University and Society:

Course Focus:

Learning theories and arguments on:

Contradictions between academic ideals and learning on the one hand & media representation and popular culture on the other.

Assignments:Write two quizzes, Essay on a topic (term 1Part 1:; term 2 part II) (see the list of topics)EvaluationTerm 1 Choose a Topic:Part I: Peer reviewed literature 20%

In-class multiple choice test 10%Class participation 15%

sub-total 45%

Term 2:

Part II: Final essay (see guidelines) 25%(includes 5% for conceptual framework)

Essay presentation 10%In-class multiple choice test 10%Class participation 10%

sub-total 55%

Grand Total 100%

Essay: Choose your topic from the list Should address the following question:

Why and how are there contradictions between popular cultural representations (on gender, race, intelligence, jobs, etc.,) and the academic ideals, values & views learned/ taught in the university?

Readings, lectures, visual materials, concepts and theories

1. Will be on the tests

2. Are to be integrated into your essay

One Course kit (for term 1 & 2) is available in York Book Store.

*October 1: library session arranged specially for you: 11:30-12:30, in Room 531 Scott Library- attendance required. Select your topic in the first two weeks of classes and get my approval on its feasibility

*Write a brief paragraph (max150 words) explaining your focus and e-mail it to me by Oct 8.

Watch for weekly postings of materials on course web www.yorku.ca/rajagopa

Weekly class readings are posted on our course webpage.In class discussions and the essay, the main focus will be: 1. Applying Foucault’s arguments to the university as a

social institution: what is Foucault’s view of society?2. Examining how the university is portrayed in the

popular cultural (movies, media, etc.) vis-à-vis critical culture (e.g., cartoons, lyrics, etc) .

3. How do powerful social forces, e.g. media, society, workplace, etc., shape the university’s administration, faculty and students.

What is higher education doing with a corporate business paradigm of profit? Sample essay topics on this issue:

• Commodification of knowledge• Students’ views on education and work• University and corporate interests• American cultural hegemony• Who controls Knowledge: the State or

Corporations?• Role of technology in commodification

Commodification: Is Higher education: a market "product“ to be "consumed“ ?

How has commodification influenced the values of education? • Educational content has been profoundly changed delivering consumer satisfaction• Commodity• Branded. • Sponsored research • Distance education • “Click” universities generate no peer effects.

How does commodification influence the values of education?

Popular media examples- Hollywood movies:The Class (1985); Doctors (1988); Harvard students; Stealing Harvard; Legally Blonde; Gilmore Girls; The Firm; The Paper Chase; Good Will Hunting; With Honors; How High; Soul Man; and Harvard Man.http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080613013914AAM9A3p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmJD7_ueDLc stealing harvard

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/284797/Homeless-to-Harvard-The-Liz-Murray-Story/overview

Harvard man http://www.metacritic.com/movie/harvard-man/trailers/1083121

Harvard beats Yale http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2571100/harvard_beats_yale_29_29_movie_trailer/

http://www.starpulse.com/Movies/Harvard_Man/Great_Film_Moments/

Social network http://www.slashfilm.com/movie-trailer-the-social-network/

Critical media examples: 1.Cartoons

2. Other reality sources: Reliable statistics

http://www.cartoonstock.com/_

http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/

Part 1: Theories & arguments from litt. (from peer reviewed articles) on issues related to higher ed.

P 1 & 2: Values taught in the university vs. popular cultural views

e.g.: Is Information society being turned into a ‘house of certainty’?

Is Information society being turned into a ‘house of certainty’?

P1: Values taught in universites: privacy, freedom and security of self

P2: How are these compromised/expanded by ICT and the Web?

Is Information society being turned into a ‘house of certainty’? P 1: Peer reviewed articles found e-resources in the library (scholar’s portal)argument: Do Social Media lead to control over its users P2: Does IT maintain or compromise ethics, identity, private and personal information?

Privacy, Prurience And Internet Technologies: Globalization Of VoyeurismDownloadable Kindle book on Amazon.com

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/02/16/google-s-orwell-moment.html