Child's Play

Hi everyone,

For your blog assignment this week, I'd like to expand a bit upon some of the things discussed in the Barbie and G.I. Joe essay we read from our test.

In the essay we read, the author discussed the changes in two popular toys and how these changes reflected changes in the culture. For your blog assignment, I'd like you to discuss how one of the biggest toy trends ever--the evolution of the video game--has reflected our culture during your lifetime. Feel free to address not only the technical aspects of video gaming, but the kinds of games children (and teenagers) are playing, and what those games might specifically reflect from a cultural standpoint.

One more thing--when posting your comment to the blog, I'd like you to address and comment on the post immediately before yours. As always, please remember to keep the tone civil when addressing your classmates' comments.

See you Monday!

Class cancelled Wednesday

Hi everybody,

Wednesday's class (10/4) is cancelled. But there's still a lot of stuff you need to do:

--First, your revision for essay one is still due today (Wednesday October 4). You may drop off your revision in my mailbox in the English Department mailroom (room ENG D 265 C). The adjunct instructors' mailboxes are on the wall to the right as you enter the room.

--Your reading assignment for Monday is p. 744 of your text. The article is titled "What Makes Superman so Darned American?"

--Your writing assignment for essay two is below. The draft is due Wednesday, October 11. We will be discussing this assignment further when we next meet on Monday the 9th.

--Please check this blog again after Thursday night (the 5th) for any blogwork that might be assigned for the weekend.

Have a good weekend, and I'll see you Monday.


ESSAY ASSIGNMENT TWO:
Draft Due Date: Wednesday, October 11th

In this essay, you will examine culture as TEXT: something that can be regarded as an object for critical analysis; something that can be studied and from which information can be obtained.

Choose a sample of today’s culture (for example, a movie, a TV show, an actor or actress, a song, a musician or musical group, a sport, an athlete, an advertisement, a commercial product, a well-known character) and describe how this sample reflects the culture (or a specific part of the culture) that has produced it and embraced it. Your paper should include a DETAILED DESCRIPTION of the subject—-but the details you choose should only be there to support your single, specific thesis.

The essay must be between 800-1,000 words long, and double-spaced.