TOPICS IN CULTURAL JOURNALISM: Youth Culture

#G54.1281.02

Fall 2003

Alec Hanley Bemis

CLASS: Wednesday 6:20-10pm

OFFICE HOURS: Wednesday 4:00–6:00 pm

OUTLINE: This seminar will study the flavor of American youth culture, and reportage on that culture, from the 1960s to the present. The first 2/3 of the course will look at how youth culture has related to the mainstream over this time period. The last four weeks focus on emerging issues particularly relevant to the young, and two books that provide insight into "reading" youth culture.

We begin in the 1960s, arguably the decade in which youth culture started becoming America's dominant culture — at least insofar as the media was concerned. We follow its evolution into the 90s, as it transformed itself from a worrisome, fringe activity associated with drugs and pop music into a culture that so dominated the national mindset that even corporate America transformed to appeal to and exploit it.

READING: Most weeks we will read one book and a few articles. You will be expected to come to class prepared. A few weeks have particularly high reading loads, but most of the readings aren't that dense. It's likely that we'll read only excerpts of the two longest books, No Logo and Generation Ecstasy.

WRITING:

• Two capsule reviews (200-500 words) about a cultural product that you enjoy. (i.e. CD, book, movie, website, performance)
• One mid-size piece (750-1200 words) about a current trend or happening in youth culture.
• One longer piece (1500-2000 words) about another current trend or happening in youth culture. You'll review your topic in class — in advance — and write two drafts.

At least one of the longer pieces must not revolve solely around a piece of media (a current movie, video game, record, etc.). Rather, it should involve reportage that involves interviewing participants in the culture being written about. All of the pieces should be written in a non-academic tone, as if you were doing smart pieces for the popular press.

DEADLINES: All writing assignments are due, via e-mail <alecbemis@brassland.org>, by noon on Tuesday. Your pieces can't be late. Occasionally, I will select one or two to be read out loud in class.

***

Week 1: Wednesday, September 3rd

Introduction: What is youth culture?

READING:

• Dave Hickey, "Unbreak My Heart, An Overture" (excerpt from Air Guitar)

WRITING: Write two (2) capsule reviews (200-500 words). DUE: September 10th

***

Week 2: Wednesday, September 10^th

The 60s, the 70s, and their aftermath (part 1)

READING:

• Tom Wolfe, Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamlined Baby (Intro, p-1-107, 204-220, 275-285) ^
• Hunter S. Thompson, "The 'Hashbury' Is the Capitol of the Hippies" (excerpt from The Great Shark Hunt)

• Stanley Booth, ch 31 (excerpt from The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones)

DEADLINE: Turn in first writing assignment

***

Week 3: Wednesday, September 17^h

The 60s, the 70s, and their aftermath (part 2)

READING:

• Thomas Frank, The Conquest of Cool: Business Culture, Counterculture, and the Rise of Hip Consumerism ^
• Denis Johnson, "Hippies" (excerpt from Seek: Reports from the Edges of America & Beyond)

• Richard Meltzer, "Handsome Dick Throws the Party of the Century" (excerpt from A Whore Just Like the Rest)

***

Week 4: Wednesday, September 24^th

The Suburbs: Youth culture doesn't mean hip culture (part 1)

READING:

• H. G. Bissinger, Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream ^

· Susan Orlean, "The American Man at Age Ten" (excerpt from The Bullfighter Checks Her Make-Up)

WRITING: Write one (1) medium length piece (750-1200 words) about an aspect or trend in youth culture. This can be another cultural product, though I'd prefer it involve some direct experience with people. DUE: October 8th

***

Week 5: Wednesday, October 1^st

The Suburbs: Youth culture doesn't mean hip culture (part 2)

READING:

• Donna Gaines, Teenage Wasteland: Suburbia's Dead End Kids ^
• Metal Mike Saunders, "Disney Dreams Up the Best Radio Station in 30 Years" (article from Village Voice)

***

Week 6: Wednesday, October 8^th

Totally 80s & the Go-Go 90s: What Just Happened (part 1)

READING:

• George W.S. Trow, In the Context of No Context ^

DEADLINE: Turn in first writing assignment.

***

Week 7: Wednesday, October 15^th

Totally 80s & the Go-Go 90s: What Just Happened (part 2)

READING:

• Simon Reynolds, excerpt from Generation Ecstasy ^

• Dave Hickey, "Air Guitar" (excerpt from Air Guitar)

***

Week 8: Wednesday, October 22nd

Totally 80s & the Go-Go 90s: What Just Happened (part 3)

READING:

• Michael Lewis, Next: The Future Just Happened ^
• Rodney Rothman, "My Fake Job" (article from The New Yorker)

***

Week 9: Wednesday, October 29th

What Comes Next (part 1)

READING:

• Naomi Klein, No Logo ^
• Seth Mnookin, "The Nice New Radicals" (article from Spin)

WRITING: Write one (1) longer piece (1500-2000 words) about an aspect or trend in youth culture. DUE: November 12^th (topic) November 26^th (draft) December 10^th (revision)

***

Week 10: Wednesday, November 5th

What Comes Next (part 3)

READING:

• Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation ^
• Malcolm Gladwell, "The Cool Hunt" (article from The New Yorker)

***

Week 11: Wednesday, November 12th

What Comes Next (part 3)

READING:

• David Kushner, Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created and Transformed Pop Culture ^

• Dave Hickey, "Romancing the Looky-Loos" (excerpt from Air Guitar)

DEADLINE: Review the topic of your piece in class.

***

Week 12: Wednesday, November 19th

Reading Youth Culture (part 1)

READING:

• Scott McCloud, Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art ^

***

Wednesday, November 26^th

Off

DEADLINE: Turn in draft of your second writing assignment.

***

Week 13: Wednesday, December 3rd

Reading Youth Culture (part 2)

READING:

• Edward R. Tufte, Envisioning Information ^

***

Week 14: Wednesday, December 10th

Conclusion

READING

• Dave Hickey, "Dealing" (excerpt from Air Guitar)

DEADLINE: Turn in revision.