Course Schedule

*Subject to revision with notice

WEEK ONE

Day 1, Wed Sept 9: Course Introductions
HW for Friday, Sept 11: Read "Studying Video Games" and "What is a Game?" in Understanding Video Games; writing exercise: in your bedroom, find as many pop cultural artifacts as you can. First, list them, then write a brief paragraph about your relationship to them.

Fri, Sept 11
HW: read Angela Washko's tumblr: http://wowongender.tumblr.com (you don't have to read the entire thing; you can scroll through bits and pieces); read blog post linked here; research one popular video game and write a one page analysis of how it reflects our modern society: what values does it represent, why is it popular, etc?

WEEK TWO

W, Sept 16  In class watch Angela Washko's "Playing a Girl;" Go over Note-Taking
HW: read "Video Games in Culture" in Understanding Video Games; play the following video games and come prepared to discuss them
Bubblegum Slaughter
Depression Quest

F, Sept 18 In class go over Essay #1 and Outlines
HW: read this article about Grand Theft Auto; read this article about Gender Criticism for Gamers

WEEK THREE

W, Sept 23 MLA Formatting
HW: prep for library workshop (bring laptops, iPads, etc. to class)

F, Sept 25 In class Library Workshop
HW: work on outline of essay #1, bring 2 copies to class for workshop

WEEK FOUR

W, Sept 29 Outline Workshop in class
HW: complete final draft of Essay #1

F, Oct 2 *In class watch We Live in Public
HW: no homework

WEEK FIVE 

W, Oct 7 Final Draft of Essay #1 Due
HW: read "Unraveling Reality TV's Twisted Fairy Tales" in "Reality Bites Back"

F, Oct 9 Introduction to Essay #2 & In-Class Essays
HW: read "Bitches and Morons and Skanks, Oh My!" in "Reality Bites Back"

WEEK SIX 

W, Oct 14
HW: read "This is Not My Beautiful House" in "Reality Bites Back"

F, Oct 16 Mid-semester break (no class)
HW: see above

WEEK SEVEN

W, Oct 21
HW:read "Television" p. 62-116 in "Everything Bad is Good For You"

F, Oct 23
HW: prepare for in-class essay

WEEK EIGHT

W, Oct 28 In Class Essay #2
HW: read "The Sleeper Curve" p. 1-62 in "Everything Bad is Good For You"

F, Oct 30 Introduction to Essay #3, Rough Drafts
HW: none

WEEK NINE

W, Nov 4 Watch "The Social Network" in class

HW: read Feed up to page 75

F, Nov 6 Finish "The Social Network," discuss
HW: read Feed up to page 150

WEEK TEN

W, Nov 11

HW: read Feed up to page 225

F, Nov 13 Rough Draft Essay #3 Workshop

HW: read Feed up to page 300

WEEK ELEVEN

W, Nov 18 Introduction to Final Essays and Presentations

HW: read Feed up to page 375

F, Nov 20 Final Draft of Essay #3 Due on Monday Nov 23

HW: read Feed up to page 450

WEEK TWELVE

W, Nov 25 – No Class, Thanksgiving Break

HW: finish Feed, and work on presentations and final papers

F, Nov 27

HW: see above

WEEK THIRTEEN

W, Nov 2

HW: work on presentations and papers, reading on blog

F, Nov 5 

HW: work on presentations and papers, reading on blog

WEEK FOURTEEN

W, NOV 9 IN CLASS PRESENTATIONS/FINAL PAPERS DUE

F, NOV 11 IN CLASS PRESENTATIONS/FINAL PAPERS DUE