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Fall 2008, Department of Communication Studies and Multimedia
Lectures Mon. Wed. Thur. 4:30 – 5:20 | Room CNH-102
Instructor: Lori Shyba MFA PhD
Office hours: M/W 1:00 – 3:00 or by appointment. Location: 304 Togo Salmon Hall.
Email: shybal@mcmaster.ca
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An introduction to the study of performative communication in verbal, physical, visual, and emotional textual modes. You will learn to analyse the relationship between cultural performances and their social effects and creative process within the scope of play and ritual, live and digital games, fashion, and interactive activist theatre.
DOWNLOAD TOPICS LIST
Topics are on the last pages of this pdf version of the course outline. Please be advised that these topics are subject to change.
QUESTIONS AND TOPICS WE CAN EXPLORE
• Who were influential informants of performance art from the 20th century avant garde?
• What are the anthropological and sociological of both performance and games?
• What role does improv and ‘play’ have in performance art? How about narrative?
• How do arts, cognitive science, and computational technology intersect to produce multi-modal performance texts? Visual, Physical, Aural, Literary ... Emotional?
• Can this multi-textuality factor into the creative process of performance creation? How about reflexive, critical analysis?
• Can we open our process and projects up for a performance event and who would we invite to be collaborative partners?
• What are the connections between performance, games, and social justice?
We will be viewing and discussing challenging and controversial material. Everyone deserves to participate in a respectful class environment. If you have any concerns, please contact me in person or via email.
READINGS and RESOURCES
Required:
• Coursepack. CMST2G03. Available at Copies Plus, 9 Sterling St., Westdale.
View a listing of the CMST2G03 readings
• A notebook for response writings.
ASSIGNMENTS
Detailed instructions are (coming soon). See attached subjects outline for tentative schedule of readings and activities.
Group Presentation
Groups will sign up to present from and lead class discussion on the coursepack readings. You will be evaluated on the clarity of your presentation (do you bring out the main points of the article in an understandable way?), the quality of your discussion questions, and your efforts to involve the class. Creative presentations will be judged especially favourably. The group’s typed outline and discussion questions are due before the presentation.
Two Response Essays
Throughout the semester, you will be required to write two papers responding to class activities. A list of topics will be presented in class within the first three weeks. In each paper, you should analyze the activit, and your response, utilizing relevant readings and discussion. The papers should be 3-4 typed pages in length, demonstrate good grammar and spelling, and provide source citations when appropriate.
Blogs
You will post a one- or two- paragraph response to each group presentation on the class Facebook blog (Group address TBA).
Midterm and Final Exam
The midterm exam portion may possibly be replaced with a collaborative performance live/digital game event.
GRADING
Your final grade will be based on the following criteria:
20% — Group Presentation
20% — Response Essays
30 % — Midterm Exam (or optional Performance Creation)
30% — Final Exam
The blog discussion is based on a pass/fail principle. Pass will not affect your grade. Fail will lower your grade by one grade increment (eg. a A- would become a B+).
See http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/calendar/year2003/sec_109.htm for full grading scale.
The Fine Print
EVALUATION: Given the nature of the artistic process, grading will include subjective assessment. This will be based upon criteria specific to each project which will be discussed and identified as we go along.
CLASS POLICIES: Attendance is crucial for succeeding in this course. Only two unexcused absences will be allowed. Positive and consistent class participation is essential. I expect to hear everyone’s voice during class discussions and I have no hesitation to cold call for responses. During presentations, you are expected to participate or observe with interest and enthusiasm.
You are responsible for completing all reading assignments, without exception, by the day they are discussed. Be prepared for regular “response writings,” five- to ten-minute in-class writing assignments that focus on the readings and studio work. Sometimes these responses will be written at the beginning of class, to evaluate your preparation; sometimes they will be written at the end of class, to gauge your participation.
Assignments must be completed and turned in at the time they are due, or they will be considered late. Assignments drop half a letter grade for each day they are late. Assignments more than three days late will not be accepted unless prior special permission has been granted. Projects will not be accepted late under any circumstances except for documented medical reasons.
ACADEMIC HONESTY: Academic dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by other fraudulent means and can result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: "Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty"), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university. It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, specifically Appendix 3, located at http://www.mcmaster.ca/senate/academic/ac_integrity.htm
The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:
1. Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not your own and where credit is not cited.
2. Improper collaboration in group work.
3. Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.
Email: It is the policy of the CSMM Department that all email communication between students and instructors (including TAs) must originate from their official McMaster University email accounts. This policy protects the confidentiality and sensitivity of information and confirms the identities of both the student and instructor. CSMM department instructors will delete messages that do not originate from McMaster email accounts.
Accommodations For Students With Disabilities: If you require special accommodation for learning or have any special needs please let me know of them as soon as possible in order that arrangements can be made. Students with disabilities are encouraged to register with the Centre for Student Development.
Safewalk: For a safe walk anytime, call S.W.H.A.T., 527-7070, Ext. 27500.
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