POPULAR CULTURE 394

WOMEN’S STUDIES 394

RELATIONSHIPS AND CULTURE

INSTRUCTOR:  JIMMIE MANNING, PHD

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

ONLINE COURSE

Office: 386 Science & Technology

Phone:  572-1329    Mailbox: 134 Landrum

E-mail: manningj1@nku.edu (This is the best way to reach me.)

Office hours: Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 to 10 p.m. or by appointment

Online office hours: Sunday from 9 to 11 p.m. served via Yahoo Messenger

Yahoo username: jimmiemanning

Course Description

This seminar examines humanistic and social scientific understandings of personal relationships across cultures and the representation of personal relationships in popular culture texts. Contexts include friendship, romance, sexuality, families, and the workplace; and the course frequently focuses upon the intersections of gender, race, class, religion, and sexual orientation as it interacts with relationship understandings, especially in consideration of how social control and social support come into play.

Texts and Materials

1.      Aubrey, S. (Producer). (2007). Friday night lights [Television series]. Burbank, CA: National Broadcast Company.

2.      Berger, A. A. (1995). Cultural criticism: A primer of key concepts. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

3.      Blume, J. (1970). Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret. New York: Yearling.

4.      Clowes, D. (1998). Ghost world. Seattle: Fantagraphics.

5.      Goodwin, R. (1999). Personal relationships across cultures. New York: Routledge.

6.      von Ziegesar, C. (2002). Gossip girl. New York: Little, Brown, and Company.

7.      Research articles, book chapters, and popular media available from Blackboard, Steely Library, and online resources (as listed in the syllabus).

8.      One child’s storybook from the children’s storybook list provided by the instructor. Many of these titles are available via Steely Library.

9.      A fast and reliable internet connection supported by a technologically capable computer system. This includes the ability to access and download assignments and articles form Blackboard, watch videos on YouTube, and compose Word (.doc) or Rich Text Format (.rtf) documents. Additionally, your computer must be able to play DVDs or you must have a working DVD player and television.

10.  The Relationships and Culture Course Packet. This can be picked up for free from the Communication office in 134 Landrum or can be sent via mail for $2.00. Please contact the instructor if you would like to arrange for a packet to be mailed to you. Packets will be available through the office beginning August 22 and will be mailed by August 25 (providing timely arrangements are made).

Course Goals/Learning Outcomes

1. To come to a greater understanding of personal relationships across cultures, including relationships formation and development; sexual attitudes and behavior; family relationships; relationships at work; and friendships/social networks (demonstrated through class readings, message board discussion, an exam, and the final paper project).

2. To understand and practice cultural criticism as a method for understanding popular culture texts (demonstrated through class readings, message board discussions, practice criticisms, an exam, and the final paper project).

3. To examine and analyze the intersections of gender, race, class, religion, nationality, and sexual orientation in relationship understandings (demonstrated through message board discussions, practice criticisms, and the final paper project).

4. To practice understanding and synthesizing one’s own views about social support or social control of relationships as represented in one popular culture text (demonstrated through the final paper project).

Course Requirements and Policies

Late Work – The instructor has a strict policy regarding late work and will not accept late work of any kind. The instructor is not responsible for broken computers, lack of internet, lazy friends, incompetent librarians, unfair or deadbeat parents, managers who schedule you when you told them not to, bad equipment, lousy lovers, or broken promises. You are responsible for having all you need when you need to have it.

Academic Honesty, Affirmative Action, Students with Special Needs, and University Services - As an NKU student, you are expected to be familiar with policies and resources regarding your welfare as a student.  Failure on your part to be familiar with these policies does not constitute an emergency or negligence on the part of the instructor. This applies to any NKU policy, especially those instituted by the Department of Communication. Consider looking over your student handbook or the NKU website (http://www.nku.edu) if you feel as if you have needs at NKU that are not being met. It is likely that some outlet exists at the University to assist with your needs.

Blackboard – Blackboard will serve as a website with valuable information regarding this course.  Students are responsible for having a current e-mail address registered through the NKU system and checking Blackboard on a regular basis.  Failure to complete any type of assignment due to not accessing Blackboard can (and probably will) result in lost class points – especially participation.  It is the student’s personal responsibility to ensure he or she has access to Blackboard and is using a reliable e-mail account to receive information as well as a computer system able to process all required online functions needed for the course.

Grading - Final grades will be assessed from the 1000 point total on the following scale:

900-1000:        A

800-899:          B

700-799:          C

600-699:          D

Less than 600 points will result in a failing grade for the course.  The instructor does not adjust grades at the end of the semester (in other words, points will not change for people who are one or more points away for a higher grade).  Semester grades are non-negotiable.  If you have a question about how an assignment is graded, the instructor will set up an appointment with you to talk about the grading procedure.  You must, however, do this soon after the graded assignment is returned.

Individual assignment details are as follow:

CULTURAL CRITICISM EXAM (100 points total, or 10%)

Each student will complete a 50-item open book exam covering the material in Cultural Criticism: A Primer of Key Concepts. All exam items will be answerable via a Scantron card provided in the course packet. The Scantron card should be completed using a number two pencil and mailed by September 3. Any answer card postmarked after September 3 will receive a 20% reduction in grade for each day late the exam is postmarked.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS EXAM (100 points total, or 10%)

Each student will complete a 50-item open book exam covering the material in Personal Relationships Across Cultures. All exam items will be answerable via a Scantron card provided in the course packet. The Scantron card should be completed using a number two pencil and mailed by November 16. Any answer card postmarked after November 16 will receive a 20% reduction in grade for each day late the exam is postmarked.

WOMEN AND SEXUALITY VIDEO ANALYSIS (100 points total, or 10%)

Each student will write a one to three page analysis of female sexuality as portrayed in a series of videos from Madonna and Mariah Carey. This analysis should incorporate class readings, ideas raised from class discussions, and independent research regarding the videos or issues presented in the videos. More details about this assignment will be provided via an assignment sheet.

DEFINING FAMILIES STORYBOOK ANALYSIS (100 points total, or 10%)

Each student will write a three to five page analysis of families as portrayed in children’s storybook read for the assignment. This analysis should incorporate class readings, ideas raised from class discussions, and independent research regarding the books or issues presented in the books. More details about this assignment will be provided via an assignment sheet.

YOUNG WOMEN AND SOCIAL NETWORKS BOOK ANALYSIS (100 points total, or 10%)

Each student will write a five to seven page analysis of teenage female friendship as portrayed in the books Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Ghost World, and Gossip Girl. This analysis should incorporate class readings, ideas raised from class discussions, and independent research regarding the books or issues presented in the books. More details about this assignment will be provided via an assignment sheet.

FINAL PAPER PROJECT (300 points total, or 30%)

Each student will write a ten to fifteen page analysis of the program Friday Night Lights. This analysis should incorporate class readings, ideas raised from class discussions, and independent research regarding the television program and one to three issues raised in the program. Unlike the practice criticisms constituting the first three writing assignments, this assignment will go in-depth into the topic and produce a more polished work through a topic proposal process, peer review, and revision based on teacher suggestion. The topic proposal will constitute 15 points; the first draft 75 points; peer reviews 60 points; the second draft 75 points; and the final draft 75 points. More details about this assignment will be provided via a series of assignment sheets.

PARTICIPATION (200 points total, or 20%)

Your participation grade will be based on a combination of your (a) overall involvement, (b) web presence, and (c) class citizenship, as described below:

(a) Overall involvement:  I will keep track of how many postings you make to the message board section of the course Blackboard. I expect each member of the class to make at least five postings to the Blackboard message boards each week for the first twelve weeks. Additionally, if anyone (me or a classmate) asks you a direct question, it is expected that you adequately answer that question. Failure to do so will lead to a deduction of one post from your post total. Each week I will count your total number of posts and record the percentage in the grade book (so, for example, if you post four times, then you get 4/5 or 80%). At the end of the semester I will average the percentages to come up with the first 1/3 of your grade.

(b) Web presence:  Your contributions to class discussions are vital.  I want to hear your comments, questions, and examples.  Because this is a course that calls for lots of discussion, it is important that you make each post substantive. That is, it is not enough that you simply make a certain number of posts each week; these posts should also provide insightful comments based on the material, raise interesting questions or concerns, and offer examples of what you are talking about. To this end, I will also make a quality assessment at the end of each week. I expect each class member to make one post of particularly exceptional quality each week (I will check the names of outstanding posters off as I read the message board daily) as well two other significant posts. Please see the sheet under Assignments that outlines how posts will be evaluated. At the end of each week having one exceptional post yields 50%, and the two other significant posts yield 25% each for a possible total of 100%. Your weekly post percentage will then be averaged to come up with the second 1/3 of your grade.

            (c) Class citizenship:  If you are rude, disrespectful, fail to engage questions posed to you seriously, or chronically ignore the class message boards (or wait until the last moment each week to participate through them) then you will lose percentage points. You have the opportunity to be a good citizen and dutifully participate each week to earn the full 100%. Your weekly percentages will then be averaged for the final 1/3 of your grade.

Tentative Class Schedule

WEEKS ONE AND TWO: Considering cultural criticism

• Entire book Cultural Criticism: A Primer of Key Concepts must be read by August 30
• “Who’s the Fool?” by Jimmie Manning must be read by August 31
• Message boards will be set up via Blackboard for each chapter and article
• All direct questions posed on message board before the end of the day on September 1 must be answered within five days
• Exam for text must be completed and postmarked by September 3

WEEK THREE: An introduction to relationships across cultures

• Introduction of Personal Relationships Across Cultures as well as chapters 1 and 2 must be read by September 10
• Friday Night Lights episodes “Pilot,” “Eyes Wide Open,” and “Wind Sprints” must be viewed by September 10
• Message boards will be set up via Blackboard for each chapter and each episode
• All direct questions posed before September 9 must be answered within five days

WEEKS FOUR AND FIVE: Relationship formation and the developing relationship

• Chapters 3 and 4 must be read by September 17
• Friday Night Lights episodes “Who’s Your Daddy?” “Git ‘Er Done,” and “El Accidente” must be viewed by September 17
•  “Mock Feminism” by bell hooks (available via Blackboard) must be read by September 22
• Friday Night Lights episodes “Homecoming,” “Crossing the Line,” and “Full Hearts” must be viewed by September 25
• Message boards will be set up via Blackboard for each chapter, article, and episode
• All direct questions posed before September 25 must be answered within five days

WEEK SIX: Sexual attitudes and behavior

• Chapter 5 must be read by September 28
• Friday Night Lights episodes “It’s Different for Girls,” “Nevermind,” and “What to Do While You’re Waiting” must be viewed by September 29
•  “Naughty Girls and Red Blooded Women” by Diane Railton and Paul Watson (available via Blackboard) must be read by September 30
• Message boards will be set up via Blackboard for the chapter, the article, and each episode
• All direct questions posed before September 30 must be answered within five days
• Women and Sexuality Video Analysis must be submitted by the end of the day on September 30

 WEEKS SEVEN AND EIGHT:  Family relations across cultures

• Chapter 6 must be read by October 15
• Friday Night Lights episodes “Little Girl I Wanna Marry You,” “Upping the Ante,” and “Blinders” must be viewed by October 15
• Selected children’s storybook must be read by  October 16
• Friday Night Lights episodes “Black Eyes and Broken Hearts,” “I Think We Should Have Sex,” and “Extended Families” must be viewed by October 20
• Message boards will be set up via Blackboard for the chapter, each episode, and to discuss storybooks
• All direct questions posed before October 20 must be answered within five days
• Defining Families Storybook Analysis must be submitted by the end of the day on October 21

WEEK NINE: Relationships at work

• Chapter 7 must be read by October 25
• Friday Night Lights episodes “Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes” and “Mudbowl” must be viewed by October 28
• Message boards will be set up via Blackboard for the chapter and each episode
• All direct questions posed before October 28 must be answered within five days
• NOTE: This weeks’ load is light – it is strongly advised you begin the material for weeks ten and eleven early once you have completed the activities for week nine.

WEEKS TEN AND ELEVEN: Friendships and the broader social network

• Chapter 8 must be read by November 1
• Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret must be read by November 3
• Gossip Girl must be read by November 6
• Ghost World must be read by November 8
• Message boards will be set up via Blackboard for each chapter and text
• All direct questions posed before November 8 must be answered within one week
• Young Women and Social Networks Book Analysis must be submitted by the end of the day on November 11

WEEK TWELVE: Summing up relationships and culture

·        Chapter 9 must be read by November 14

·        Exam for Personal Relationships Across Cultures must be completed and postmarked by November 16

·        Friday Night Lights episodes “Best Laid Plans” and “State” must be viewed by November 17

·        Message boards will be set up via Blackboard for the chapter and each episode

·        All direct questions posed before November 17 must be answered within one week

·        Final paper topic proposal must be submitted by the end of the day on November 18

WEEK THIRTEEN: First Draft of Final Paper Composed and Submitted

• First draft of final paper should be submitted by the end of the day on November 23
• Message forum for questions and clarifications will be available beginning November 20

WEEK FOURTEEN: Peer Review of Final Papers

• Each student should provide an anonymous critique of three papers as assigned by November 28
• Message forum for questions and clarifications will continue to be open

WEEK FIFTEEN: Second Draft of Final Paper Composed and Submitted

• Second draft of final paper should be submitted by the end of the day on December 5
• Message forum for questions and clarifications will continue to be open

WEEK SIXTEEN: Edits of Final Paper Completed and Submitted

• All papers should be submitted with final edits by the end of the day on December 13
• Message forum for questions and clarifications will close on December 11 – after that time all students should finalize papers on their own