Teaching My First Class (feedback wanted!)

Repetition and (New) Media: Remember, Replay, Remix

Blurb:
This class explores the phenomenon of repetition theoretically by placing it into a historical trajectory of media repetition from memory to film, video games, and Internet memes. Writings include response papers, and a drafted final paper. Syllabus upon request.

Syllabus:
Part 1: What is Repetition?
Week 1 – Monday: Repetition Defined

• in class 15 writing exercise: write a definition of repetition; give an example of repetition

Week 1 – Wednesday:

• Sturken and Cartwright – Practices of Looking Chapter 5: Visual Technologies, Image Reproduction, and the Copy (xxx-xxx)

Week 2 – Monday: Re – mix, -run, -play, -produce, -present, etc

• Benjamin – Work of Art in the age of Mechanical Reproduction

Week 2 – Wednesday:

• Hall – Representation, Meaning and Language (15-64)

Week 3 – Monday: Adaptation (and Translation)

• Venuti – Adaptation, Translation, Critique (Journal of Visual Culture – 25-43)

Week 3 – Wednesday:

• Austen – Pride and Prejudice
• Pride and Prejudice (2005 film)
• Austen and Grahame-Smith – Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Week 4 – Monday: Phenomenology – Can things ever be repeated?

• ???Merleu-Ponty???
• ???Henri Bergson???

Week 4 – Wednesday:

Week 5 – Monday: New Media or New Turns? – Are we in another change? / We are in another change

• Manovich – Language of New Media – What Is New Media? (19-61)
• question and critique in class

Week 5 – Wednesday:

Part 2: “Old” Media Repetition
Week 6 – Monday: Memory and Writing

• Manguel – History of Reading – Book of Memory (55-65)
• Landsberg – Prosthetic Memory (Introduction and Chapter 1) (1-45)

Week 6 – Wednesday: Painting and Art

• Ni Zan imitation article
• Who the #$& Is Jackson Pollack (film)

Week 7 – Monday: Television

• Kompare – Rerun Nation (selections)

Week 7 – Wednesday:

Part 3: New Turns With Newer Media
Week 8 – Monday: Film

• Klinger – Beyond the Metroplex – Remembrance of Films Past (91-134), and Once is Not Enough (135-190)

Week 8 – Wednesday:

• Jenkins – Convergence Culture – Quentin Tarantino’s Star Wars? (135-173)

Week 9 – Monday: Music – Remix Culture

• Cutler – “Plunderphonics” in Music, Electronic Media and Culture (87-114)
• Harrison – Amen Break – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SaFTm2bcac

Week 9 – Wednesday:

• Lessig – Remix (23-114)

Week 10 – Monday: Games – Replays and Replaying (in different spaces)

• Home Playing
• Speed Runs
• Pro leagues
• Cory Arcangel

Week 10 – Wednesday: Memes, they’re everywhere!

• Know Your Meme – Repetition and Copyright
• All Your Base – http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/all-your-base-are-belong-to-us#.Tho2U-BUVMs
• LOLCats – http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/lolcats#.Tho1HeBUVMs
• Keyboard Cat – Play Him Off – http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/keyboard-cat#.Tho38OBUVMs
• Downfall/Hitler – take down notices – http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/downfall-hitler-reacts#.Tho59-BUVMs
• Philosoraptor – CC License – http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/philosoraptor#.ThpAvuBUVMs
• Over 9000 – http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/its-over-9000#.Tho6A-BUVMs
• Peanut Butter Jelly Time – 5 elements – http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/downfall-hitler-reacts#.Tho59-BUVMs
• Mifflin – The Joy of Repetition, Repetition, Repetition – http://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/03/tv/the-joy-of-repetition-repetition-repetition.html

Writing Projects:

• Response paper (3-5 pages) – Pick one reading that you feel strongly about (either positively or negatively) and respond to it. Summarize the main points, then (depending on your positive/negative response) critique or support the article with your response, then expand upon the article in some way.
• In class response essay (30 minutes) – What does this clip have to do with repetition?
• Final Paper (2 part cycle) – pick topic
• Outline – feedback given
• Final Paper – Due during the final