1 of 17 4/15/2010 2:32 PM Fall 2009 Ford 201 1250-220pm TTh Prof. Sammy Basu Office: Smullin 317 Hours: TTH 9-1100am TTH or by appointment. sbasu@willamette.edu Warning, Warning, Warning, COURSE DESCRIPTION: 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 publish these writings on-line. Prerequisite: two Politics classes; closed to first-years COURSE OBJECTIVES: 1. To study political humor in various historical modes and literary genres. 2. To interpret the constraints and opportunities faced by different political positions and ideological perspectives in their use of humor. 3. To cultivate and write humorous political discourse of one s own. 4. To use information technologies and digital video for research and presentation purposes
2 of 17 4/15/2010 2:32 PM COURSE EVALUATION COMPONENTS: (5%) Introductory quiz on humor, political theory and democratic theory (50%) Writing assignments (10%) Web page design and maintenance (all writing assignments must be posted online) (20%) Class participation informed by scheduled reading (seat time is not participation) (15%) Cumulative Final Exam 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. TEXTS: Simon Critchley, On Humour (2002) Aristophanes, Lysistrata (5 th 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 (2004) On reserve 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.
3 of 17 4/15/2010 2:32 PM SCHEDULE DATE SUBJECT T (1 Sept) Introduction Warning Do not take this course, no really. Humor Today - Political humor (About.com) - Laugh lines (NYT) Can We Laugh? Yes, We Can (NYT 11/18/08) Obama, Funny How? (NYT 8/6/09) Analyzing Examples Th (3 Sept) Examples again, Theories of Humor, Vocabulary, Laughter Critchley, On Humor, pp.1-9. How to be funny (NYT 11/12/06) T (8 Sept) Political Theory, Democracy, Deliberation, Discourse,
4 of 17 4/15/2010 2:32 PM Jurgen Habermas. 1996. "Three Normative Models of Democracy," in Democracy and Difference. Ed. S Benhabib. Princeton: Princeton UP, pp.21-30 on reserve J.C. Meyer. 2000. "Humor as a double-edged sword: four functions of humor in communication." Communication Theory, 10, 3, 310-331. On reserve Critchley, On Humor, pp.9-22. Th (10 Sept) T (15 Sept) QUIZ Cartoon caption alternatives Writing and writing checklist New Yorker cartoon caption contest Robert Mankoff s New Yorker Cartoon Taxonomy Webpages, WITS web-page making Last Day to Add/Drop Aristophanes. 2003 [5 th BCE]. Lysistrata. Violence and Gender Justice Th (17 Sept) Old Comedy, History of Theater - From Satyr Play to Comedy (10 min) Background, Theatre UAF production of Lysistrata directed by Thomas Riccio (2002, Eng) Omniprop production (Aus) Trailer de la película Lisistrata (2006, Sp film)
5 of 17 4/15/2010 2:32 PM Ending of theatral piece Lisistrata, by I POLIEDRICI, Urbino. (2006, It) PBS doco on Lys Lysistrata Staging for PBS Lysistrata: Female Power & Democracy Lysistrata Staging - men learn to fight women How the Lysistrata Phallus Works in UAF "Dick" and "Jane" in Lysistrata at UAF 2002 Lysistrata d'aristophane à Épidaure. Where Is Lysistrata Now That We Need Her? Judith Hicks Stiehm (1/23/2008) Lysistrata Project site Operation Lysistrata Bushwhacked (2004) why women aren t funny (2007) Aristophanes by Bretton Hall School of Dance and Theatre, UK (opening 3.30 minutes) Aristophanes, entire On A Discuss Lysistrata Q on Aristophanes Lysistrata Staging - women swear off men Lysistrata Canada Fringe 2009 Lysistrata City Lights Theatre Lysistrata - Swear to Abstain From Sex! in UAF Aristophanes by Bretton Hall School of Dance and Theatre, UK (latter 4 minutes) Th (24 Sept) Discuss Lysistrata Male Chorus Wearing Phalii in Lysistrata in UAF Ending in UAF production Is Female Leadership Scary? PBS
6 of 17 4/15/2010 2:32 PM T (29 Sept) Due: Assignment 1 Swift, Jonathan. 1996 [1729]. A Modest Proposal and Other Satirical Works. Class and Economic Justice Th (1 Oct) Satire, Background, Jonathan Swift "Market Women's Cries" Poem Animation Discuss, pp.1-2, 41-51 Swift, pp.1-2, 41-51 T (6 Oct) HipHop version of MP Cartoon inspired by MP Discuss, pp.52-9, Q on Modest Proposal Poor workhouses Swift, pp.52-9, Th (8 Oct) Due: Assignment 2 Bierce, Ambrose. 1993 [1790s]. The Devil's Dictionary. Language and Verbal Justice T (13 Oct) History Trailer for Ambrose Bierce Civil War Stories (2min) Early adopter of the TypeWriter Don Swaim s Ambrose Bierce Site The AmbroseBierce Project Discuss
7 of 17 4/15/2010 2:32 PM Bierce, entire Th (15 Oct) T (20 Oct) George Lakoff, The Politics of Language (Speech to Commonwealth Club, 65 min) Discuss Due: Assignment 3 Lewis, C.S. 2001 [1942]. The Screwtape Letters. Religion and Divine Justice Th (22 Oct) Religion and Humor, Puritanism, cs lewis, Rowan Atkinson Welcome to Hell Focus on the Family Radio version FPATheatre production The Real Narnia (TLS, 21/10/2009) Lewis, pp.53-61 T (27 Oct) Discuss Th (29 Oct) Lewis, pp.1-52, 63-91 Discuss How would Lewis s 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? Is there laughter in Heaven? What about in Hell? Why does Lewis write this sort of book even as the British are fighting the Nazis? What are the targets of Lewis s use of humor? What sort of views is Lewis defending or affirming? Locate moments that strike you as funny. Lewis, pp.93-209
8 of 17 4/15/2010 2:32 PM Lewis talks T (3 Nov) Due: Assignment 4 Making Digital Soiled Shorts On Race/Ethnicity and Social Justice in America CNN Report sees 'sobering statistics' on racial inequality (Mar 25, 2009). ACLU Campaign against Racial profiling The white racial frame Th (5 Nov) Digital Video, photo-essay, etc. Examples Concept, Storyboard, Script Lego - Bible, Guantanamo Narratech comic storytelling Photo-essay Poetry Animation Food fight Morpheus $ Videogame mods GIJoe mods Veepers talking mods Digitalstory-telling with imovie4 Short activity Imovie at a glance 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. NYPost chimp cartoon cartoons Last Day to Withdraw
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Alcaraz, Lalo. 2004. Migra Mouse: Political Cartoons on Immigration. Migration, Multiculturalism and Civic Justice T (10 Nov) Film: Alcaraz presentation at WU (2003) Discuss Alcaraz, entire 11 of 17 4/15/2010 2:32 PM
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14 of 17 4/15/2010 2:32 PM Th (12 Nov) Peer and faculty project review
15 of 17 4/15/2010 2:32 PM T (17 Nov) No Class: Meet in project groups Th (19 Nov) No Class: Meet in project groups T (24 Nov) Due: Assignment 5: Digital Project Screenings Jus Sayin Brett D. Cliff B Kris S download 3 rd item or here (3.03) Fish Sticks Productions Christian E Sara Dinovi Charlie Sandbo Hemorrhaging Heart Liberals Michael M Alex B Tony H Ryan B Two Whites and One Caucasian Michael E John L Brandon P click white bar to make larger (4.09) OR HERE (5.25) (8.00) Th (26 Nov) No class, watch for your edification Laughing with Hilter (2007) (1 Hr Documentary) T (1 Dec) Bloody Cartoons (2007) (1 Hr Documentary)
16 of 17 4/15/2010 2:32 PM Or Lalo Alcaraz presentation Th (3 Dec) Guest Speaker Amanda Koster bio Salaamgarage Th (3 Dec) Digital Storytelling Showcase in Ford Hall, screening Room with Amanda Koster 4:30pm to 7pm T (8 Dec) Discuss Critchley, On Humor, pp.25-76. Th (10 Dec) Democracy and Humor Critchley, On Humor, pp.79-111. M (14 Dec) FINAL EXAM 2-5 pm
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