Syllabus

IMAGERY, IDENTITY AND CULTURE:
an interdisciplinary course exploring the personal, social and political impact of imagery

Renée Cherow-O’Leary, Ph.D. and Doris Caçoilo, MFA
Rutgers University Newark
Department of Arts, Culture and Media

Spring 2019

Fridays 2:30-5:20pm Bradley Hall 312
Office hours by appointment

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this course students will be introduced to the conceptual frame of Imagery, Identity and Culture, the meaning of these terms, how do they intersect, why are they important historically and how we explore them in contemporary society as well as what visions we may have of their role in the future. The course will provide a historical overview of media and communication and as well as theoretical approaches to the concepts of identity and culture as they are framed by art and media images. It begins with the examination of the socio-cultural conditions in which self is portrayed and interpreted and extends into meanings of identity, body, home, space, health, race, gender and the ways in which much of this is conditioned, reinforced and often reimagined through media images.

The course will use a historic context of media studies to interpret and analyze contemporary art and media examples and the future of identity and cultural evolution. Students will read across various fields to interpret and critique images in art and media to explore issues of self identity, politics and perception, self as media consumer, media maker and the importance of self as image.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

To understand the intersections of imagery, identity and culture as well as each concept individually in its many permutations.

To become sensitive to how present technologies, images, and social changes affect our understanding of what it is to be human and to think about how our human-ness could be transforming irreversibly.

To deconstruct texts, particularly news texts, that offer visions of the near and far future and to imagine how these changes will affect their personal and professional lives and how the changes will impact our communal lives—locally, nationally and globally.

To use their artistry and academic skills to create, write, debate, research and otherwise examine their own identities and produce papers, art work in various media, and presentations about self and others in this era of mediated communication, fluid identities, and changing cultural definitions.

To gain confidence individually to synthesize new information into personally relevant understanding and action and to work in groups to learn to collaborate, listen deeply, assess and reassess arguments pro and con, and produce new formulations of ideas with others and new potentials for action.

REQUIRED BOOKS

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Dear Ijeawele, Or, A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions. First edition. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2017.

Ta-Nehisi Coates. Between the World and Me. First edition. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2015.           

Jerzy Kosinski. Being There. Grove Press; Reprint edition. 1999

REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION OF THE COURSE 

Three writing assignments published to the blog, weekly news assignments, and a multi-part semester project must be completed during the semester. Students must also complete all assigned readings and participate in class discussions. Assignments must be completed thoroughly and on time. Attendance is mandatory.

-READINGS 

Various weekly reading assignments will be assigned from the required books and other sources and listed on the blog each week. Additional readings will be available on Blackboard and linked from the blog to online sources. Readings are due for each class. All readings are required unless otherwise stated.

For each reading you must select TWO QUOTES or passages from the readings with a brief interpretation of each quote to discuss further in class. Choose anything that strikes you or you feel deserves further attention. You must have these prepared (typed up or written out) for each class meeting. These may be collected each week. Several students will be called on each week to share their selected quotes and interpretations during class discussion.

-BLOG

You must consult the class blog daily to check for announcements, readings and to post your assignments. The blog is crucial to the course and completion of the requirements. You MUST have access to the blog to complete assignments, readings, post work and comment on students’ posts.

-ATTENDANCE

Attendance is required. Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class. Absences affect your participation grade. More than four (4) unexcused absences will result in the loss of 20% of your course grade. No exceptions. Class begins on time, so you must be punctual. Lateness, leaving early or leaving class unexcused for an extended period of time will also be recorded. Two of these instances will count as one absence. You must bring documentation to class and hand it in for any absences to be excused.

You are required to make up any and all work that is missed if you are absent. Assignments are due on the blog even if you are absent. Notify the professor if you know you will be absent. As work will not be accepted late, please contact the professor to hand in work on time or to receive an extension. If you have missed class and/or assignments for reasons outside your control please communicate with the professor about these issues. 

-WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

Introduction Post and Posts 2+3. Handed in and also posted to the class blog. Students must develop researched essays in response to the class visits to various cultural institutions throughout the semester. Full writing assignments and requirements will be posted for each class trip on the blog. Students must connect the trips to the class readings. Each writing assignment [post] will be specific to the topics covered in class at that time and will be explained during class and on the blog. Students are responsible to write and edit these posts as well as illustrate them and successfully post them to the blog for discussion and critique in class. Citation from the readings and several images illustrating the essays are required. These posts will be graded for content, editing, format and research.

-MIDTERM PROJECT Letters

Compose a letter to someone, real or imagined, that asks and/or answers questions of personal identity, culture, history, home, relationships and the communities to which we belong. Use the books we read in class as a guide to imagine this project as a personal manifesto or exploration of your history, your present revelations and hopes for the future. ~750 words

-FINAL PROJECT Self Portraits and Artist statements 

Create a self portrait in any medium that synthesize and reference the semester readings, artists and resources that we visited and reviewed. Self portraits can be paintings, video, performance, writing, audio, installation, or mixed media pieces. Please think of this as a portfolio piece. Projects must be documented and posted on the blog with a researched summary and explanation of the piece. Projects may connect to your midterm project, but this is not required. Students must also write an artist statement about the work of ~250words. Each student will present their project and writing in five minute presentations at the end of the semester.

GRADE 

20%  Midterm project

30% Final project 

30% 3 blog assignments (connecting class trips to the course readings)

20% attendance/participation 

Office of Disability Services

Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational programs. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with a disability must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/documentation-guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. To begin this process, please complete the Registration form (https://webapps.rutgers.edu/student-ods/forms/registration).

The Rutgers Writing Center  located on the first floor of Bradley Hall, can provide very useful guidance, including writing tutors. It is highly recommended that every one visit the center as they are developing their essay. To encourage this visit, extra points will be given to those who provide documentation of their work with the center. The Center's online address http://www.andromeda.rutgers.edu/~nwc/index.html

Plagiarism is a very serious academic offense which will result in penalties ranging from reduction of class grade to failure in the course. Plagiarism occurs when the ideas, images, and words, published or unpublished, of others are presented as one's own without citing the original source. Plagiarism also occurs when the papers, research, or creative works of another person are presented as one's own work. “The sources from which one derives one’s ideas, statements, terms, and data must be fully and specifically acknowledged in the appropriate form; failure to do so, intentionally or unintentionally, constitutes plagiarism. Violations of academic integrity may result in failure in the course and in disciplinary actions with penalties such as suspension or dismissal from the College” (1999-2000 Undergraduate Catalog, p. 43). For the University's policy on plagiarism please read the Rutgers-Newark Student Handbook, PAGE 189, available on-line at: http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/integrity.shtml 

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SCHEDULE

**PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND WE WILL INFORM YOU OF SPECIFICS AND CHANGES PERTAINING TO THIS SCHEDULE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. If you ever have questions or concerns about the schedule, due dates, changes or anything else please check the blog and e-mail your professors.

**Readings for each class will be found on the blog, either available on Blackboard or linked to an online resource. It is the student’s responsibility to check the blog for all readings and assignments due each week.

Week 1: January 24 —Introduction to the Conceptual Frame of Imagery, Identity and Culture Discussion session. Students will sign up for the class blog and be able to view and post assignments.

Week 2: January 31 —Images and Storytelling. Discussion session. Readings Due. Please check immediately on the blog and on Blackboard to make sure you can access these readings.

INTRODUCTION POST due on the blog - see assignment description on sidebar of blog

Week 3: February 7 —Letters: A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions  Discussion session. Readings Due: Read entire book A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions Please check the class blog and Blackboard for the readings.

Week 4: February 14 — Trip to the Museum of Modern Art in NYC to the exhibition Private Lives, Public Spaces 

Week 5: February 21 —Letters: Personal narrative. Between the World and Me Discussion session. Readings Due. Please check the class blog and Blackboard for the readings.

Post 1 due on the blog - response to Moma trip

Week 6: February 28 —Letters: The Future Between the World and Me Discussion session. Readings Due. Please check the class blog and Blackboard for the readings.

Week 7: March 6 —Letters: Indigenous Americans Dawnland and Molly of Denali Discussion session. Readings Due. Please check the class blog and Blackboard for the readings.

+++COVID-19 CRISIS ++ 

+++PRECAUTIONS CALL FOR MOVE TO ONLINE CLASSES ++

Week 8: March 13 — CLASS CANCELLED Trip to Newark Museum of Art to the exhibition Seeing America: 20th and 21st Century.  Readings Due. Please check the class blog and Blackboard for the readings.

Midterms Due - emailed by 3/23

Week 9: March 20 — SPRING BREAK - NO CLASS

ONLINE CLASSES BEGIN

Week 10: March 27 —Citizen: Being There Discussion session. Readings Due. Please check the class blog and Blackboard for the readings. ONLINE SESSION IN BB

POST 2 Newark Museum response: ASSIGNMENT NO LONGER REQUIRED

Week 11— April 3 — ONLINE SESSION IN BB Citizen: Imagery, Politics and Leadership Readings Due. Please check the class blog and Blackboard for the readings. 

Week 12—April 10 —ONLINE SESSION IN BB Globe and Cosmos: Astrophysics Readings Due. Please check the class blog and Blackboard for the readings. 
Post 3 Being There assignment:  ASSIGNMENT NO LONGER REQUIRED

Week 13—April 17 —ONLINE SESSION IN BB Globe and Cosmos: Astrophysics Discussion session. Readings Due. Please check the class blog and Blackboard for the readings. 

Week 14—April 24 —FINAL Self Portrait Projects due on the blog ++ Student Presentations tbd ONLINE SESSION IN BB

Week 15—May 1—FINAL Self Portrait Projects ++ Student Presentations tbd ONLINE SESSION IN BB