Cartoons As Culture

FIRST YEAR SEMINAR (IDPT 10100-31 ):

THAT`S ALL FOLKS! CARTOONS AS CULTURE

FALL 2006
KAREN TAYLOR
Kauke 113

Office Hours: Weds. 9:00 am to noon; 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Or by appointment

Required Readings:

*Ariel Dorfman & Armand Mattelart, How to Read Donald Duck

*Gary Cross, The Cute and the Cool

*Michael Barrier, Hollywood Cartoons

*Kevin S. Sandler, ed., Reading the Rabbit

Diana Hacker, A Pocket Style Manual*, 4^th Edition

Tentative Weekly Schedule:

WEEK 1:

Aug. 29: Introduction: Reading The Simpsons in Wooster

Aug. 31: In-Class Discussion: What is `culture,` how does it shape us, and who is `us`? Reading Lolita in Tehran

LOLITA PAPER DRAFTS DUE SEPT. 5

*Reading: Begin reading Sacco & Spiegelman, `Only Pictures?`; Speigelman, `Drawing Blood`; and Zapiro, Dr. Do-Little and the African Potato, available on Woodle as PDF files.

WEEK 2:

Sept. 5: Recognizing Interpretation: Sacco & Spiegelman, `Only Pictures?`; Speigelman, `Drawing Blood`; and Zapiro, Dr. Do-Little and the African Potato

Sept. 7: In-Class Discussion: Cartoons as Power

GROUP 1 PRESENTATION

*Reading: Begin Dorfman, for discussion WEEK 3.

WEEK 3:

Sept. 12: A Brief History

AZAR NAFISI – WOOSTER FORUM EVENT, 7:30 PM, MCGAW CHAPEL

Sept. 14: Donald as Imperialist? Dorfman, all.

GROUP 2 PRESENTATION

*Reading: Begin Cross, for discussion WEEK 4.

WEEK 4:

Sept. 19: In-Class Discussion: Is how you read, what you read?

Sept. 21: Innocence Lost… Cross, all.

*Reading: Begin Barrier, Preface-108, for discussion WEEK 5.

*PAPER 1 DUE SEPT. 19

WEEK 5:

Sept. 26: In-Class Discussion: Have we lost it?

Sept. 28: What`s Up Doc? Barrier, Preface-108.

DJ SPOOKY – WOOSTER FORUM EVENT, 7:30 PM, MCGAW CHAPEL.

GROUP 3 PRESENTATION

*Reading: Barrier, 109-192, for discussion WEEK 6.

WEEK 6:

Oct. 3: In-Class Discussion: What it as funny for you as it was for me?

Oct. 5: Violence Becomes Us: Barrier 109-192.

*Reading: Barrier, 193-286, for discussion WEEK 7.

*PAPER 2 DUE OCT. 3

WEEK 7:

Oct. 10: In-Class Discussion: Is violence funny?

MICHAEL RUSE, WOOSTER FORUM EVENT, 7:30 PM, MCGAW CHAPEL.

Oct. 12: Imperial Studios: Barrier 193-286.

GROUP 4 PRESENTATION

*Reading: Barrier, 287-320, for discussion WEEK 9.

*FALL BREAK!! OCT. 13-18!!****

WEEK 8:

Oct. 19: In-Class Discussion: What values Disney?

*Reading: Barrier, 321-402, for discussion WEEK 10.

*PAPER 3 DUE OCT. 19

WEEK 9:

Oct. 24: Cartoons and Contexts: Barrier 287-320.

DAVID BROOKS, WOOSTER FORUM EVENT, 7:30 PM, MCGAW CHAPEL.

Oct. 26: In-Class Discussion: What made Disney run?

KING LEAR, WOOSTER FORUM EVENT, OCT. 26-28, FREEDLANDER THEATER

GROUP 5 PRESENTATION

FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL DUE OCT. 24

*Reading: Barrier, 403-500, for discussion WEEK 11.

WEEK 10:

Oct. 31: To Be Real: Barrier 321-402.

Nov. 2: In-Class Discussion: Why get real?

*Reading: Barrier, 501-574, for discussion WEEK 12.

*PAPER 4 DUE OCT. 31

WEEK 11:

Nov. 7: The Good, The Bad, and the Not Yet Ready for Prime Time: Barrier 403-500.

Nov. 9: In-Class Discussion: What ARE cartoon values, and how do you know?

GROUP 6 PRESENTATION

*Reading: Sandler, 1-120, for discussion WEEK 13.

WEEK 12:

Nov. 14: Process and Product: Barrier 501-574.

Nov. 16: In-Class Discussion: What`s wrong with a computer-generated world?

*Reading: Sandler, 121-220, for discussion WEEK 14.

*PAPER 5 DUE NOV. 14

WEEK 13:

Nov. 21: Of Mice and Mince: Sandler 1-120.

GROUP 7 PRESENTATION

*************THANKSGIVING BREAK!! NOV. 22-26!!**************

WEEK 14:

Nov. 28: Politically Incorrect = Racist/Sexist/Homophobic, or Funny? Sandler 121-220.

Nov. 30: In-Class Discussion: What IS political correctness and why is it following me?

*PAPER 6 DUE NOV. 28

WEEK 15:

Dec. 5 & 7: FINAL PRESENTATIONS

Dec. 7: Wrap-up.

**REVISED VERSION OF FINAL PROJECT DUE DEC. PM*

REQUIREMENTS:

DISCUSSION PAPERS: These papers are designed to refine your skills in research, thinking, and writing. They will focus on reading for interpretation, comparing interpretations, analyzing evidence, placing evidence in context, and writing persuasively. For individual paper topics, click on `PAPER` for the appropriate day. I will drop the lowest grade on these 6 papers and average the remaining 5 grades together to make up 35% of your total grade.

FINAL PROJECT: Your final project is an analysis of a cartoon series or movie of your choice. It can be in one of the following formats: an analytical research paper, a comic strip, a short animated film, or a powerpoint presentation. It MUST include a discussion of why you chose the particular format you did, discussions of each of the themes we have studied in class, and how your project fits into those themes. If you choose to put your analysis in comic strip or animated film format, you should also submit a one-page written discussion of the limits/benefits of that format as a mechanism of analysis. Your final project is worth 35% of your total grade.

PARTICIPATION: Since learning and teaching are really two sides of the same coin, your active participation in this class is neccessary. While I completely understand that you may not want to talk in every class, I will expect you to feel free to speak whenever, and as often, as you like.

Because some people feel more comfortable writing their thoughts, one-third of your participation grade will be based on your Woodle Reading Journal, where you will discuss your thoughts and reactions to the readings.

Another third of your participation grade will be based on your Group (2-3 person) Presentation. Each group will be responsible for analyzing a cartoon from the perspective of one of our authors. I will provide the cartoon selection, from which you will choose one cartoon.

Because participation also requires the presence of your physical body, I will keep a random record of your attendence, and your absence from class, if great, will lower your participation grade. Your participation is worth 30% of your total grade.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Students caught plagiarizing other people`s work will get an F on the assignment. For further information about academic integrity and The College of Wooster`s policies regarding it, see the Code of Academic Integrity in the Scot`s Key.

If you have any questions about the class, or just some random observations you`d like to share, you`ll find my door and mind both open (except when I`m avoiding extra-terrestrials or the thought police). Or you could send me an email: ktaylor@wooster.edu