ISP 102
Explore Chicago: Underground Culture in Chicago
Autumn 2006
Dr.
Daniel Makagon Student
Leader: Sarissa Harris
Office: SAC 596 sarissaharris@yahoo.com
Office Hours: F 12:00-1:00 and by
appointment
Phone: 773-325-7376 Staff
Assistant: Jen Weed
e-mail: dmakagon@depaul.edu jweed@depaul.edu
http://www.communication.depaul.edu/dmakagon/
Course Objectives
Chicago, like other large cities, has been a magnet for artists, musicians, writers, and performers. Some of these people consider the city to be a site that will facilitate fame and fortune. Others view the city as an environment that fosters cultural production that is grounded in community building and social connection. The link between creativity and the city has been a central feature of urban political discourse in recent years, as governors, mayors, and city council members have worked to lure creative people to their states and cities. In an effort to understand better how creative cultural production is central to Chicago (spatially and symbolically), this course will focus on contemporary forms of underground (or bohemian) culture in Chicago. We will explore the ways in which various underground cultural practices function as both important sources of local identity and an opportunity to put Chicago on a larger creative map. Students will study a range of underground cultural practices in Chicago (e.g., alternative rock, punk, rap, and techno music production and night clubs), alternative media outlets (e.g., radio stations and fanzines), and public art (e.g., graffiti and murals). Additionally, we will investigate how underground cultural producers develop relationships with city officials or resist official forms of support (and in some cases, co-optation). The course will ultimately introduce students to a variety of theoretical issues about urban life, communication and culture, city politics, and community as well as the aesthetic and business practices of people who are involved with such issues vis-a-vis the production of culture in Chicago.
Required
Texts
All course readings are accessible
via a password protected Web site. You are required to print each day's reading
and bring the article with you to class.
http://condor.depaul.edu/~dmakagon/student/
Course Assignments
Class Participation 10% ____(pts.)
X .10 = ______
Reading Quizzes 20% ____(pts.)
X .20 = ______
Spirit of the Place Paper 35% ____(pts.)
X .35 = ______
Zine Contribution/Presentation 35% ____(pts.)
X .35 = ______
Final Grade= ____________
You are
required to complete the reading assignments before you attend class. This will lead to more fruitful
discussion.
Spirit of the Place Paper
This
assignment emphasizes building an interpretation from looking and listening.
Your goal is to document in 3-5 pages a place where underground culture is
thriving. You will attend and assess a local
underground cultural site (e.g., a club, gallery, social space) and analyze the
cultural practices that take shape in that place. In general, you should
discuss what happens there, the kind of people who gather there, the level of
participation among the spectators, and then assess the site. You can work with
a partner on the research, although you would each write your own papers. A
full description of the assignment is available in the folder that contains
pdfs for this class.
Zine Contribution and Presentation
For
this group assignment you will contribute to a course e-zine. Your contribution
will take the form of an essay but might also include other materials (e.g.,
photographs, drawings, copies of flyers, poetry, and other creative
expressions). Our zine will cover contemporary (and historical) underground
culture in Chicago. We will discuss topic options in the fifth week. A full description
of this assignment is available in the folder that contains pdfs for this
class.
Reading Quizzes
Quizzes
will feature a mix of short answer and multiple-choice (in-class) and reading
response essay (take-home) questions. The quizzes will allow me to gauge how
well you understand the arguments made in the readings. Unlike your papers and
class discussion, where I am interested in your opinions about the issues and
the strength of the writer's argument(s), the quizzes are designed for you to
state the author's argument only. In other words, I am not striving to
understand what you think about the issues; rather, I am interested in how well
you understand the construction of the author's argument. If we do not
understand what s/he's saying then our critique of her/his work will not be
properly grounded. Possible points for each quiz question will be listed after
the question (usually 10 or 20 points per question for short answer 2-5 points
per question for multiple choice). Answers will be graded based on your ability
to clearly summarize the author's argument(s) and use examples from the reading
to support your answer(s).
Course Policies
Promptness is expected as a general rule. If you are consistently
late to class your grade will be negatively affected.
Attendance
and Active Participation are expected
and required. If you miss more than two class sessions (which is the equivalent
of 2 weeks of classes), you will receive an "F" in the class (even
if the absences are excused). Missing this many class sessions (more than
20% of the term) undermines the integrity of the classroom experience. If
you miss this much class because of illness or a family emergency, you should
meet with the Dean of Students to discuss withdrawal options.
All
assignments are due on assigned days and in class. There will be NO MAKE-UPS. Documented illness or documented emergencies are the only
exception to this policy. Changes in work schedules, personal celebrations
(e.g., birthdays), assignments due in other classes, etc. are NOT considered to
be legitimate reasons for missing deadlines or class meetings. If you miss a
quiz and have documentation for your absence then you will take the quiz on the
next date you attend class. Similarly, if you have an excused absence for a class
session when you would turn in a paper then you can give me the paper on the
next date you attend class. (Note: If you will be missing a class because of a
religious holiday, let me know in writing at least two weeks before the holiday
so we can make arrangements to make up missed work.)
Students
with disabilities should provide me with documentation from the Office of
Students with Disabilities.
If you
have a cellular phone, turn it off during class sessions. Plagiarism will be
discussed below but for now you should note that all cell phones must be put
away during quizzes and you should not be sending or reading text messages
during class sessions.
You
must make sure your preferred email address listed in Campus Connect is correct
and make sure emails from me will pass through any spam blockers. I will only
send email to you from dmakagon@depaul.edu.
Written Assignment Requirements
All
papers should be typed, double-spaced throughout the entire essay, and use a
consistent style (e.g., MLA, APA, etc.). Use one-inch margins and 12-point
font. Do not send me electronic copies of your work. See the syllabus addendum
(available in the folder that contains pdfs for this class) for a description
of my grading policies and expectations as well as further details on written
assignments.
For assistance with your writing,
contact or visit the Writing Center: Lincoln Park at 802 W. Belden, 150 McGaw
Hall, 773-325-4272 and The Loop at 25 E. Jackson, 1620 Lewis Center,
312-362-6726. wcenter@depaul.edu.
I have often found that plagiarism becomes tempting if
students are feeling pressured. Remember, when in doubt quote. If you are
quoting somebody directly then you need to list the information within quotation
marks and cite a page number. If you are paraphrasing then you need to cite
the person and a page number. Never copy and paste entire documents into your
paper and do not quote others to the point where your ideas become indistinguishable
from your source's ideas. There is no reason to plagiarize given the resources
available to you (e.g., opportunities to meet with me; coaches in the writing
center; my handout on writing for the class; and DePaul's policy on academic
integrity, which can be found at http://studentaffairs.depaul.edu/handbook/code16.html).
If you do plagiarize, you will automatically receive a grade of "F"
in this class. Moreover, the Academic Affairs office will be contacted.
Grade Scale
A 94-100 B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69 F 59 and below
A- 90-93 B 83-86 C 73-76 D 63-66
B- 80-82 C- 70-72 D- 60-62