HUM 4932: Writing in the Humanities II

Daniel White, HC 146, Office Hours T & R 10:00-11:30; W 2:30-3:00 and 5:20-5:50

This course will meet for one credit hour (longer on the clock in summer) in order to develop writing techniques in the humanities. It will be taught in the Honors College Computer Lab, so as to emphasize online writing, research, and cultures of electronic media. Particular attention will be given to writing good critical essays in critical and cultural theory. You are expected to attend every class session and to come prepared for class assignments. You might view the class as an informal writer’s workshop in which we explore the best strategies for developing successful papers. Research, documentation, argumentative structure and rhetorical style will be considered as elements of good writing.

Course Theme: Communicative Ecology in the Age of Globalization: this writing seminar will focus on the relationship between place and displacement in the context of communications media and digital technologies. We are going to keep our feet on the ground while we plug our minds into cyberspace. More specifically, we will be exploring biological and cultural diversity in the context of the emerging global networks of postindustrial society. You will develop your own sense of place amidst American popular culture and, I hope, your own unique voice grounded in your locale yet linked to the human ecology of the planet.

HUM 4932: Writing in the Humanities II differs from HUM 2932: Writing in the Humanities I in one principal respect: External research must be included for the final essay in HUM 4932, i.e., sources beyond the assigned text must be employed in the analysis presented in the final essay. The number and character of those sources will be determined by the specifics of the paper’s subject matter.

Grades will be based upon the following:

1) Attendance and participation, including a writing journal in which each student will record her/his compositional process, culminating in rough drafts for essays assigned. Your goal should be to develop your own style and identity as a writer while you study the work of others. Brainstorming, free writing, reflections on issues raised in class, on motivations for and commitment to writing, the role of writing in learning, and related issues may also be included: 50% of final grade.

2) A series of essays (final drafts) = 50% of final grade

Required Text: Michael Petracca, & Madeleine Sorapure, Common Culture: Reading and Writing about American Popular Culture

Week 1: Common Culture, Chapter 1: Reading & Writing about American Popular Culture (please complete this reading before our first class session, if possible)

“Reading” and writing about Barbie: Barbie Collector; Barbie Everything Girl.

Week 2: Common Culture, Chapter 7: Movies; Star Wars: Official Site

Week 3: Common Culture, Chapter 2: Advertising: Adbusters; Frontline: The Persuaders

Week 4: Common Culture, Chapter 3: Television: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Week 5: Common Culture, Chapter 4, Popular Music

Week 6: Common Culture, Chapter 5: Cyberculture

Electronic Sources:

The Rise of Viral Video -- and YouTube A National Public Radio Report

In just six months, YouTube boomed from a startup video site to a Web phenomenon. The site serves up millions of videos daily, uploaded by anybody with a digital camcorder -- and time to burn. Web Extra: See YouTube Video Classics

Dr. Weisser’s Online Writing Handbook: http://wise.fau.edu/~weisser/handbook.htm

Baudrillard Studies: http://www.ubishops.ca/baudrillardstudies/index.html

Ctheory: Theory, Technology, & Culture: www.ctheory.net

Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies: Taylor & Francis Journals; sign in first at FAU Library’s EZproxy.

Leonardo Electronic Almanac MIT

Philosophy Resources on the Internet: http://www.epistemelinks.com/Main/MainPers.asp

Postmodern Culture: Project Muse via EZproxy.