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Poli 311 Fall
2009 Ford 201 1250-220pm
TTh |
Writing Political Humor |
Prof. Sammy Basu
Office:
Smullin 317
Hours:
TTH
9-1100am TTH or by appointment.
sbasu@willamette.edu |
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COURSE
DESCRIPTION: |
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This
course explores the perils and possibilities involved in writing political
humor. It surveys selectively
the history of political humor from Homer to Homer Simpson, from the Athenian
Old Comedy of Aristophanes to contemporary political films and cartoons. Of particular interest is the
shifting relationship between humorous discourse and the viability of
democratic institutions, culture, and cognitive practices. Students will write political humor
of their own in a variety of genres and ÔpublishÕ these writings on-line. |
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Prerequisite:
two Politics classes; closed to first-years |
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COURSE
OBJECTIVES: |
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1. |
To study political humor in various historical modes
and literary genres. |
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2. |
To interpret the constraints and opportunities
faced by different political positions and ideological perspectives in their
use of humor. |
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3. |
To cultivate and write humorous political
discourse of oneÕs own. |
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4. |
To use information technologies and digital
video for research and presentation purposes |
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COURSE EVALUATION
COMPONENTS: |
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(5%) |
Introductory
quiz on humor, political theory and democratic theory |
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(50%) |
Writing
assignments |
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(10%) |
Web page design
and maintenance (all writing assignments must
be posted online) |
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(20%) |
Class
participation informed by scheduled reading (seat time is not
participation) |
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(15%) |
Cumulative Final
Exam |
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All components must
be passed to pass the course. Late penalties
will be assigned. If
you believe that you may have a disability requiring accommodation, please
contact Disability
Services, Baxter Hall, Phone: (503) 370-6471, (TT) (503) 375-5383. Retroactive
accommodation will not be possible. |
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TEXTS: |
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Simon Critchley,
On Humour (2002) |
Aristophanes, Lysistrata (5th
BCE) |
Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal and Other
Satirical Works (1729) |
Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's
Dictionary (1790s) |
Lewis, C.S., The Screwtape
Letters (1942) |
Lalo Alcaraz, Migra Mouse On reserve |
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Unless otherwise
indicated all books above are available at the WU bookstore. If you buy
elsewhere please ensure that you obtain the same edition. All other secondary
readings will be accessible online through the course web-page and/or on
electronic reserve. |
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SCHEDULE |
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DATE |
SUBJECT |
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T (1 Sept) |
Introduction - Political humor (About.com) - Laugh lines (NYT) ÒCan We Laugh? Yes, We CanÓ (NYT 11/18/08) Obama, ÒFunny
How?Ó (NYT 8/6/09) |
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Analyzing Examples |
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Th (3 Sept) |
Examples again, Theories of Humor , Laughter |
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Read: Critchley, On Humor,
pp.1-9. |
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How to be funny (NYT 11/12/06) |
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T (8 Sept) |
Political Theory, Democracy, Deliberation, Discourse, |
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Read: on reserve |
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J.C. Meyer.
2000. "Humor as a double-edged sword: four functions of humor in
communication." Communication Theory, 10, 3, 310-331. On reserve |
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Critchley, On Humor,
pp.9-22. |
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Th (10 Sept) |
QUIZ |
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T (15 Sept) |
New Yorker cartoon caption contest Robert MankoffÕs
New Yorker Cartoon Taxonomy |
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WITS web-page
making |
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Last Day to Add/Drop
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Aristophanes. 2003 [5th
BCE]. Lysistrata. Violence and Gender Justice |
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Th (17 Sept) |
Old Comedy, History of Theater - From Satyr Play to Comedy
(10 min) Theatre UAF
production of Lysistrata directed by Thomas Riccio (2002, Eng) Omniprop
production (Aus) Trailer de la
pel’cula Lisistrata (2006, Sp film) Ending of
theatral piece Lisistrata, by I POLIEDRICI, Urbino. (2006, It) |
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"Dick"
and "Jane" in Lysistrata at UAF 2002 |
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ÒWhere
Is Lysistrata Now That We Need Her?Ó Judith Hicks Stiehm (1/23/2008) |
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Lysistrata Project site |
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Operation Lysistrata |
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Bushwhacked (2004) |
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Ôwhy
women arenÕt funnyÕ (2007) |
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Aristophanes by Bretton
Hall School of Dance and Theatre, UK (opening 3.30 minutes) |
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Read: |
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Aristophanes,
entire |
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On A |
Discuss
Lysistrata |
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Lysistrata
– City Lights Theatre |
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Lysistrata -
Swear to Abstain From Sex! in UAF |
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Aristophanes by
Bretton Hall School of Dance and Theatre, UK (latter 4 minutes) |
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Th (24 Sept) |
Discuss
Lysistrata |
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Ending in UAF
production |
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T (29 Sept) |
Due:
Assignment 1 |
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Swift, Jonathan. 1996 [1729]. A Modest Proposal and Other Satirical Works. Class and Economic Justice |
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Th (1 Oct) |
Background, |
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Read: Swift, pp.1-2,
41-51 |
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T (6 Oct) |
HipHop version of MP Cartoon inspired
by MP Discuss, pp.52-9, |
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Read: Swift, pp.52-9, |
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Th (8 Oct) |
Due:
Assignment 2 |
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Bierce, Ambrose. 1993
[1790s]. The Devil's Dictionary. Language and Verbal
Justice |
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T (13 Oct) |
Trailer for Ambrose Bierce Civil War
Stories (2min) Early adopter of the TypeWriter Don SwaimÕs Ambrose Bierce Site The AmbroseBierce Project Discuss |
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Read: Bierce, entire |
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Th (15 Oct) |
George Lakoff, The
Politics of Language (Speech to Commonwealth Club, 65 min) |
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T (20 Oct) |
Discuss Due:
Assignment 3 |
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Lewis, C.S. 2001 [1942]. The Screwtape Letters. Religion and Divine Justice |
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Th (22 Oct) |
Puritanism, Rowan Atkinson Welcome to Hell Focus on the
Family Radio version FPATheatre production The
Real Narnia (TLS, 21/10/2009) |
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Read: Lewis, pp.53-61 |
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T (27 Oct) |
Discuss |
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Read: Lewis, pp.1-52,
63-91 |
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Th (29 Oct) |
Discuss How would
LewisÕs 4-fold categorization of the causes of laughter fit in relation to
the 4-fold account of humor given at the start of this course? |
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Is there
laughter in Heaven? What about in Hell? |
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Why does Lewis write
this sort of book even as the British are fighting the Nazis? |
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What are the
targets of LewisÕs use of humor? |
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What sort of
views is Lewis defending or affirming? |
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Locate moments
that strike you as funny. |
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Read: Lewis, pp.93-209 |
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Lewis talks |
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T (3 Nov) |
Due:
Assignment 4 |
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Making Digital Soiled Shorts On Race/Ethnicity
and Social Justice in America |
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CNN Report
sees 'sobering statistics' on racial inequality (Mar 25, 2009). ACLU Campaign
against Racial profiling |
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Th (5 Nov) |
Digital Video, photo-essay, etc. Examples Concept, Storyboard, Script |
Digitalstory-telling
with imovie4 |
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Lego - Bible, Guantanamo Narratech –comic
storytelling Videogame mods GIJoe mods Veepers talking mods |
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Show at Rogers Seattle artist Dennis Raines entitled
"The Sordid Life of Toys," which is on view in the Roger W. Rogers
Gallery in the Rogers Music Hall. This exhibition, curated by Studio Art
Professor Andries Fourie. Raines uses close-up photographs of plastic
toy figures to explore the tension between the innocent optimism of childhood
and the disenchantment of adulthood. |
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NYPost chimp
cartoon |
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Last Day to Withdraw |
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Alcaraz, Lalo. 2004. Migra Mouse: Political Cartoons on Immigration. Migration,
Multiculturalism and Civic Justice |
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T (10 Nov) |
Film: Alcaraz presentation at WU
(2003) Discuss |
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Read: Alcaraz, entire |
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Th (12 Nov) |
Peer and faculty
project review |
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T (17 Nov) |
No Class: Meet
in project groups |
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Th (19 Nov) |
No Class: Meet
in project groups |
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T (24 Nov) |
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Screenings |
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JusÕ SayinÕ Brett D . Cliff B Kris S |
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Fish Sticks Productions Christian E |
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Hemorrhaging
Heart Liberals Michael M Alex B Tony H Ryan B |
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Two Whites and One Caucasian Michael E John L Brandon P |
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Th (26 Nov) No
class, watch for your edification |
Laughing with Hilter |
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T (1 Dec) |
Bloody Cartoons |
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Th (3 Dec) |
Discuss |
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Read: Critchley, On Humor, pp.25-76. |
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F (4 Dec) |
Digital
Storytelling Showcase in Ford Hall, screening
Room |
4:30pm to 7pm |
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T (8 Dec) |
Discuss |
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Read: Critchley, On Humor, pp.79-111. |
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Th (10 Dec) |
Democracy and
Humor |
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M (14 Dec) |
FINAL EXAM |
2-5 pm |
