ENGL 204 A: Popular Fiction and Media

ENGL 204: Popular Fiction and Media (Autumn 2023)

Monstrosity in Contemporary Global Cinema

MW 1:30-3:20 PM, LOW 105

“The monstrous body is pure culture. A construct and a projection, the monster exists only to be read: the monstrum is etymologically ‘that which reveals,’ ‘that which warns,’ a glyph that seeks a hierophant. Like a letter on the page, the monster signifies something other than itself…”

—Jeffrey Jerome Cohen, “Monster Culture (Seven Theses)”

“Okay, first things first, I’ll eat your brains / Then Imma start rocking gold teeth and fangs / ‘Cause that’s what a motherf*ckin’ monster do / Hairdresser from Milan, that’s the monster ‘do [...] Now look at what you just saw, this is what you live for / Ahhh! I’m a motherf*ckin’ monster”

—Nicki Minaj, Kanye West’s “Monster”

Instructor Info

Janine “Nina” Hsiao Sobers

jsobers@uw.edu

Office hours: TTh 2-3 PM & by appt.

PDL B-37

Course Description

Witches, phantoms, giant fire-breathing lizards, oh my! This autumn, we’ll be leaning into the spooky season in this class on representations of monstrosity in global cinema. Though our objects of analysis come from the sphere of popular culture, don’t get the wrong idea; as the course catalog imparts, the goal of ENGL 204 is to engage in the academic study of popular culture as a site of “critical reflection.”

In other words, popular culture studies is an arena in which creative productions of mass appeal do not solely entertain, but operate as vehicles for critical commentary on the “cultural politics” of the socio-historical contexts from which they emerge. To be sure, while having fun with the assigned films is highly encouraged, it is not the primary task at hand. Rather, the task is to conscientiously explore how these films—especially through cinematic technique—raise compelling questions on various urgent themes, such as:

what does the otherness of monstrosity represent beyond its literal self? What are the ways in which monstrosity is a socially and culturally-constructed category—as well as a deeply changeable and contested category? How are conceptualizations of monstrosity implicated in power struggles of race, gender, nationality, and so on? What is at stake in the act of portraying something or someone as monstrous? And, what is at stake in the act of a monster talking back to such a portrayal?

In addition, as our course is a “W” or writing credit class, we will be extensively involved in the practice of analytical writing as the principal mode of knowledge production in humanistic studies. Through the exercise of skills in written inquiry, argumentation, and research, students will all the more substantively engage with the content and learning objectives of the course.

Course Materials

There are no books or readers that you need to purchase for this class. Text-based readings will be uploaded to the “Files” tab of our Canvas page, and films will be available for streaming through UW Libraries or other readily accessible means.

Course Assessment

Grade percentage points are additively accrued across the quarter based on the successful and timely completion of coursework. The grade breakdown for the class is as follows:

• 30% In-Class Group Write-Ups (6 total, 5% each)
• 25% Small Individual Assignments (5 total, 5% each)
• 20% Big Paper 1
• 25% Big Paper 2

In-Class Group Write-Ups (6 total, 5% each)

In Week 2, the class will be divided into 10 groups of 4 students each—these will be your work groups for the quarter! On each Wednesday that isn’t a major deadline week or Thanksgiving (see class schedule, below), at the start of class, I’ll be distributing 1-2 short answer questions about that week’s readings. In your work groups, you’ll then have the first part of class to compose a write-up response to these questions together, as a group, with your resources combined! These write-ups should take no more than 15 minutes or so maximum, but you’ll have the first 20 minutes of class to submit them.

Small Individual Assignments (5 total, 5% each)

Throughout the quarter, I’ll be assigning small writing assignments, which you’ll do individually rather than in groups. Typically, these small assignments will involve exercises to help you along with the two big papers, and will be due on Fridays at midnight (see class schedule, below). Details on these small assignments will be given as the quarter progresses.

Big Papers (Paper 1 = 20%, Paper 2 = 25%)

There are two big papers that you’ll be writing for this class, the first due at the end of Week 6, and the second due at the end of Week 11 (see class schedule, below). Broadly, Big Paper 1 is an argumentative close reading essay with a minor research element. Big Paper 2, which will be co-written in pairs, is an argumentative research paper on a monster of your choice and its representation in popular culture! Students will also have the option to present their research projects to the class in the last week of instruction for extra credit.

Course Policies

• Electronics: unless otherwise directed, the use of electronics (e.g. laptops, phones, tablets) is prohibited in class. Those with the appropriate DRS accommodations are an exception.

• Group work: as group work is necessary to succeed in the course, students are strongly encouraged to maintain clear communication channels with their assigned group throughout the quarter, notifying groupmates of absences or emergencies when they interfere with coursework. When in doubt, treat others as you would like to be treated.

Late Work Policy

In the absence of extenuating circumstances or requisite DRS accommodations, papers submitted after class deadlines will receive a deduction of one letter grade per day that the work is late. For example, if a paper that scores a “B” grade is submitted two days late, it would then receive a “D” grade.

If legitimate extenuating circumstances—e.g. severe illness, childcare emergency, work emergency—are involved, a student may request one extension, the exact submission date to be mutually agreed upon by both instructor and student. There is no requirement to disclose particulars, but clear communication to the instructor is necessary. After the extension submission date, the option to make up the work has passed. Practice good judgment here—for instance, student organization activities and family vacations do not qualify as extenuating circumstances.

Academic Integrity Clause

“Plagiarism, or academic dishonesty, is presenting someone else's ideas or writing as your own. In your writing for this class, you are encouraged to refer to other people's thoughts and writing—as long as you cite them. As a matter of policy, any student found to have plagiarized any piece of writing in this class will be immediately reported to the College of Arts and Sciences for review.”

**All papers in this course will be screened for plagiarism upon submission.**

**For our specific purposes in this class, the use of AI-generated writing constitutes a violation of academic integrity**

Religious Accommodation Clause

“Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-reqest/).”

Class Schedule