Course+Outline

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===CCT 300 :  Critical  Analysis  of  Media===

Michael Jones (lecture and labs) Email: michael.jones5@sheridanc.on.ca Or: mlwjones@gmail.com Phone: 905‐845‐9430 x5555 MSN: michael.jones5@sheridanc.on.ca Office Hours: Thursday, 5‐6pm, Sheridan J321; by appointment

Norman Valdez (labs) Email: norman.valdezchavez@gmail.com; available in labs and by appointment

Lab Hours: Thursday, 6‐7pm, 7‐8pm, 8‐9pm; J316**
 * Lecture Hours: Thursday, 3‐5pm, Sheridan J102


 * Description**

This course looks at historical and contemporary issues in media form and design. The goal is to outline how media forms and genre definitions emerge, as well as political and economic factors that influence our experience with media. While comics and graphic novels are a core focal point of the course, lessons learned from the critical analysis of this medium can and will be applied to other media forms.

This course also has an applied component, in which students will demonstrate their knowledge through collaborating on an inventory of media genres, exploring the creation of comics, and creating culture jamming/social influence campaigns using media of their own choosing and relating to topics of their own interest.


 * Prerequisites: CCT 210**

N.B. Only the Director of the CCIT program has the authority to give permission to waive course prerequisites. Prerequisites are enforced and students without required prerequisites will be deregistered from this course. Required Text McCloud, S. (1993). Understanding Comics. New York: Harper Perennial Online readings as outlined in the schedule and assigned throughout the semester

The text will be available in the UTM bookstore, and can also be purchased at many mainstream, online, and independent bookstores.

Learning Outcomes

The course provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills and other attributes in the following areas:

• Classify media genres and sub‐genres in a logically defensible manner

• Analyze graphic novels according to principles noted in McCloud's Understanding Comics

• Produce a webcomic consistent with styles and structures of webcomics

• Prepare a group plan to engage culture jamming/social influence project

• Determine best media choices for culture jamming/social influence projects given limitations of group skill sets and time

• Critique the work of student groups in a productive and empathetic manner

• Produce a culture jamming/social influence campaign consistent with established media styles/standards


 * //Assignments and Grade Breakdown//**


 * 1. Graphic Novel Analysis (October 15, 15%)**

As McCloud notes, graphic novels have an untapped potential as a medium of expression. Since this text were written, it is arguable that this potential has come closer to realization. Even mainstream bookstores now have graphic novel sections. Much of the selection is largely influenced by Japanese work (e.g, manga, anime) but there’s a strong contingent of independent Canadian production (e.g., Drawn and Quarterly press) and stories of international interest and acclaim (e.g., Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis.)

In this assignment, you will investigate graphic novels by selecting a graphic novel of interest to you and analyzing it in reference to McCloud’s conceptual analysis of this emerging genre. Ways to best approach this assignment will be discussed further in lecture and lab as the deadline approaches. The paper should be approximately 5‐7 pages, double‐spaced. Visual examples from the work being analyzed are often a strong way of relaying your point efficiently and are encouraged.


 * 2. Comic Creation (November 5, 15%)**

The emergence of web comics as a genre and tools such as Plasq 's Comic Life have reduced both barriers of distribution and creation, leading to a veritable explosion of alternative comics.

In this assignment, you will use tools such as Comic Life (available on the J316 lab machines) or other tools you wish to create a short web comic. Principles and examples of web comics as a genre and an introduction to Comic Life will be outlined in lab.

Your comic will be accompanied by brief written narrative (1 page) and a short analysis (e.g., 2‐3 pages) outlining your design choices, relating these choices back to the McCloud text and/or other materials.


 * 3. Lab Assignments and Wiki Co­creation (Ongoing ­20%)**

This course will be using Wikispaces to foster collaborative investigation on issues of relevance in this course. The course wiki can be found at http://cct300‐ f09.wikispaces.com/.

Assistance with signing on and editing the course wiki will be provided in early course labs. Each lab session will be framed around a theme or activity relevant to the course. The general themes are noted below: articles of interest associated with the week’s theme will be released weekly in labs on the course wiki with short responses to discussion questions due the following week.

You are expected to participate and respond to at least 8 of the weekly questions on time (each worth 2 marks – full thoughtful responses being worth full marks, less considered or late responses being worth less.)

The remaining 4% is for community building and maintenance – regularly and consistently engaging with your colleagues in discussion, helping organize our collective learning environment, sharing notes and relevant resources to course discussion, etc. More tips on how to do this effectively will be discussed in lab.

final, 25%)**
 * 4. Culture Jamming/Social Influence Project– (Nov. 5, proposal, November 26,

In groups of 3‐4 formed in your lab, you will work on a particular culture jamming and/or social influence project. Effective culture jamming projects will leverage essential media form and design principles to shine a critical or ironic light on a particular issue of interest. Social influence campaigns, while similar, aim to spur awareness and action regarding a particular issue vs. simple ironic commentary.

5% of the final grade will be allocated for the group’s formation and proposal, due Nov. 5 20% will be reserved for the quality and effectiveness of the work created and for its presentation in the lab period November 26. Specific criteria will be discussed and outlined while groups are formed.


 * 5. Final Exam – (During UTM December test period ­ 25%)**

There will be one term test in this course, held during the UTM final exam period. This test will cover all assigned readings and seminar material, and will privilege application of course concepts vs. simple regurgitation of facts, dates, or authors. Specific content covered and question structures will be discussed later in the semester as part of exam review.

University’s mission, and, as a result, all those who violate those principles are dealt with as if they were damaging the integrity of the University itself. When students are suspected of cheating or a similar academic offence, they are typically surprised at how formal and seriously the matter is dealt with – and how severe the consequences can be if it is determined that cheating did occur.
 * Important Policy Notes**
 * //Academic Honesty://** Honesty and fairness are considered fundamental to the

The University of Toronto treats academic offences very seriously. Students should note that copying, plagiarizing, or other forms of academic misconduct will not be tolerated. Any student caught engaging in such activities will be subject to academic discipline ranging from a mark of zero on the assignment, test or examination to dismissal from the university as outlined in the UTM calendar. Any student abating or otherwise assisting in such misconduct will also be subject to academic penalties. Violations of academic honesty include:

• Using unauthorized aids on a test (e.g., “cheat sheets”)

• Looking at someone else’s answers on a test

• Plagiarism (representing or submitting someone else’s words or work as your own)

• Making up sources or facts for an essay or report

• Falsifying official documents or grades

• Submitting the same essay or report in more than one course without permission

• Impersonating another person at an exam or test, or having someone impersonate you.

Students are assumed to be informed about plagiarism and are expected to be familiar the handout, titled "Plagiarism and Reference Format". How not to plagiarize, written by Margaret Procter (www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/using‐ sources/how‐not‐to‐plagiarize), is a valuable and succinct source of information on the topic.

You are also supposed to be familiar, and considered as being familiar, with the Faculty Rules and Regulations, Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters and Code of Student Conduct (see 2009‐2010 UTM Calendar), which spell out your rights, your duties and provide all the details on grading regulations and academic offenses at the University of Toronto”.

The University accommodates students with disabilities who have registered with the AccessAbility Resource Centre. For further information, please refer to the 2007‐08 UTM Calendar Section 6.3 AccessAbility Resource Centre. Please let me know in advance, preferably in the first week of class, if you will require any accommodation on these grounds. The UTM Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre offers both individual appointments and workshops for students having difficulty with reading and writing skills, and can be a valuable resource.
 * AccessAbility:**

You are expected to come to class on time, turn off cell phones and pagers, use laptops and lab computers for course‐related material, and act in a matter that does not disturb or interfere with other students' ability to learn. Due Dates and Lateness: For both individual and group assignments, you must submit assignments on the specified due dates. Make sure you are aware of due dates. Computer glitches are not valid excuses for a late assignment – make sure you back up your work and save it to multiple locations (e.g., USB keychain drives, email copies to yourself and others, etc.)
 * Professional Etiquette:**

You may submit work late, but the assignment will receive a 5% per day late penalty in fairness to those who have completed their work on time. This penalty is waived for those who are earnestly ill and produce a University of Toronto medical certificate. The certificate is available at:

[|http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/index.php?id=9027]

Prof. Jones at the earliest opportunity should you find yourself in this situation. Students who miss the final test will be assigned a mark of zero for that test unless they can document a compelling reason for missing it. If you find yourself in that position, you must submit a written request within one week of the missed test to Prof. Jones with appropriate medical documentation. If the request is accepted, a make‐up test will be scheduled in the spring reading week, as per UTM policy. Class, Reading and Assignment Schedule
 * //Late work//** is accepted until the length of time the evidence warrants. Please contact


 * SEPT. 10:**

Introduction to the course: What is meant by Critical Analysis of Media?

Lab: Wiki setup and comic exploration.


 * SEPT. 17:**

Understanding Mass and New Media

Manovich, L. (2001), New Media from Borges to HTML []

Lab: Are Video Games Mass Media?


 * SEPT. 24: Media and Genre**

Agre, P. (1998). Designing Genres for New Media: Social, Economic and Political Contexts []

Lab: Discussion of genre; graphic novel assignment discussion

Understanding Comics (McCloud, 1993)
 * OCT. 1: Comics as Genre**

Lab: McLuhan and Comics; Graphic Novel Analysis assignment assistance


 * OCT. 8: Audience Factors**
 * //GRAPHIC NOVEL ANALYSIS DUE//**

Anderson, C. (2006). The Rise and Fall of the Hit. Online: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.07/longtail.html Downes, D. (2000) The Resurrection of the Mass Audience in the New Media Economy. The Journal of Electronic Publishing. Volume 3. Issue 1 http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=jep;view=text;rgn=main;idno=3336451.0007.305

Lab: Mainstreaming of Second Life; Web Comics Assignment Intro

Examples from Comics: McCloud, S. (1993) Understanding Comics. McCloud, S. (2001). Coins of the Realm (I Can’t Stop Thinking #5, 6) http://scottmccloud.com/1‐webcomics/icst/icst‐5/icst‐5.html
 * OCT. 15: Economics of Media, Ownership and Control**

[]

Lab: Hollywood adaptions of comics; Comic Creation Assignment Discussion, Tips from McCloud’s Making Comics

Heath, J. & Potter A. (2002) The Rebel Sell. This Magazine, November http://www.thismagazine.ca/issues/2002/11/rebelsell.php Examples of Culture Jamming in Practice: []
 * OCT. 22: Culture Jamming/Social Influence**

Lab: Discussion of Culture Jamming Examples, group formation


 * OCT. 29: Propaganda, Truth and Objectivity**

Clips from OutFoxed, Daily Show and Network Kohut, A. (2000). Self‐ Censorship: Counting the Ways. Columbia Journalism Review, May/June. Online: http://archives.cjr.org/year/00/2/censorship.asp

Lab: Objectivity discussion ‐ Work time and advice on Comic Creation assignment, group formation


 * NOV. 5: Identity and Privacy**

(COMIC CREATION (#2) AND GROUP PROPOSALS FOR CULTURE JAMMING/SOCIAL INFLUENCE DUE)

Agre, P. (2001) Your face is not a barcode: Arguments against automatic face recognition in public places. http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/bar‐code.html McCorduck, P. (1996). Sex, Lies and Avatars, Wired Magazine, April http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.04/turkle.html Kennedy, H.W. (2002). Lara Croft: Feminist Icon or Cyberbimbo? Game Studies 2(2). http://www.gamestudies.org/0202/kennedy/

Lab: TBA


 * NOV. 12: Guest Lecture: Norman Valdez: Social Capital and Social Networks**

http://www.zengestrom.com/blog/2005/04/why_some_social.html

Lab: Social Networking Discussion


 * NOV. 19**

Lecture: Web 1.0 ­> 2.0 ­> 3.0 Trippi, J. (2003). The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, Chapter 1 http://joetrippi.com/?page_id=1379 Balter, D. (2004). The Word on Word of Mouth. http://www.changethis.com/7.WordOfMouth Newmark, C. (2005). Why Craigslist Works, by Craig. http://www.changethis.com/13.Craigslist

Lab: Coming changes in the semantic web; work time.


 * NOV. 26: Rise of the Conceptual Age­ and Exam Review**

CULTURE JAMMING/SOCIAL INFLUENCE PRESENTATIONS/PROJECTS DUE

Pink, D. (2005) Revenge of the Right Brain. Wired Magazine, February http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.02/brain.html McLeod, H. (2004). How To Be Creative http://www.changethis.com/6.HowToBeCreative

Lab: Presentation of Culture Jamming/Social Influence Projects


 * FINAL TEST IN UTM [|EXAM PERIOD], LOCATION/TIME TBA**