetic Westerns Required Reading: Kasdan and Tavernetti (Hollywood’s Indian) Required Watch: Little Big Man (Criterion‐on‐Demand) Commercial Break 5 = Cher on Horseback = 5% Suggested Watch: Dances With Wolves Suggested Read: Baird (Hollywood’s Indian) Episode 6: To Go Where One Has Gone Before: Future Westerns Required Reading: King (Blackboard) Required Watching: Star Trek: Insurrection (Criterion ‐on ‐Demand) Suggested Watch: Star Trek Original Series episode “Paradise Syndrome” (Season 3) (Netflix) Commercial Break 6 = Picard as Cowboy = 5% Episode 7: Now on Netflix Required Watch: Ridiculous 6 (Netflix) or Dead Man (Criterion-on-Demand) or Hostiles (if you can find it) Suggested Read: The Back of your Box of Microwave Popcorn … ‘enjoy’ a Western without a Reading! ***All 3 commercial breaks are due by June 6th at 11:59 pm. Late Submissions will NOT be accepted.

Season 3 --- History in the Making… Episode 8: (His)tory on Film

Required Readings: Churchill (Blackboard), Seixas (Blackboard) Required Watching: Black Robe (Criterion-on-Demand) ***Highly Suggested Watch: Frontier (Netflix) Suggested Watch: Last of the Mohicans Suggested Read: Walker (Hollywood’s Indian) Episode 9: (Her)story on Film? Required Reading: Tremblay (Blackboard) Required Watching: The New World (Criterion-On-Demand) Episode 10: (Their)story on Film? Required Reading: Turner‐Strong ( Hollywood’s Indian) Required Watching: Indian in the Cupboard (Criterion-on-Demand) Suggested Watching: Peter Pan, Disney’s Pocahontas, Brother Bear, Brother Bear, Frozen II

Season 4 --- I am Woman! Episode 11: Sitting on the Doc of the Bay … Required Reading: Leuthold (Blackboard) Required Watch: Obomsawin Films (NFB) (selection is yours) Episode 12: In the Red Required Reading: Jiwani (Blackboard), www.cbc.ca Required Watching: Finding Dawn (NFB) Suggested Watching: Wind River (if you can find it), Frozen River (Criterion-on-Demand) Episode 13: Documentary to Sitcom Required Reading: www.cbc.ca Required Watching: Mohawk Girls (NFB) Suggested Watch: Club Native (NFB), Mohawk Girls (APTN) Episode 14: The Land Down Under Required Reading: Articles/Links found on Blackboard Required Watching: Rabbit Proof Fence (Criterion-On-Demand)

Infomercial (Red Ribbon) 10% ***Infomercial is due by June 20th at 11:59 pm. Late Submission will NOT be accepted.

Season 5 --- Breaking New Ground Episode 15: Eyre-ing on the side of caution Required Readings: Mihelich (Blackboard), Cobb (Hollywood’s Indian) Required Watching: Smoke Signals (Criterion ‐on ‐Demand) Suggested Watch: Chris Eyre’s Skins (if you can find it) Episode 16: Northern Reflections Required Reading: Ginsberg, Raheja (Blackboard) Required Watch: Atanarjuat (Criterion ‐on ‐Demand) Suggested Watch: The Journald of Knud Rasmussen Suggested and Recommended Watch: The Angry Inuk (NFB) Episode 17: From the East Required Reading: Carelton (Blackboard) Required Watch: Rhymes for Young Ghouls (Criterion-on-Demand) Episode 18: From the South Reading Required: Cilento (Blackboard) Required Watching: Even The Rain (Netflix/Criterion-on-Demand) Episode 19: Home-Made Required Reading: Media Linked on Blackboard Required Watch: Indian Horse (Criterion-on-Demand) Episode 19.5: All-Blacks and Kiwis *** it is very difficult to find New Zealand films in the normal databases or viewing platforms, if you have alternative internet skills, you might be able to stream some of these films or they are available on Google Play for a fee) Suggested Watching: Hunt for the Wilderpeople, The Saphires, Once Were Warriors Suggested Reading: Ingrediant list on your bag of chips while you enjoy a movie without an academic reading! Production (aka Project/Essay) (30%) ***Production is due by July 11 th at 11:59 pm. Late Submissions will NOT be accepted.

Season 6 --- The Indian Test Pattern Episode 20: A Million Porcupines Crying in the Dark Required Reading: King Chapter 4 Episode 21: What is it About Us That You Don’t Like? Required Reading: King Chapter 5 + Afterword Episode 22: End of the (red) Road Required Reading: Rollins’and O’Connor, Jojola (Hollywood’s Indian) Suggested Watching: Reel Injun (if you can find it) After School Special (Critical Reflection) (20%) ***After-School Special is due by July 27 th at 11:59 pm. Late Assignments will NOT be accepted....