Cultural Studies 301 Perspectives in Cultural Studies Baker

Syllabus

Required Texts:

Terry Eagleton, The Idea of Culture, Blackwell

Martin Amis, Heavy Water, Vintage

Paul Gilroy, The Black Atlantic, Harvard

Edward Kamau Brathwaite, The Arrivants, Oxford

Annette Kuhn, Family Secrets, Verso

Simi Linton, Claiming Disability, NYU Press

Description:

Perspectives in Cultural Studies is a core course in the Cultural Studies Program that deals with various theoretical and pragmatic approaches to the study of culture. That is to say, students are encouraged to develop their understanding of some of the varieties of approaches to the study of culture through an increased theoretical awareness and the practice of their interpretive skills.

Course Requirements and Grading:

Formal requirements for the course include two papers (5-8 pages each), a mid-term and an final examination, as well as participation in the electronic discussion list for the course. Each of these elements will be weighted equally in the determination of the final grade. The structure of the class, as well as the determination of the final grade, is predicated on students coming to class having prepared the assigned material. Plus-minus grading system employed according to university policy.

Attendance Policy:

In a class meeting two times a week, all students are allowed two absences (no excuse needed). Three to six unexcused absences may result in the loss of a full grade for the course, at the discretion of the instructor. "Excused" absences, by university policy, are those absences due to serious illness, family emergency and other major problems of this sort. For an absence to count as excused, you must bring written documentation concerning the cause of absence to the next class you attend. Seven or more unexcused absences will result in failure for the course.

Academic Honesty and Appropriateness

Both for class discussions and in writing submitted for the course, students are reminded of the university policies on plagiarism and respect for others outlined in full in the Student Handbook.

Please disable all cell phones, pagers, etc. before entering the classroom. There will be zero tolerance for interruptions caused by phones ringing in class and/or resulting conversations.