The University of Western Ontario
Faculty of Information and Media Studies
MIT 256F
Popular Culture and Identity
Instructor: Ken Chung
Class hours:
Wed. 4:30–6:30pm, North Campus Building 285
Thu. 7-8pm, Middlesex College 105B
Office Hours: Talbot College Rm 320
Tues. & Wed. 2–3 p.m
Email: kchung23@uwo.ca
Website: http://instruct.uwo.ca/mit/256F/
(Note: the url requires a capital ‘F’.)
C OURSE D ESCRIPTION
This course does two things. First, it introduces some of the traditional philosophical conceptions
of what it means to be a person–as someone who is free, autonomous and authentic. And second, it
examines how popular culture and consumer culture challenges or undermines those conceptions.
O BJECTIVES
1.
2.
3.
4.
Become acquainted with the main philosophical views of freedom.
Learn the main competing views of the sources of our identity.
Think critically about what it means to be authentic.
Learn to examine cultural trends and what it means to our agency.
R EADINGS
A coursepack is available at the University Bookstore.
R EQUIREMENTS
Three short assignments:
Two essays:
Mid-term Exam:
15% (5% each)
50% (25% each)
35%
Due in class, Oct. 10th & Nov. 28th
Oct. 24th
A SSIGNMENT S UMMARY
1. Short Assignment: To complete a short assignment, you have to do three things: (1) choose a
piece of popular music, commercial, television show, or movie (or any other piece of popular
culture) that you think is relevant to one of the readings, (2) Explain, in 200 words or less,
why and how you think it is relevant, and (3) provide that piece of popular culture (in some
viewable format such as mp3 or mpeg) to me.
2
For a short assignment to receive any marks, it must be provided at least a week before
we begin discussing that reading. For instance, in week 5, we will be discussing Alasdair
MacIntyre’s article, so you would then have to hand in your short assignment in class during
week 4. These assignments will serve as some material for the class.
A sign-up sheet will be made available regarding which readings you plan to do.
2. Essays: There will be two essays, of 5–6 pages each.
3. Mid-term: The mid-term will be based primarily on the readings, and on understanding and
recalling its views and arguments.
C OURSE P OLICIES
1. Plagiarism: Students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever
students take an idea, or a passage from another author, they must acknowledge their debt
both by using quotation marks where appropriate and by proper referencing such as footnotes or citations. Plagiarism is a major academic offence (see Scholastic Offence Policy in
the Western Academic Calendar).
2. Email: I respond to email. A few caveats: (1) I need at least 48 hours to respond; (2) I do not
respond to email on weekends.; (3) I do not accept assignments by email; and (4), I do not
respond to email questions about an assignment within 24 hours of its deadline.
3. Late Policy: I prefer essays to be handed in class on the due date. However, I will accept essays
through the FIMS assignment drop box next to NCB 240. The late policy is 1% deduction per
day (weekends will count as 2%), to a total of 15% deduction. Unfortunately, I cannot accept
any essays after the last day of classes, Dec. 5.
I will not accept any late short assignments.
SCHEDULE
Date
Sept. 6
Sept. 12, 13
Sept. 19, 20
Sept. 26, 27
Oct. 3, 4
Oct. 10, 11
Oct. 17, 18
Oct. 24, 25
Oct. 31, Nov. 1
Nov. 7, 8
Nov. 14, 15
Nov. 21, 22
Nov. 28, 29
Dec. 5
Topic
Introduction
Concepts of Liberty
Identity
Freedom and Consumerism
Authenticity
Reading
Isaiah Berlin
Berlin (continued)
G.A. Cohen
Alasdair MacIntyre
Rorty and Wong
Barry Schwartz
Mid-term Exam
Movie on consumerism (TBA)
Anthony Appiah
Joel Rudinow
Barker and Taylor
Movie (TBA), discussion .
Wrap Up: How does pop culture
affect who we are?