Communication 162: Popular Culture

Prof. Chandra Mukerji
cmukerji@ucsd.edu
Winter 1999

Schedule:

  Monday Wednesday Friday
Week 1
Introduction Decline of feudalism Trade, travel
Reading: Burke, intro. & ch. 1 in reading packet
Week 2
Fashionable Change Mass culture & print Reformation politics
Reading: Davis in M&S; Burke, chs. 7-8
Week 3
HOLIDAY Growth of cities Discussion
Reading: Burke, ch. 9; Mukerji, ch. 1 in reading packet
Week 4
Rise of the novel Spread of Fashion MID-TERM
Reading: Mukerji, chs. 5-6 in packet
Week 5
Industrial culture Work and leisure Discussion
Reading: Peiss chs. 1-2; Rosenzweig and DiMaggio in M&S
Week 6
Masculinization of culture Feminization of culture Discussion
Reading: Berger and Radway in M&S; Peiss, ch. 3
Week 7
HOLIDAY Americanization of culture Hot War/Cold War
Reading: Levine and Habermas in M&S; Spigel, ch. 2
Week 8
Youth and consumption Race and American Style Discussion
Reading: Ross chs. 3&5; Spigel, ch. 3
Week 9
Play and games Mass Media and Suburbia Discussion
Reading: Geertz in M&S; Peiss, ch 4; Ross, ch. 4
Week 10
Ways of Life and Things The Problem of the People Materialism in e.d. life
Reading: Spigel, chs. 4 & 5; Mukerji, ch. 7 in packet

Requirements:

a mid-term exam, a final exam, a class presentation and one paper. For the paper, students will compare historical and contemporary forms of popular culture. The paper should be roughly 10 pages long. The presentations will take place on discussion days. Students will bring in examples of popular forms related to topics discussed that week. The mid-term will be held in class. The final will be a short take-home exam. Grades will be 20% mid-term, 10% presentations, 40% paper, 20% final, 10% attendence.

Books:

available at Groundwork Books

Office Hours:

Monday 1-3pm, MCC 207

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