Drama class
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Culture, ethnicity, aesthetics, and ideology – often powerfully combined in the concept “subculture” – play a crucial role in the development of American identities (and identities elsewhere). This course explores how & why culture is performed as a means by which to define, express, and maintain social identity. Subcultures, such as Beats, hippies, slam poets, bikers, Metalheads, punks, Goths, nerds, Riot Grrls, geeks, pachucos, Emo, magicians, activists, BMXers, surfers, skaters, drag kings, bodybuilders, strippers, modern dancers, hip-hop enthusiasts, Rastafari, BDSM practitioners, and gangstas, etc., have importantly thrived in the United States.
Our focus will be less on subcultural affiliations – “community cultures” – based on ethnic/national differences and origins (African-, Italian-, Chinese-, Irish-American, etc.) than on the aesthetics, ideology, politics, desire, affect, and consumerism reciprocally informed by “alternative” or “counter” cultural formations (not dominant in any standard artistic, demographic, or regional registrar). We will engage various theories of culture, subjectivity, identity, aesthetics, and consumerism from a range of disciplines, though there will be an emphasis on approaches from performance, theater, cognitive, ethnic, and cultural studies, as we explore the value and influence of American subcultures, especially as they are fetishized, commodified, and – most importantly – performed.
Essay Guideline:
We will have a short 2-page essay (500 – 600 words) be due by 11:59 pm (midnight) on Wednesday, March 17th. The essay will be on an artist or a performance discussed in class, and the student will be asked to use at least 10 terms learned from the book, other readings, or discussions during class. This final essay will count for 10% of the student’s final grade.
COURSE SCHEDULE
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
JANUARY
Wednesday 6
Introduction.
END QUIZ #1 – On Lecture
Wednesday 13
Readings due: *Gallese, “Embodied Simulation”; *Ian, “Female Bodybuilding”; *Halberstam, “Drag Kings” (*to be distributed)
TOP QUIZ #1 – On Readings
END QUIZ #2 – On Lecture
Wednesday 20
“Public Sphere” (Chapter #2); “Social Practice” (Chapter #33)
TOP QUIZ #2 – On Readings
END QUIZ #3 – On Material Below
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/world/asia/21gender.html?emc=eta1 (Links to an external site.)
Viewing: Osama https://digitalcampus.swankmp.net/ucirvine281273/watch/375AE4968563EB1E?referrer=direct
Wednesday 27 (Jimmy Tart, guest speaker)
“Evo-Neuro-Theatre” (Chapter #30); “No Brain, No Gain,” available here:
http://freeskier.com/stories/no-brain-no-gain-the-mind-body-fusion-of-the-backcountry-shredder (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) & this interview with Sammy Carlson: http://freeskier.com/stories/qa-the-benevolent-wisdom-of-sammy-carlson (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)
TOP QUIZ #3 – On Readings
END QUIZ #4 – On Lecture
FEBRUARY
Wednesday 3
“Spatial Concepts” (Chapter #17); “Ekstasis” (Chapter #20); “The Power of the Comeback,” available here:
TOP QUIZ #4 – On Readings
END QUIZ #5 – On Lecture
Wednesday 10
“Empathetic Engagement” (Chapter #25); *Winnubst, “Vampires”; *Pushkin, “Gothic Subculture”
TOP QUIZ #5 – On Readings
END QUIZ #6 – On Lecture
Wednesday 17
“Theatre of Immediacy, Transversal Poetics” (chp. 23); “Citizenship, The Ethics of Inclusion” (Chapter #15)
TOP QUIZ #6 – On Chapter #15
END QUIZ #7 – On Lecture
Wednesday 24
*“Elements of a Free Style: Subcultural Eloquence, Performance Affects, and the Transversality of Skateboarding (exemplified by Hesh)” (*to be distributed)
TOP QUIZ #7 – On Reading due
END QUIZ #8 – On Lecture
MARCH
Wednesday 3
*Scouten, “New Bikers” (*to be distributed)
TOP QUIZ #8 – On Reading due
END QUIZ #9 – On Lecture
Wednesday 10
*Strong, “Grunge, Riot Grrl…”; *Braidotti, “Punk Women” (*to be distributed); Course Conclusion
TOP QUIZ #9 – On Readings due
END QUIZ #10 – On Lecture
I also uploaded the readings
Please follow the guideline very very carefully and write correctly
If you have any question please ask me
Thank you so much!
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