Below I am sharing my MayX (2 credit undergraduate) course I will be offering in about a month.
The course grew out of the following post based on the series WandaVision: Teaching WandaVision: A Textset on Pastiche.
See Also
A Vision of Being Human: “Am I normal?”
EDU 116 – WandaVision: Pastiche, Past, and Present
“The law is meant to be my servant and not my master, still less my torturer and my murderer.” — James Baldwin. The Nation. July 11, 1966.
Equity, Anti-Racism, and Anti-Bias Statement
#BlackLivesMatter
In my teaching, scholarship, public writing, and life, I am fully committed to racial, gender, and all forms of equity not yet realized throughout the U.S. and world. While academic spaces are often intellectually challenging and even uncomfortable, I will not tolerate in any aspect of this course language, ideas, or behavior/symbolism that are hostile to marginalized/oppressed groups (racism, sexism/misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, etc.).
Academic freedom for students and professors is tethered to consequences, and is not license. (See Free Speech and Diversity of Thought?)
Students uncertain about what language and ideas are not acceptable because they are hostile or offensive are invited to discuss those questions with me privately and are guaranteed those exchanges will be treated confidentially and respectfully. I am eager to share evidence, research, and reading to help anyone better understand goals of equity, anti-racism, and anti-bias (see materials in Box, Race and Racism).
If you witness or experience any form of bias, please report here:
Course Overview
Catalogue Description
This MayX will explore reconsidering the past through the present by viewing the 9-episode series WandaVision (and other texts), which incorporates pastiche as a technique to reflect and challenge the sit-com genre. Students will apply critical media literacy strategies to explore pop culture and apply those strategies to understanding public and popular controversies in K-12 education. An active subscription to Disney+ during MayX is required.
Course Topics
Critical media literacy/ K-12 educational controversies
Pastiche
History/teaching history
Pop culture/Marvel Cinematic Universe/sitcoms
Race/gender
Course Texts
Vision: The Complete Collection (graphic novel)
WandaVision (series)
Pleasantville (film)
Sitcom episodes (TBD)
Brief readings (TBD; see schedule)
Course Objectives
- Understanding and application of the concept of “pastiche” in media and pop culture
- Understanding and application critical media literacy strategies
- Awareness of educational controversies (for example, Critical Race Theory, the 1619 Project)
- Understanding of the field of history (relationship of past and present) and the teaching of history
- Understanding of the essential aspects of liberal arts education
- Reconsideration of race and gender in history and pop culture
Assignments
- Read Vision (before class sessions) and submit reflections* per schedule below
- View WandaVision episodes (before class sessions) and submit reflections* focusing on pastiche technique in each episode
- Independent Project – critical analysis of one episode of a classic sit-com referenced in WandaVision after series viewing (PP and class presentation)
- Group Activity – viewing Pleasantville (film) for in-class critical analysis in groups
- Final Portfolio Submission (all assignments resubmitted in Box folder)
* Written reflections should be submitted per the daily schedule below. Submit each reflection pasted into email (not attached) and include the reflection number (see schedule) in the “subject” line of the email. Due before each class session by schedule.
Schedule (Meeting 9 am -12 pm)
Week 1
May 11
Course Overview and Assignments
Read Vision (before class sessions) and submit reflections per schedule below
View WandaVision episodes (before class sessions) and submit reflections focusing on pastiche technique in each episode
Independent project – critical analysis of one episode of a classic sit-com referenced in WandaVision after series viewing (PP and class presentation)
Group activity – viewing Pleasantville (film) for in-class critical analysis in groups
May 12
Intro – Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU); Sitcoms; Pastiche (Postmodern Use of Parody and Pastiche, Nasrullah Mambrol)
Critical Media Literacy – Teachable Moment: Fake News and Critical Media Literacy
Rethinking the past through the present? – Dismantling Monuments: History as a Living Document
May 13
Intro – Wanda and Vision
Teaching WandaVision: A Textset on Pastiche
Week 2
May 16
Vision 1-3 (reading and reflection DUE before class) discussion
May 17
Vision 4-6 (reading and reflection DUE before class) discussion
May 18
Vision 7-9 (reading and reflection DUE before class) discussion
May 19
Vision 10-12 (reading and reflection DUE before class) discussion
May 20
NO CLASS SESSION
Week 3
May 23
WandaVision E1 – Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience
WandaVision E2 – Don’t Touch That Dial
(Viewing and reflection DUE before class)
May 24
WandaVision E3 – Now in Color
WandaVision E4 – We Interrupt This Program
WandaVision E5 – On a Very Special Episode…
(Viewing and reflection DUE before class)
May 25
WandaVision E6 – All-New Halloween Spooktacular!
WandaVision E7 – Breaking the Fourth Wall
WandaVision E8 – Previously On
(Viewing and reflection DUE before class)
May 26
WandaVision E9 – The Series Finale
(Viewing and reflection DUE before class)
May 27
NO CLASS SESSION
Week 4
May 30 Memorial Day Holiday
May 31
Pleasantville (DVD Collection PN1995.9.C55 P63 1999) in-class viewing/discussion
June 1
Last class – final portfolio/exam DUE (submit in Box)
Presentations shared in class