UWS 22A: We are the Champions: The Impact of Glam Rock on Culture
Brandeis University1
Class Meeting Time: T-Th. 5:00pm-6:00pm
Class Room: Golding Judaica Center109
Instructor: Joanna M. Fuchs
E-mail: jmfuchs@brandeis.edu
Office: TBA
Office Hours: Tues., Thurs., 4:00-5:00 or by appointment
Mailbox: Slosberg Music Center MS 051
When we think about artists such as Lady Gaga, Prince, Rihanna, or Marilyn Manson, we think of
glamour, theatricality, sexual ambiguity, and lots of make-up. All of these artists and many others have
their roots in Glam Rock. Emerging out of the European art rock and the English psychedelic scenes,
Glam Rock pushed the limits of rock and roll both musically and socially. Glam Rock challenged the
conventional ideology of rock and roll and brought numerous issues to the limelight such as gender,
homosexuality, and theatricality in rock music. This course will explore the history behind the conception
of Glam Rock and its impact on pop music by looking at various artists including: David Bowie, Lou
Reed, Queen, the Velvet Underground, just to name a few. This course is designed to develop critical
thinking skills through discussions, listening, and writing. Throughout this class, students will be required
to develop thoughtful, well written responses in clear academic English. Over the course of the semester,
researching, writing, and editing skills essential to the Brandeis undergraduate curriculum will be
covered. Students do not need any prior musical training: however, an interest in music is strongly
encouraged.
Required Texts:
*Matthew Parfitt, Writing in Response (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s Press, 2012).
*Write Now!, a collection of award winning essays from UWS students
*Philip Auslander Performing Glam Rock: Gender and Theatricality in Popular Music (Ann Arbor:
University of Michigan Press, 2006
* A number of videos and video clips as well as audio recordings, class memos, and additional reading
assignments will be posted to LATTE, the university’s on-line course resource application which you can
access from any computer on campus or remotely using your UNET username and password.
* Also there will be items placed on Reserve
*Notebook/Pens/Highlighters/etc. and a three-ring binder for the end of term portfolio
* I strongly recommend that you have a thesaurus and dictionary and use them often. Do not rely on your
computer’s ability to check spelling or fix your grammar errors.
1
This syllabus is subject to change
UWS Outcomes
University Writing Seminars (UWS) are inquiry-based writing courses. In these seminars, students should
use writing and reading skills to investigate issues that are important to their development as writers and
critical readers in an academic setting. Throughout the course of the semester, students will develop
important habits of mind that are important for writers. For example, assessing audience expectations,
reading critically, engaging with others’ ideas in analytic and research based writing. More than this,
students will develop control over surface features of writing while discovering, cultivating, and learning
how to be reflective about their own writing process. Students master these strategies and skills by
practicing them repeatedly through their work in this course and others at the university. This work
begins with UWS and continues through your required courses, by the end of which successful students
will have achieved these outcomes.
Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing
Known as the “Big Three” in the world of academia, students will gain a knowledge of them in the
University Writing Seminar. By the end of this seminar, students will:
 Use writing and discussion to work through and interpret complex ideas from various readings and
other sources
 Critically analyze their own and their peers’ choices regarding word choice, language, and form (in
both student texts and published texts)
 Engage in multiple modes of inquiry using texts (field research, library research, web searching, etc.)
 Incorporate significant research into your writing that engages a question and/or topic and use
question/topic as a central theme for a substantive, research-based essay
 Use writing to support interpretations of text, and understand that there are numerous interpretations
of text
 Consider, understand, and express the relationship between their ideas to the ideas of others
Processes
By the end of this course, students will:
 Use written, visual, and/or experience-based texts as tools to develop and formulate ideas for writing
 Have a clear understanding that writing takes places through recurring practice, brain storming or
invention, revision, and editing
 Develop successful and flexible strategies for their own writing through the process of brain
storming, revision, and editing
 Understand and experience the collaborative and social aspect of the writing process
 Learn how to critique their own and others’ work
 Be reflective about their own writing
Conventions and Knowledge
By the end of this course, students will:
 Understand the conventions of particular genres of writing
 Be able to use conventions with a range of dialects, particularly standardized written English
 Address and recognize patterns in their own writing that unintentionally diverge from patterns
expected by their reader

Practice and understand academic citation methods (MLA/Chicago) for documenting sources
Overview of Papers, Essay Assignments, Conferences, Workshops and Portfolio
Papers:
Over the course of the semester you will be required to three full-fledged papers, each of which will
require revision. Both the draft and final revision must be typed in 12pt Times New Roman font, doubled
spaced, and 1 inch margins. On the top of the first page include your name, date, the course title and a
brief description of the assignment. Your last name and page number should appear in the header (in the
upper right hand corner of the page). All citations must be in Chicago style. Papers that fail to meet
these requirements will not be accepted. Each draft must be accompanied by a cover letter that
explains the goals of your paper and reflects n your writing and revision process. You are strongly
encouraged to write complete rough drafts. Remember the stronger the draft the stronger your final paper
will be.
Close Reading Essay (5-6 pages)
Through the close reading essay you will learn how to analyze a text to find a deeper meaning. In this
essay, you will construct a thesis and present a strong argument in defense of your thesis. For this
assignment, you will be required to do an in depth analysis of David Bowie’s two videos of “Space
Oddity”. Remember: when examining a music video, we are looking at all the different constituent parts
that make up the work as a whole (visual, music, lyrics, etc.) A main goal of the close reading essay is to
combine an analysis of these elements and reflect on them analytically, without simply summarizing the
action taking place and/or scholarly material that have been published on the work in question. Once you
are clear of your interpretation, you must provide supporting evidence.
Lens Essay (7-9 pages)
Andy Warhol once said, “Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.” This quote speaks volumes
when it comes to understanding sub-cultures and pop culture. Over the past few weeks, you have gained
knowledge about what defines Glam Rock. From the close reading, along with the exercises in class, you
have a basic grounding in some analytical techniques. Using the theories of Dick Hebdige and Van Cagle,
you will choose one aspect (sexuality, use of sci-fi, fashion, media, etc.) from one of the music videos
(which will be provided) that strikes you as being prominent to critique the artists’ interpretation of subculture /pop culture to musical creativity. In a ‘lens’ essay, the lens text(s) is used to shed light on a
primary text and reveal something new about that work which may not have been apparent without the
lens. Keep in mind, the close reading technique will carry into this assignment.
Research Essay (10-12 pages)
The goal of this final assignment is to help you take part in an academic dialogue by arguing your own
ideas in a researched context. This paper will allow you to familiarize yourself with resources used in a
college level research project. More than this, this essay will provide you a chance to continue developing
your writing and critical thinking skills. For this essay, you will choose an artist/group from the Glam
groups discussed in class that interests you. Through your investigation of your artist/group of your
choice, your interpretation, and your own critical analysis, your will formulate and explore an original
argument about the artist/group you have chosen and their relation to Glam Rock in 10-12 pages. This
will be accomplished by looking at the text of the lyrics, album artwork, etc. The goals of this essay will
be to continue strengthening your close reading and lens techniques and will also teach you how to go
about scholarly research, using a variety of sources and working as a self-directed learner.
Conferences
Throughout the course of the semester YOU HAVE TO ATTEND 3 20-30 MINUTE
individual conferences for each unit!! These conferences will be scheduled outside of class time and will
be used to discuss your writing, answer questions, etc. These conferences are mandatory. A missed
conference counts as an absence. Remember to bring all outlines, drafts, revisions, and items you deem
important for your conference. These meetings are for you and are intended to help you. It is your
responsibility to prioritize the issues we address during your conference. At any time you feel you need
more time to discuss something, you are more than welcome to drop by during office hours. If you have
concerns or want to discuss anything in more detail and are unavailable during office hours, please email
me to set up a meeting time.
Peer Review Workshops
Each paper you write will undergo at least one round of peer review. The day your rough drafts are due,
you will bring three copies (one for me and two for your peers), and you will receive two of your peers’
drafts in return. You will carefully read and mark-up your peers’ drafts and then write a 1-2 page response
to each essay, which will be due the following class where you will share your feedback in a small group.
You are expected to participate respectfully and intelligently during these workshops. Do not simply
provide constructive comments but receive and act on them as well. As I read your final drafts, I will be
looking for significant revisions that address the concerns and points raised in both my comments and
those of your peers’.
Portfolio
KEEP ALL OF YOUR WORK! At the end of the semester you must submit a writing portfolio
containing ALL of the work you submitted over the course of the semester including graded essays, predraft assignments, draft letters, drafts, and peer reviews. You must also submit a final cover letter
consisting of 2-3 pages that reflects on your work and progress over the semester. Your portfolio should
be well organized and neat! In order to be successful with your portfolio you need to keep all your work
from the semester in an orderly fashion. More information about the portfolio will be covered and
formalized in class as the end of the semester approaches.
Grading
Close Reading Essay ----------------- 20%
Lens Essay ----------------------------- 25%
Research Essay ----------------- ------ 30%
Pre-Draft Assignments --------------- 15%
Class participation, responses, and portfolio ---- 10%
Pre-Draft Exercise and Drafts: These are graded on a scale of 0-4pts. 4pts equals superior work and 0
pts means the work is completely unsatisfactory.
Final Drafts and Final Grades for the class are on a letter basis:
A+ ………… 97-100
A ………….. 94-96
A- …………. 90-93
B+ ………….89-87
B …………...84-86
B- …………..80-83
C+ ………….79-77
C …………... 74-76
C- ………….. 73-70
D+ ………… 67-69
D …………... 64-66
D- ………….. 63-60
F …………… 59 and below
Other Policies, Instructions, etc.
(Please read carefully! Ask for clarification if you find something unclear!!)
Computers in the Classroom
Unless you have a documented disability which renders you enable to participate in this class without a
computer. I politely ask that your computers time to go back and revisit old material remain closed and in
your bags. In this digital age, computers can be distracting and Twitter, Facebook, Wikipedia, Gmail, etc.
are too tempting!! If you feel that you cannot concentrate or attend class without the use of a computer,
please see me immediately and we can find a solution. Also, cellphones (iPhone, Blackbery, Android,
etc.) should remain in your bags and turned to either vibrate or turned off for the duration of class.
Absolutely NO TEXTING during class!! If you need to have your phone on for an emergency reason,
notify me before the start of class.
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. The discussions we hold in class will be tailored to your writing. It is in you
best interest to attend class, be on time, and ready to go. We will not have time to revisit old material and
will constantly be moving forward. If you have to miss a class, please notify me by email at least one
hour before class begins. In accordance to University Policy, after three absences for any reason your
dean will be notified. Each subsequent absence will result in a FULL LETTER GRADE reduction. More
than 6 absences will result in a failing grade.
Tardiness
Please come to class on time! Class will start on the hour, not 10 minutes or 15 minutes after the hour.
Three late arrivals will equal 1 absence. Too, it is distracting to the class dynamic to enter into the room
late and disrupt a class already in progress. If you know that you will be late, please email ahead of time.
Participation
In order for you to become a good writer, you need a community where your work can flourish. For us,
our class meetings facilitate that community. You are expected to prepare for class ahead of time and
participate fully in all classroom activities, including discussions, workshops, and presentations. Texts
that are posted to LATTE must be printed out and brought to class on the day the readings are assigned.
You will need these texts for in-class exercises and discussions. Come to class prepared to offer your
own thoughts, questions, and opinions about the readings/listenings. You can feel satisfied that you have
sufficiently prepared a reading for class when you can:
 Identify one or more sentences that articulate the author’s thesis and motive
 Understand the author’s argument
 Outline the major steps of the author’s argument
 Point out any sections that seem unclear to you or raise questions
As part of your participation grade, you will be required to complete worksheets that relate to the
readings, which you will hand in on the days we will be discussing the readings. Keep in mind this class
is not a lecture, it is a discussion. Coming to class unprepared will negatively affect your participation
grade and the classroom environment. We must all strive for discussions that are inviting, stimulation,
and relevant to the topic.
Late Work
Late work is unacceptable. Extensions will only be granted in extreme and extenuating circumstances.
Requests for extensions will not be granted unless they are submitted to me via email at least 48 hours
prior to the due date. Papers handed in late will lose 1/3 of a grade every day that they are late. For
example, a B will be dropped to a B- for being a day late, etc. If you take advantage of the Writing
Center, you may hand in a completed Writing Center attendance “reward” form (it has to be stamped by
the Writing Center, signed, dated, etc.) in place of your final draft (and only the final draft) for a 24 hour
extension. All other assignments should be completed and turned in on time. Failure to complete a PreDraft, Rough Draft, and Peer Review assignments will affect the Peer Review Workshops portion of your
grade.
Email/LATTE/
My main means of communicating with you outside the classroom will be through email, sending you
reminders. Too, I will post readings, assignments, listening, etc. on LATTE and will be posting video
links, questions for thought, and reminders. It is a good rule of thumb to check LATTE everyday.
Writing Center
I urge you to use this valuable resource during your tenure here at Brandeis. You have an excellent and
totally free Writing Center available to you. The Writing Center offers one-on-one writing tutorials with
trained and experienced consultants, some of whom are teaching UWS themselves. Visit
http://www.brandeis.edu/programs/writing/writingcenter/ to get a better idea of what the writing center
offers or to sign up for an appointment. When you visit the writing center, you may have your consultant
fill out a Writing Center Reward Form, which will earn you a 24-hour extension on the final draft of any
paper (only one extension per paper).
Academic Integrity
In an academic setting, it is crucial that the work you present is original and of your own invention and
when you use outside sources you must cite them properly. This course is no different. The Brandeis
policy on academic integrity is available in section 3 of the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
(available at http://www.brandeis.edu/studentlife/sdc/rr/). Instances of alleged dishonesty (aka plagiarism)
will be forward to the Department of Student Development and Conduct for possible referral to the
Student Judicial System and may carry severe consequences. If you have any questions about how to cite
something, academic integrity, or academic standards of originality, please ask! Remember when you
plagiarize you only hurt yourself.
Disabilities
If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis and wish to have reasonable
accommodations made for you please see me immediately.
Miscellaneous
Good writers are good readers. Try to make a habit of reading on a variety of topics that have nothing to
with your course work. As you enter the university setting, it is important you find a release for stress and
a great way to get rid of stress is to read for pleasure. The Brandeis Library has a wonderful collection of
recreational books.
Get familiar with the library and get to know the librarians. They are your friends and can help you find
resources for all your courses.
As a university scholar, you need to analyze interpret and pull together information fro ma variety of
sources. Be able to express your ideas in a clear, cohesive manner is the mark of a good scholar.
Course Schedule
Unit 1: What is a Close Reading?
Week 1
Sept.3
Assignments:
Read: Philip Auslander "Intro". pg. 3-9, "Glamticipantis" pg. 9-38
Write: Response to "What are you Listening To?"
Listenings: Led Zeppelin "Whole Lotta Love"
The Who "Sally Simpson"
The Stones "Street Fighter Man"
The Beatles "Tomorrow Never Knows"
Watch: Andy Warhol Documentary (On Latte)
Week 2- David Bowie and the rise of Ziggy
Sept.8
Assignments:
Read: Auslander "Glamography" 39-42 and "Canonical Glam Artists" 43-69
Read: Introduction to Close Reading in Write Now!
Write: Response - Warhol vs. Auslander (Latte)
Listening: The Monkees "I'm a Believer"
David Bowie "Changes"
Velvet Underground "There She Goes Again"
Velvet Underground "Heroin"
Watch: The Beatles "Rain"
Start to watch David Bowie "Space Oddity" and Bowie Documentary
Sept.10
Assignments:
Read: Close Readings from Write Now!
Read: Close Reading Hand out
Write: Response Question (Latte)
Week 3 Ziggy Stardust
Sept.15
Assignments:
Read: Wiki articles on David Bowie and Glam Rock
Write: Pre-Draft 1.1 (Use Musical Terms to help you out)
Write: Response Question to wiki articles (Latte)
Watch: David Bowie "Space Oddity"
Pre-Draft Assignment 1.1 Due !
Sept.17
Assignments:
Read: Auslander "King of the Highway, Queen of the Hop" 71-76, "T. Rex c. 1968" 77-92, "Marc Bolan c.
1972" 93-105
Write: Pre-Draft 1.2
Watch: David Bowie "Space Oddity" 1969 and 1972
Watch: David Bowie "Rebel Rebel"
Watch David Bowie "Starman"
Week 4 Roxy Music
Conferences This Week
Sept.22
Assignments:
Read: Auslander "Who Can I be Now" 106-149
Read: "I have no message to say" David Bowie's Playboy Interview
Write: Work on Drafts
Watch:T.Rex "Get It On Bang a Gong"
Warch: David Bowie "Ziggy Stardust"
Sept.24
Assignments:
Read: Auslander "Roxy Music" 155-183
Watch: Roxy Music Documentary
Write: Respond to Roxy Question
Write: Drafts!
Listenings: Roxy Music "Virgina Plain"
Roxy Music "Ladytron"
Roxy Music "2hB"
Week 5- Queen: Glitter meets Rock
Sept.29
Assignments:
Read: "Hail to Queen" in Time
Write: Work on Drafts!
Write: Draft Responses
Watch: Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Queen "Killer Queen"
Oct. 1
Assignments:
Read: "Popular Music and the Dynamics of Desire" from Queering the Popular Pitch
Read: Start looking at Lens Essays from Write Now!
Write: Work on Drafts!
Write: Response to Popular Music and Queen Documentary
Watch: Queen Documentary "Days of our Lives"
Listen: Gary Glitter "Do You Wanna Touch Me"
Week 6- The Emergence of the Glam Subculture and the Darker Side of Glam
Oct.6
REVISION OF ESSAY#1 DUE!!!
Assingments
Read:Dick Hebdige "Subculture: The Meaning of Style"
Write:Pre-Draft 2.1 Take notes on Hebdige (You will hand them in next class) Write: Response to Hebdige
Listenings: Lou Reed "A Walk on the Wild Side"
Lou Reed" Satellite of Love"
Hello "New York Groove"
Oct.8
Pre-Draft 2.1 Due!!
Assignments:
Read: Van Cagle "Reconstructing Pop/Subculture" Pt.1 and 2
Write: Pre.Draft 2.2
Write: Response question to Cagle
Listenings: MC5 "Kick Out the Jams"
Iggy Pop "Gimmie Danger"
Iggy Pop "TV Eye"
Week 7- The Darker Side of Glam
Oct.13-No class Brandeis Thursday
Assignments:
Write: Work on Drafts
Watch: Start watching Iggy Pop Documentary
Watch: David Bowie and Iggy Pop Interview
Oct.15
Assignments:
Read: Van Cagle "Alice Cooper"
Read: Lens Essays in Write Now
Write: Start to work on your drafts
Listenings: Alice Cooper "Welcome to My Nightmare"
Rocky Horror Picture Show "Time Warp"
Rocky Horror Picture Show "Sweet Transvestite"
Watch: Alice Cooper Top of the Pops "Schools Out"
Week 8- Glam: The Origins of Goth and the Rise of Punk
Oct. 20
Pre-Draft 2.2 Due!!
Assignments:
Read: UWS Lib Guide
Write: Draft Responses
Write: Response to listenings
Listenings: Sweet "Ballroom Blitz"
Ramones "Do You Wanna Dance"
Sex Pistols "God Save the Queen"
Oct. 22
Assignments:
Write: Work on your drafts
Write: Brainstorm ideas for possible research topics
Write: Response to Punk Question/Flip Session
Listenings: KISS "Detroit Rock City"
Unit 3: Research Essay
Week 9- The New York Dolls the last real Glam band
Conferences this week!!!
Draft with cover letter Due!!!
Oct.27
Assignments:
Read: Andy Bennett "The Forgotten Decade"
Read: Tony Fletcher "All Hopped and Ready to Go"
Write: Response to articles
Write: Pre-Draft 3.1
Listenings: New York Dolls "Personality Crisis"
Slade "Cum on feel the Noise"
Oct.29
Assignments:
Read: Auslander "I Wanna Be Your Man: Suzi Quatro's Musical Androgyny"
Read: Auslander "Suzi Quatro Wants to be your man" 193-201
Write: Response to Auslander
Write: Pre-Draft 3.1
Watch: Suzi Quatro Top of the Pops "Can the Can"
Listenings: Suzi Quatro "Rock Hard"
Week 10 – Women of Glam
Revision of Essay 2 Due!
Nov.3
Assignments:
Read: Auslander "Suzi Quatro Wants to Be Your Man" 202-226
Listenings: Suzi Quatro "Rock Hard"
The Runaways "Saturday Night Special"
Joan Jett "Bad Reputation"
Nov.5
Assignments:
Write: Pre-Draft 3.1
Write: Response to Suzi and Joan (Latte)
Listening: Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Make Me Smile
Week 11-Early 1980s: Glam Metal
Pre-Draft 3.1DUE!!!
Nov.10
Assignments:
Read: Philip Auslander "Glamology" 227-236
Write: Work on your drafts!
Watch: Twisted Sister "We're Not Gonna Take It"
Nov.12
Assignments:
Write: Work on your drafts
Watch: Aerosmith "Dude Looks Like a Lady"
Listenings: Billy Idol "Dancing With Myself"
Aerosmith and Run DMC "Walk this Way"
Week 12- New Wave: Love Child between Glam and Punk
Nov.17
Assignments:
Write: Work on your essays!
Write: Response to New Wave
Watch: Klaus Nomi "Nomi Song"
Watch: REM "Shiny Happy People"
Watch: Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime"
Nov.19
Pre-Draft 3.2 DUE!!!
Assignments:
Write: Work on your essays!
Watch: B52s "Love Shack"
Watch: B52s "Rock Lobster"
Week 13 Queen + Bowie = Awesome
Conferences this Week
Draft of Essay#3 Due!
Nov.24
Assignments:
Write: Work on your papers!
Listening: Queen and David Bowie "Under Pressure"
Write: Work on your papers
Write: Response question
Watch: The Darkness " I believe in a thing called love"
Watch:Lady Gaga "Born this Way"
Watch: Lady Gaga "Bad Romance"
Nov.26-28 NO CLASS
Assignments:
Write: Work on your papers
Write: Pre-Draft 3.3
Week 14 Modern Artists
Draft Responses
Pre-Drat 3.3 Due
Dec.1
Assignments:
Write: Work on papers
Dec.3
Week 15 Finals
DEC. 8
REVISION OF ESSAY #3 DUE
IN CLASS MOVIE
After the Semester
Dec 11-Dec 18
Mid-Finals Period
HAVE FUN!
Finals Period
• Pick up portfolios and final grades in my office