MWF 10:40 –11:35, 214 Hall of Languages
Prof. Gail Hamner. mghamner@mailbox.syr.edu Office hour: Mondays 9:30 – 10:30 and by appt.
Office (512 Hall of Languages): 443-5716; Department (501 Hall of Languages): 443-3861
Mr. Steven Benko, T.A. sabenko@mailbox.syr.edu Office hours: Mondays 11:35-12:30, Wednesdays 12:30-1:30
Below: Words in brackets express what we will do in class that day. All other writing details your assignments.
Week One: Introductions
Wed. Jan. 19 [Introductory lecture, syllabus review]
Fri. Jan. 21
Strinati Introduction (xiii – xviii)
[prepatory discussion of home altars]
Week Two: Home Altars
Mon. Jan. 24
meet in the art museum
Essay on home altars (class handout)
Wed. Jan. 26
Strinati, Chapter 1 ("Mass Culture and Popular Culture")
[Other personal shrines; shrines on the Internet]
Fri. Jan. 28
Search for examples of shrines
[response to museum exhibit]
Week Three: Sports
Mon. Jan. 31
Watch the Superbowl on January 30 (more info given in class)
Strinati, Chapter 2 ("The Frankfurt School and the Culture Industry")
Wed. Feb. 2 consider stories of/in the Superbowl and religion within/against other sports
Fri. Feb. 4
consider commercials during Superbowl
Week Four: Television Shows
Mon. Feb. 7
Review Strinati
[apply Frankfurt School Theory to religion on TV]
Wed. Feb. 9
Review essay on home altars
[draw connections between TV, religion, shrines]
Fri. Feb. 11
QUIZ #1
Week Five: Television (cont.)
Mon. Feb. 14
Strinati, Chapter 3 ("Structuralism, semiology, and popular culture")
[talk shows and tel-evangelists]
Wed. Feb. 16
Watch a daytime talk show and/or televangelist
[the occult and other paranormal spirituality on TV]
Fri. Feb. 18
Watch TV for references to, and/or examples of religion
[TV stereotypes of religions, spirituality, clergy]
Week Six: Advertisements
Mon. Feb. 21 Strinati, Chapter 6 ("Marxism, political economy and ideology")
Wed. Feb. 23 Read ads and note markers of class and ideology
Fri. Feb. 25
Search for ads that use religious references
Week 7: Music
Mon. Feb. 28
Review Strinati, Chapter 3
[CCM]
Wed. March 1
Review Strinati, Chapter 4
[non-CCM that references religion or spirituality]
Fri. March 3
Listen to music
Week 8: Catch-up and Review
Mon. March 6 Open class for continued discussion
Wed. March 8 Review session
Fri. March 10 QUIZ #2
Week 9: Spring Break
Week 10: Woman in Popular Culture
Mon. March 20 Strinati, Chapter 5 ("Feminism and Popular Culture")
Wed. March 22 Consider Strinati’s chapter in light of music, TV, sports, altars
Fri. March 24
[angels, madonnas, virgins, and the fallen woman]
Week 11: Religion and Film
Mon. March 27 Strinati, Chapter 6 ("Postmodernism and Popular Culture")
Wed. March 29 [film clips—religion in film]
Fri. March 31
[discussion of religious response to Hollywood films]
Week 12: religions not ‘of the Book’ and popular culture
Mon. April 3
review Strinati Chapter 5
[guest speaker on pagan religion]
Wed. April 5
review Strinati Chapter 6
[meditation, crystals, amulets]
Fri. April 7
question session
Week 13: Cultural Saints
Mon. April 10 QUIZ #3
Wed. April 12 Strinati Conclusions
Fri. April 14
consider whom you would name a cultural saint
Week 14: (Holy?) Holidays
Mon. April 17 [Christmas, Easter, and Halloween]
Wed. April 19 [July 4th, Memorial Day, MLK Day]
Fri. April 21 no class: Good Friday
Week 15: Cultural debates carried by/through religion
Mon. April 24
review Strinati 1-2
[Abortion/Pro-Life]
Wed. April 26
review Strinati 3-4
[Evolution/Creationism]
Fri. April 28
review Strinati 5-7
[Gender relations]
Week 16: Course wrap-up
Mon. May 1
Continued discussion and course evaluations