Spring AY2020

Introduction to Cultural Studies
Registration Code0055421

Course Category

Arts Liberal

Term (Semester) / Day / Period

G-II (1st year, Spring Semester) / Fri. / 4 (14:45～16:15)

Instructor

MC GEE Dylan Patrick

Target Schools (Programs)

Hu(J)･La(S)･Ec(S)･Sc(P･C･B)･En(P･C･Au)･Ag(B)

Credits

2.0●Goals and Objectives of the Course
This course is designed to introduce students to basic concepts in the study of culture. Our discussions will be
guided by two fundamental questions—namely, what is culture? And secondly, how can the study of culture
enhance our understanding of human society, both present and past? Working within this framework, students
will be challenged to think critically and analytically about issues in the study of culture. All readings andviewings for this course will be in English translation. No proficiency in Japanese or previous background in
the humanities is required.
●Course Prerequisites

None●Course Contents/PlanWeek 1: Course Overview
Week 2: Psychoanalysis and Cultural Theory
Week 3: Marxist Cultural Theory
Week 4: Marxist Cultural Theory
Week 5: Post-Structuralism
Week 6: Semiotics
Week 7: Postmodernism
Week 8: Postmodernism
Week 9: Gender and Sexuality
Week 10: Contemporary Subcultures
Week 11: Contemporary Subcultures
Week 12: New Media and Convergence Culture
Week 13: Contemporary Visual Culture
Week 14: Culture and Soft Power
Week 15: Conclusions●Course Evaluation Methods
The final grade for the course will be determined according to five categories of assessment, outlined below.
Participation (25%) will be assessed on perceived mastery of the course material, as demonstrated in classdiscussions and in-class exercises. Quizzes (25%) based on readings and covered in class will be administered
six times over the course of the material semester, as indicated on the schedule. Of these six, the top five quiz
grades will be calculated towards the final quiz grade. Students will have the first ten minutes of class to workon quizzes; students who arrive ten or more minutes late to class will forfeit their grade for that quiz. There will
be no make-up quizzes. The Final Exam (30%), to be held on the final day of class, will be comprised of tenquestions, to be chosen from a pool of twelve. A study guide for the exam will be posted in early July. Lastly,
students will compose a brief Final Essay (20%), roughly 1200-1500 words in length, based on a topic related
to the course material. Paper topics and assignment description will be posted in late May; essays will be due inhard copy on the final day of class.

Spring AY2020% of grade
Class Participation

25%

Quizzes25%

Final Essay

20%

Final Exam

30%

Letter Grade Conversions
90-100S80-89

A

70-79

B

60-69

C<60F

●Notice for Students1) I am committed to making this course a rewarding academic experience for you, and not simply another“required” course. Please feel free to approach me after class or during my scheduled office hours (TBA)
if you have questions about the material, assigned projects, or other, related concerns. If you contact me bye-mail, please allow 24 hours for a reply.
2) This course will be taught in the manner of an interactive lecture, with a high level of student participation.
You are encouraged to ask questions, debate meanings, and offer your own insights as we engage in livelydiscussion about the study of culture.
3) Attendance and punctuality are critical to your success in this course. Please arrive to class on time, andprepared to engage in class discussions and other in-class exercises. Excessive absenteeism and tardinesswill result in a reduction of your final grade.
4) Courtesy: In order to create a comfortable learning environment for all, students are expected to observe a
few rules of common courtesy in class. Please do not hold private conversations with neighbors duringclass discussions or lectures. Please turn off mobile phones, portable video game players, and otherelectronic devices before entering the classroom. If you need to use a computer for note-taking, accessing
online readings or viewing of presentations, please be discrete. Students found using computers
inappropriately during class will be prohibited from using them for the remainder of the semester.
5) Academic Integrity: Students in this course are expected to abide by basic tenets of academic integrity.
Specific guidelines will be given before exams, written reports, and other exercises to clarify what thisentails in concrete terms. Additionally, a detailed rubric describing standards for citation and other aspectsof academic writing will be provided to students on the first day of class. Students with questions about
what constitutes plagiarism, for example, are welcome to discuss them with me at any point before or
during the writing process. Any student found guilty of cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic
dishonesty will be held accountable for their actions. Particularly serious breaches of academic integrity
will result in a failing grade for the entire course, and in some cases, all courses taken in a given semester.
6) Permission to Enroll in the Course: Students who would like to enroll in the course after the semester has
begun should contact me no later than April 27th to express their interest. Permission will be granted tostudents who have attended at least one of the first three class meetings.
7) Notification of Course Withdrawal: Students who choose to withdraw from the course must submit therequired “Course Withdrawal Request Form” by the designated deadline. Failure to submit this form may
result in a final grade of “F” for the course.

Textbook
Reference Book
Reference website
MessageNo required textbooks to purchase. All readings will be made available on the firstday of class.
List of relevant reference materials will be made available on the first day of class.