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Disney - Spring 2008

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IDS 102.77 - PS Colloquium
Disney: The Myth, Power, and Culture of an American Icon - Spring 2008

Instructor: Becky Mentzer
Office: Honors Program, Corner of North & Fell Streets
Phone: (309) 438-2559; office hours: by appointment
Email:

Class Time & Location: M/W 11-11:50, second 9 weeks, STV 211

Description

This course is designed to provide you with a critical look at Disney animated films and the Disney Corporation. During this course, we will cover a broad range of disciplines and topics including: literature, marketing, psychology, sociology, and family relationships.

Objectives

  1. To analyze critically various issues of gender, race, and class as reflected in Disney animated films.
  2. To apply the approaches of different disciplines to Disney animated films and the Disney corporate culture.
  3. To investigate the impact of Disney on American culture.

Course Requirements

  1. Attend class, participate, and complete all assignments on time.
  2. Remain open to new ideas and different ways of viewing issues and the world – an important part of the educational experience is being open to other perspectives.
  3. Be courteous to others as these perspectives are shared in class discussions.

Required Texts

A packet of readings is available at PIP Printing located in the Bone Student Center.

Students with Disabilities:

Contact Disability Concerns (Fell 350 or 438-5853) to arrange a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability.

Academic Integrity:

Students are expected to abide by the academic integrity policy of the Code of Student Conduct. As in all other courses, appropriate citing of sources (including internet information) is required. Cheating and plagiarizing are not acceptable, so be aware that there are serious consequences for doing so.

Course Topics:

  •  Issues of gender, race and class
  • Concepts and contradictions, e.g., good and evil; beauty and the grotesque
  • Disney as a sacred icon
  • Family and relationships as represented by Disney animation

Required Student Assignments:

Reflection Papers: Students will select topics presented in class and write three 1-2 page papers based on topics of their choice and go into greater depth in their reflection. That is, restating the lecture or relying too much on class readings will not constitute a true reflection. Rather, students should take the issue they have chosen from the class topics and go into a deeper level of thinking and interpretation.

Final Paper/Presentation: (Students will choose one of two options)

1) Disney Film Analysis or Disney Corporation Issue: complete a 3-5 page paper analyzing a Disney film or a Disney corporation issue with at least 3 references and present a summary of the paper to the class. The specific topic may be chosen by the student with prior approval of the instructor.

Or

2) Group Project with Visual Aids: complete a group project and presentation with visual aids and at least 3 references cited in the presentation that will provide further insights on a topic discussed in class or from a list of possible topics provided.

Grading:

 Grades will be determined as follows:

  • Class discussion/participation 40%
  • Reflection logs 30%
  • Film Analysis Paper/Group Project 30%