Note: For the written assignments clear and concise writing is expected. Spelling and grammatical errors will negatively affect the grade.

Assignment #1 Choose one of the following:

  1. Write a 2500 word essay on Space and Representation and email me the file by midnight on 9/15. Answer one or more of the following questions: (1) How can the construction and representation of space in media affect how people engage that media? (2) How does the representation of space in media affect how we think about, use and construct spaces and architectures in the real world? (3) How can the representation of space in a media artifact reinforce or weaken its intended message or intended reception, consider, for example political rallies, videogames, concerts, commercials, etc.? Refer to at least three media artifacts or events of your choice to illustrate your arguments. Quote statements from the assigned reading, or refer to topics from the class lecture, or other academic sources to support your arguments. This is 10% of your grade.
  2. Write a 2500 word essay of a Semiotic Analysis and email me the file by midnight on 9/15. Answer one or more of the following questions: (1) How does transcoding of a sign fail or succeed? Provide examples of failure, success and a draw, and argue why these were the results in each case. (2) How is race at least partially constructed through the signs of popular media? (3) How is the meaning of a sign fought over in popular media? Refer to at least three media artifacts or events of your choice to illustrate your arguments. Quote statements from the assigned reading, or the class lecture, or other academic sources to support your arguments. This is 10% of your grade.

Assignment #2 Choose one of the following:

  1. Write a 2300 to 2500 word essay on Reproduction and Aura and email me the file by 11:59pm on the night of 10/10. Respond to one or more of the following questions/statements: Is Benjamin's concept of aura still relevant in contemporary culture, why or why not? Describe a media event from any historical moment including our own where aura played a significant role in how the public interpreted it. Benjamin was talking about mechanical reproduction technologies (photography, phonographs, etc.), how have digital reproduction technologies (computer graphics, internet,YouTube, etc.) affected the sense of aura? Quote statements from the assigned reading, or the class lecture, or other academic sources to support your arguments. This is 10% of your grade.
  2. Write a 2300 to 2500 word essay on Reproduction and Freedom and email me the file by 11:59pm on the night of 10/10. Respond to one or more of the following questions/statements: Is Benjamin correct in his argument that mechanical reproduction generally leads toward a more critical mode (and less traditional mode) of media reception for the public? Why or why not? Does Benjamin's argument apply to digital reproduciton and production (where this is no original to copy from)? Why or why not? What changes, and what remains similar, if anything between these two formats? Refer to at least three media artifacts or events of your choice to illustrate your arguments. Quote statements from the assigned reading, Steal this Film II, the class lecture, or other academic sources to support your arguments. This is 10% of your grade.

Assignment #3: Create a propaganda poster due in-class 10/22. Argue a point of view or ideological position using visual media. There is no subject that is taboo for this assignment, for example, pro/anti abortion posters, pro/anti McCain or Obama, pro/anti offshore drilling, etc., are all acceptable. The poster can be ironic or straightforward. If you are especially brave you can address the "propaganda model" either for, against, or from another position in the poster. This is 10% of your grade. You have two choices as to the format of the poster. You may either:

  1. Create the poster in Photoshop or other image manipulation software. You may use, modify and mix images from the web, scan in images, or construct them from scratch. In this case you hand in a digital file.
  2. Construct the poster (make sure it is 2 by 3 feet or larger) by hand using any materials (collage, markers, photographs, etc.). In this case you hand in the hardcopy.
  3. Mix the two options above together, e.g., manipulate digital images and use them in a collage.

Assignment #4: Write a 2500 word essay on Postmodernism and email me the file by midnight on 11/12. Answer one or more of the following questions/statements: Are we still in a postmodern era, why or why not? How do certain artists or artistic practices reveal and illustrate postmodernity? Describe postmodernism in reference to the 2008 presidential campaign. How is metacommunication becoming more complex in postmodern culture? Cite at least 4 statements from the assigned readings, class lectures, or other academic sources (see Week 11 Readings) to support your arguments, and cite at least 3 media artifacts or events in your essays. This is 10% of your grade. Optional Challenge: construct your own novel media theory and/or terminology in your essay.

Assignment #5: Prepare a 5 minute oral report due in-class 12/1. You must email me before midnight on Friday 11/21 a paragraph description of what you plan to report on. Choose one or several media artifacts or media events from anytime and anywhere in world history. Analyze it in front of the class using any of the terms and concepts we have covered during the semester. You can expand upon any of your previous research for the class, especially your final essay on postmodernism. If you need to play a portion of a video it can play no longer than 30 seconds, which means you must speak for at least 4.5 minutes. If you feel this is too open-ended an assigment, contact me via email, or set up a meeting after class so we can discuss how you can best select the topic of your report. This is 30% of your grade.

Assignment #6: Participate in class discussions and be prepared to discuss the assigned readings. Due every class. This is 30% of your grade.

Extra Credit: During the semester there will be designated classes and portions of classes dedicated to in-class discussions. If the student brings in a media artifact or a record of a media event (video clip, newspaper article, website, etc.) and the student can make two critical insights on it, they will be awarded a 5% bump to their overall grade. The maximum extra credit each student can be awarded for the semester is 10%.