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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Introduction to Popular Culture
Course: HUM225

First Term: 2012 Spring
 Lecture   3 Credit(s)   3 Period(s)   3 Load  
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S


Description: Introduction to major topics in the field of popular culture studies. Includes basic theories, methods, and concepts used to analyze popular culture texts and practices.



MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Define popular culture and what it entails. (I)
2. Compare and contrast the production and consumption of popular culture. (I)
3. Summarize the importance of the production and consumption of popular culture. (I)
4. Describe what production and consumption of popular culture entails. (I, III)
5. Explain how popular culture works on the local, national, and global levels. (I, III)
6. Explain the role of power in popular culture. (I)
7. Describe major forms of identity reflected in and influenced by popular culture. (I)
8. Compose critical analyses of popular culture texts and practices. (II)
9. Explain how images, artifacts, amusements, physical space, technology, and media involve and work as popular culture. (III)
10. Demonstrate how popular culture texts and practices reflect and influence beliefs and values. (I, III)
11. Explain how popular culture reflects and influences the ways that individuals within societies understand their relationships with one another. (I, III)
12. Illustrate how power relations can be seen within popular culture texts and practices. (II, III)
13. Analyze representations of the major forms of identity in popular culture. (I, II, III)
14. Analyze the use of formulaic elements in popular culture. (I, II, III)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.
 
MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Overview of Popular Culture
   A. Definition
   B. Relationship to Other Categories of Culture
   C. Significance
      1. Reasons for Studying Popular Culture
      2. Values and Beliefs in Popular Culture
   D. Production and Consumption
      1. Production
      2. Consumption
   E. Globalization
   F. Power
      1. Ideology
      2. Hegemony
      3. Agency
   G. Major Forms of Identity
      1. Gender
      2. Race, Ethnicity, and National Identity
      3. Social Class
      4. Age
      5. Religion
      6. Other
   H. Relationships
      1. Effects on Popular Culture
      2. Defined by Popular Culture
   I. Formulas
      1. Myths
      2. Genres
II. Analysis of Popular Culture
   A. Reading About Popular Culture
      1. Active Reading
      2. Context
      3. Texts
      4. Semiotics
   B. Writing About Popular Culture
      1. Rhetoric
      2. Critical Analysis
      3. The Process of Writing
III. Major Forms of Popular Culture
   A. Media
      1. Advertising
      2. Television
      3. Literature
      4. Film
      5. Music
   B. Popular Amusements
      1. Sports
      2. Games
      3. Other Amusements
   C. Appearance
      1. Fashion
      2. Hairstyles
   D. Physical Objects
      1. Art
      2. Artifacts
   E. Physical Space
      1. Place and Space
      2. Time and Space
      3. Public and Private Space
   F. Technology
      1. The Internet
      2. Communities and Technology
 
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date:  5/24/2011

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.