AP/HUMA 2970 9.0A: Introduction to Traditional & Popular Culture
Course Syllabus, 2012-2013
Course Director: Professor Gary Butler
030 McLaughlin College
York University
Telephone: (416) 736-5158; Ext. 44090.
E-mail: gbutler@yorku.ca
Course Director’s Office Hours: Monday 2:30-3:30; Tuesday 10:30-11:30
TAs: Jill Glessing
Ian McCausland
Maureen Riche
Andrea Valente
Course Secretary: Carolin Potter
Department of Humanities
Vanier College 209 (Ext. 33214)
York University
Course Description:
This course introduces the student to the concepts and materials of traditional and popular culture and demonstrates how they function in the everyday social life of the individual and the group. While careful attention is paid to folkloric and popular texts, the course enlarges upon them in order to demonstrate how such texts operate and derive their meaning from the socio-cultural context in which they occur. Areas of traditional culture may include oral narrative and legend; ballad and song traditions; belief and the supernatural tradition. The segment dealing with popular culture will examine those aspects of shared culture which are the direct result of dissemination through the mass media (television, motion pictures, print and other audio-visual media).
Format: 1 x 2 hour lecture; 1 x 2 hour tutorial
Lecture Time/Place: Monday 10:30-12:30, Curtis Lecture Hall ‘G’
Tutorial Time/Place: Tutorial I: Monday 12:30-14:30, McLaughlin College 214 (Gary Butler)
Tutorial II: Tuesday 14:30-16:30, McLaughlin College 214 (Gary Butler)
Tutorial III: Monday 16:30-18:30, Vanier College 102 (Jill Glessing)
Tutorial IV: Friday 10:30-12:30, Vanier College 104 (Andrea Valente)
Tutorial V: Monday 12:30-14-30, Stong College 214 (Maureen Riche)
Tutorial VI: Friday 8:30-10:30, Vari Hall 2009 (Ian McCausland)
Evaluation: 2 exams (mid-year 20%; final 20%); 1 major essay (25%); 2 tutorial presentations (10% each); participation (15%)
The outlines for the essay will be distributed in the third week of the second semester. Topics will be suggested which deal directly with the materials and concepts covered by this course. However, students will have the option of formulating their own topic and submitting a detailed outline for the approval of the Course Director.
Course Texts:
1st Term: Stoker, Bram. Dracula.
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit.

2nd Term:
Readings:
Twitchell, James B. Adcult USA: The Triumph of Advertising in American Culture .
In addition, a selection of supplementary readings has been compiled and uploaded to the course web site (see
“Readings” on web site menu). Each week’s supplementary readings are indicated on your
Lecture Schedule by an asterisk (*).
Academic Integrity:
Details of the "Senate Policy on Academic Honesty" are outlined in the York University Undergraduate Calendar, pages 182-86. Students are advised to read these regulations carefully. Also note that once the described process is initiated, "a student accused of academic dishonesty may not drop or be deregistered from the course in question until a final decision is reached." Academic Integrity will be discussed at length in tutorial during the first week of classes. Students are requested to go to the Academic Integrity web site at York University
( http://www.yorku.ca/academicintegrity ), to read the section ‘For Students’.
Classroom Etiquette and Behaviour:
Students are expected to make every effort to arrive on time at lectures and tutorials; chronic lateness must be explained. If late arrivals or early departures are required due to unforeseen circumstances, every effort should be made to curtail disruptive noise from shuffling books, scraping chairs, and noisy doors. All electronic devices, such as cell phones and pagers , must be turned off, or placed on vibrate, before the commencement of lectures and tutorials. Laptop computers should be used in such a manner as not to distract students around you. The best possible delivery of lectures is directly proportional to the degree of concentration and quiet in the classroom or lecture hall. It is in everyone's interest to minimize all unnecessary or unsolicited talking. Any student unable or unwilling to show such consideration for the collective learning process will be expected to stay away, or, if necessary, will be asked to leave.
Submission of Evaluation Components:
Students are expected to attend all scheduled tests and to meet assignment deadlines. Failure to do so without a written, reasonably detailed medical note (not just a doctor’s slip) will result in the loss of the course grade allotted to that portion of the course work. Should a student be unable to write a test at the scheduled time, s/he must contact the course director or the appropriate tutorial leader within 24 hours, preferably prior to the test. A message may be left only by email. Otherwise, the student will receive a grade of F/0 for this component. Assignments and presentations are due on the designated deadline date; no extensions will be granted. Should a student be unable to abide by this regulation, they will be required to submit a formal appeal for late submission of course materials.
Grade Appeals:
"Any student who disputes a grade for any assignment may ask that it be re-evaluated. Normally the first course of action is for the student to ask that the original instructor reassess the work. If that result is not acceptable, the student may ask the Course Director...to re-evaluate the work. If the result is still unacceptable, the student may appeal to the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Room 204 Vanier, who will arrange for an independent reader.
Only written work will be re-appraised." (Handbook of Procedures, Department of Humanities.)
"....after the final grades have been submitted, a formal written application for the reappraisal of a grade may be undertaken only through the Director of Undergraduate Studies. The forms for this formal reappraisal are available from the Enrolment Secretary in Room 203, Vanier. Requests for reappraisal must be made within twenty-one (21) calendar days after that student's grades have been released by Student Programmes…”
"After the release of final grades, a student may ask to see and go over her/his examination paper. They may also petition the Department (not the faculty member) for a reappraisal of the grades on any written assignments. The result of the reappraisal may leave the grade unchanged, raised, or lowered." (Handbook of Procedures, Department of Humanities.)

In Conclusion:
As Course Director, I look forward to working with all students enrolled in this course this year. Should any of you at any time have any concerns or problems, either personal or academic, please feel free to contact me after class; by coming to see me during my scheduled office hours; or by leaving an email message (gbutler@yorku.ca).
Gary Butler
Professor, Humanities
York University