American Folk Heroes

Bachelor Degree in American Studies

AMR 260

Breyer State University

Instructor: Heather Metzger B.A., M.A

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome students! This course is designed to provide you with an introduction to the methods and concepts used in the study of popular culture and American Studies. We will focus on industrial icons and American ideology. You can expect to come away from this course with an understanding of how capitalism and mass production has had a profound effect on the folk iconography of American. We will cover the following concepts:

1). Locating the folk in consumer culture.
2). Mass production and cultural values.
3). Alienation and capitalism.
4). Aesthetics, emotion, and mass production.

TIMEFRAME: This is a six (6) hour course. You have ten weeks to finish all of the class assignments. Your semester will begin when you register for the course, or when you contact me and let me know that you have received the books and are ready to begin.

You must finish all course work within the allotted time frame. Failing to do so may result in no credit for the class. Incompletes and extensions are only appropriate under extenuating circumstances and must be agrees upon by both you and I.

TEXTBOOKS: There are two text books for this class.

Book 1: The Hidden Foundation Cinema and The Question of Class,. Berg, Rick, and David, James. Minneapolis, University of Minnesota. 1996: ISBN # 0816627053.

•  This book is about class and the status of the folk hero in American movies. If you would like to see some of the films mentioned in the book and use them as examples in your papers, it is encouraged and acceptable. Please contact me if you need help choosing films or incorporating examples.

Book 2: Fast Food Nation, the Dark Side of the All-American Meal. Schlosser, Eric, Perrenial, 2002: ISBN # 0060938455.

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GRADING: The mid-term is worth 30 points, and the final is worth 70. There are a total of 100 points possible. The grade break down is as follows:

90-100% = A
80-89%   = B
70-79%   = C
60-69%   = D
50-below = F

When I grade your papers and exams, I will look for the following:

1). Do you have a firm grasp of the material? Did you stay on topic?
2). Are you able to compose an essay with an intro, thesis, body and conclusion?
3). Were you able to incorporate examples and quotes from the reading?
4). Are you writing clear and do you make use of paragraphs, transition sentences, and basic coherence devices?
5). Are you able to show some original thought or analysis aside from a basic summary?

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: My name is Heather Metzger and I hold a BA in Women's Studies and Film Studies from the University of California at Riverside (UCR). I received my MA from Claremont Graduate University in Cultural Studies in 2001. While at Claremont, I studied the representation of AIDS and disease in American culture. Currently I am working on my PhD in English at UC Riverside. My academic interests include; virtual culture and media studies, the history of sexuality and emotion in America , and material culture. I have taught classes in Women's Studies and English at Claremont Graduate University and UCR. I am currently working with ESL (English as a Second Language) and beginning college students at Los Angeles City College.

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may contact your instructor at hlm2@ix.netcom.com

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