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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CMS 320"
COURSE NAME: "Cultural Resistance"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2016
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Clelia Clini
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 45
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: COM 220
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course analyzes the ways in which diverse cultural practices have been used or understood as political weapons, as attempts to intervene in the historical world. The course will introduce students to a number of approaches –both theoretical and practical, through readings of source texts and analysis of specific case studies—which have investigated the possibility of cultural practice being used as a tool of conflict, dissent, affirmation of identity, and resistance. One of the areas of inquiry will be an investigation of how, in advanced capitalist societies, social and political struggle necessarily happens through an engagement with dominant culture and media forms rather than in spite of them; the course will therefore concentrate on those cultural practices that, although not apparently political in content and aim, can nonetheless be used in politically productive ways. Emphasis will be placed on popular and mass culture artifacts and on the ways in which ‘style’ is used by ‘sub-cultures’ and other social identities in both national and global contexts.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

During the course, we will develop analyses that situate practices of cultural resistance in a historical, inter/national and political economic context. In the first part of the course we will discuss the way in which different scholars have analysed culture and cultural resistance. Subsequently we will focus on how resistance is communicated by examining practices that challenge authoritarian, repressive and oppressive power relations and we will discuss how specific cultural practices can subvert dominant culture and challenge such power relations. The focus will be on postcolonial cultures and cinematic practices, race and gender theories of subcultures, as well as music and popular culture. 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

This course will provide students with a critical understanding of the notions of culture and resistance. By the end of the course students should be able to engage critically with an analysis with various forms of popular culture and to detect and examine forms of resistance in the subversion of dominant cultural codes.  They will be also able to critically analyse how differences in regard to race, class, gender, sexuality and nation shape groups’ media and communication practices.

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Cultural Resistance ReaderStephen DuncombeVerso9781849661799 Throughout the semester, several articles will be assigned relevant to class discussions   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
In-class quizzes 20%
Midterm Exam 25%
Final Exam  25%
Participation Participation counts for 15% of your grade in this course. Here are the behaviors that count: asking questions; answering questions; making comments (extra points for comments that relate to material in the text, and for sharing relevant experiences). Here are the value-added behaviors—the ones the put your contributions over the top: responding to something another student says (including answering a question asked by a student); constructively disagreeing with something in the text or said in class by me or another student. And there are behaviors to avoid: not listening; pretending to be listening while texting or cruising online; making fun or otherwise berating something said by another person.10%
Presentation 15%
Attendance 5%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cours
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
  • SEE UNIVERSITY POLICYon ATTENDANCE
  • Please consider that frequent unexcused absences will affect your grade.
  • Students who arrive in class more than 15 minutes late or leave the class for more than 10 mins will be marked as absent
  • Missing an in-class quiz will result in a zero.
  • Students are required to come to class having completed the assigned readings and they are expected to actively participate in class discussion.
  • All the reading materials and course assignments will be posted on the class website. Students are expected to regularly check the class website for updates.
  • The use of laptop computers and other electronic devices during class is NOT permitted.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

This is a tentative schedule, subject to change



Week 1: Intro Cultural Resistance

 

Week 2: Culture, politics and resistance

 

Week 3: Theorizing Subcultures

 

Week 4: Postcolonial Resistance & Introduction to Third Cinema

 

Week 5:Third Cinema

 

Week 6: Review and Midterm Exam

 

Week 7 Resistance & Race

 

Week 8 –Race and Gender

 

Week 9 –  Intro Girls and Subculture

 

Week 9: Feminism, Post-feminism and Girls Subcultures

 

Week 10: The Colour of Feminism?

 

Week 11: Resistance and Music

 

Week 12: Resistance and Music II

 

Week 13: Digital Resistance

 

Week 14 : Conclusions & Review