SOC C050 Section 005
CRN: 042916
Professor Dustin Kidd
Office: Gladfelter 744 (7th Floor)
Office Phone: (215) 204-7766 [X1-7766]
Home Phone: (347) 563-6174 (only for emergencies)
Email: dkidd@temple.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:30-3:30; Thursdays 10:15-11:15; or by appointment
Course Website: Available on Blackboard
Course Meeting Time: Tuesday and Thursday, 11:40-1:00
Course Meeting Location: Barton Hall, A130
Course Description
Race, Class, Gender & Sexuality, Culture and Food. To understand American
society, these are the first issues you need to deal with. These are the issues
we fight most about, and they are also the issues that chase us into silence.
These are the issues that divide us, and yet they are also the issues that give
us a shared identity, even across our many differences. This course presents
a series of lectures on each of these issues, combined with relevant readings,
supporting videos, and classroom discussions. We have to begin the semester
by recognizing that the issues are inextricably linked to one another. But then,
as we dive into the specific issues, we have to constantly remind ourselves
of those linkages. We will close the semester by putting them altogether into
one neat package, one social matrix, one American hamburger.
Race, Class, Gender & Sexuality, Culture and Food. These are social institutions that require sociological explanation. We may identify race with bodies, but the geneticists remind us that it just isn't in the genes. Our chromosomes may determine our sex, but they do not determine sexual differences in pay or power. Our bodies may demand food, but they don't really demand Big Macs. To explain how these issues shape our lives (and how we, in turn, influence them) we need to develop some theories about how society works. We need to look beyond our personal experiences and beliefs to see what's happening across society and why. This class will focus specifically on American society, and the ways that it is comprised by race, class, gender & sexuality, culture and food. If you are not an American citizen, please do not be put off by the focus on American society. As a member of this class, at Temple University in Philadelphia, you are also a participant in American society right now. Your perspective on America matters too.
Books
1. Privilege: A Reader, edited by Michael S. Kimmel and Abby L. Ferber
2. Born to Buy, Juliet Schor
3. Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser
Additional readings will be posted on Blackboard.
Assignments
Attendance: This is a measure of how well you overcome the many things that might inhibit your presence in class. In other words, no reasonable excuse can ever replace actually being in class. You have to be in class to get credit. You have the option of writing make-up papers for up to 4 absences. The make-up paper should consist of a response to the assigned reading for the day that you missed and it is due in the next class. No absence will be excused without a make-up paper. This make-up paper replaces any need to submit doctor's notes or other material that explains your absence. Being late to class will also affect your attendance grade.
Lab Reports: There are five lab reports for this class, one per unit. In other words, you will be performing one lab report each on the issues of: 1) race, 2) gender & sexuality, 3) class, 4) culture, and 5) food. The preferred submission method is through Blackboard, prior to the course meeting time; however, hard copies will also be accepted. The lab reports for race, gender & sexuality, and food will all make use of the General Social Survey (GSS). The GSS is a publicly-available dataset of yearly survey information. You can find a link to the GSS on Blackboard. This analysis provides you with the opportunity to analyze survey data that is relevant to social issues. You will not be conducting advanced statistical analysis. Rather, you are producing 'crosstabulations' of simple percentages. I assume that none of the students have experience with this, so do not be concerned about your own mathematical or computing skills. Full descriptions of these assignments appear on Blackboard.
The lab reports for class and culture take on different formats. To examine issues of class, you will be asked to identify and then violate certain class norms to test how strong these norms are and how others will respond. For culture, you will be conducting content analyses of advertising that is directed towards children, as well as advertising that is direct towards you. Full descriptions of these assignments appear on Blackboard.
Midterm and Final: The goal of these 2 exams is twofold. First, there are certain concepts and facts that you should be able to recall and discuss after taking this class. Such concepts and facts will be identified in class and tested on the exam. Second, sociology embraces a critical thinking framework known as the sociological imagination. After taking this class, you should be able to use the sociological imagination to examine complex and contentious social issues. You will be asked to demonstrate your skills at using the sociological imagination on the tests. Study guides for the exams will be posted on Blackboard.
Class Format
The course is divided into five units: 1) Race, 2) Gender & Sexuality, 3)
Class, 4) Culture, and 5) Food. Each unit will involve three components: lectures,
videos, and class forums. The lectures will take the form of presentations by
the professor, but there will often be moments in these presentations when you
will be asked to respond and contribute. The lectures will be accompanied by
a set of PowerPoint slides that will be posted on Blackboard in advance. You
are encouraged to print these slides and bring them to class, as they will speed
your note-taking. The videos allow you to hear additional perspectives. They
will often not fill the entire course time-slot, and so may be followed by some
discussion. The class forums allow you to share your findings from your lab
reports, as well as discuss the readings and the videos.
The Videos
The Color of Fear: Examines the pain and anguish that racism has caused in the lives of North American men. Eight men of Asian, European, Latin and African descent spend a weekend together talking about racism. From their confrontations and struggles to understand and trust each other, a dialogue emerges. Stir Fry Productions; 1994; 90 Minutes. September. 12th and 14th.
Tough Guise: Presents the first program to look systematically at the relationship between the images of violence in popular culture and the social construction of masculine identities in the US in the late 20th century. In this innovative and wide-ranging analysis, Jackson Katz argues that there is a crisis in masculinity and that some of the guises offered to men as a solution (rugged individualism, violence) come loaded with attendant dangers to women, as well as other men. Includes segments on the tragic school shootings in Littleton, Colorado, Jonesboro, Arkansas, and elsewhere. Media Education Foundation; 1999: 82 Minutes. October 3rd
People Like Us: Shows how social class plays a role in the lives of all Americans, and how it has as much influence as race or ethnicity in determining what kind of opportunities a person has in life. The documentary travels across the country presenting stories of family traditions, class mobility, and different lifestyle choices. WETA; 2001; 124 minutes. October 19th and 24th.
Merchants of Cool: Marketers study the tastes, attitudes, and aspirations of American teenagers to determine who they are and what they want, and portray a version of teenage life in the media and advertising that will appeal to their sensibilities. This documentary explores the culture in which today's American teenagers are growing up and how they've come to view themselves and their parents. Frontline; 2003; 60 minutes. November 7th.
Super Size Me: Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock embarks on a journey to find out if fast food is making Americans fat. For 30 days he can't eat or drink anything that isn't on McDonald's menu; he must eat three square meals a day, he must eat everything on the menu at least once and supersize his meal if asked. He treks across the country interviewing a host of experts on fast food and a number of regular folk while downing McDonald's to try and find out why 37% of American are now overweight. Spurlock's grueling diet spirals him into a metamorphosis that will make you think twice about picking up another Big Mac. Hart Sharp Video; 2004; 100 minutes. November 28th and 30th.
Sociology Show and Tell: On two occasions, September 19th and November 9th,
you are invited to contribute to the curriculum through a forum called Sociology
Show and Tell. I would like about 10 volunteers per session. On September 19th,
we will focus on issues of race; on November 9th, we will focus on issues of
marketing to young people. All you have to do is notice something that relates
to this issue-something you might have otherwise taken for granted-and bring
it in to share with the class. It might be a family relic, a kids toy, a restaurant
menu, an ad from a magazine, a piece of junk mail-anything that taps into the
issue at hand. The responsibility for analyzing the object will be shared by
all of us. You will be asked to step before the class, describe your object,
and explain to us how you found it and why you chose it. Please contact the
professor by the previous class if you wish to volunteer.
Policies
Books: Obtaining the books is solely the responsibility of the student. If you
order the assigned books from sources other than the bookstore, you are responsible
for ensuring that the books arrive on time or getting another copy in the meantime.
Classroom Community: We learn better when we know and trust each other. You need to get to know at least some of your fellow students. Should you miss class, you will need to contact another student to get notes and any missed announcements. Do not contact the professor or the TA for that purpose. We will have small and large group discussions in class and your engagement with these discussions is expected. Also, you are encouraged to introduce yourself to the professor and the TA, and to visit their office hours.
Communication: I may occasionally contact you by email for class purposes. For issues pertinent to a particular class meeting, I will email no later than 5pm on the previous weekday and will expect you to have received the email before class. That means that if I need to tell you something for Tuesday, I will send it by Monday at 5pm and expect you to have received it by class time on Tuesday. In most circumstances, greater notice will be given.
You may communicate with me by email, telephone, in office hours, in informal meetings on campus, and in class. You must include your name in your email! Sending me an email with a question about an assignment does not absolve you from completing the assignment by the due date, even if I do not respond in time. You may call my office phone at any time, but I will rarely be there outside of my office hours. Feel free to leave a message if I do not answer. Please do not call my home phone later than 9pm and please do not assume I will always answer my phone or be able to get back to you immediately. If I am traveling or otherwise not available, I may not get back to you until the next class day.
It is important for you to become familiar with the course website on Blackboard, know how to navigate it and how to access all of the available resources, and be able to submit assignments on the site.
Enrollment: Enrollment is solely the responsibility of the student. I will not expand the course size or sign students in.
Extra Credit: No extra credit will be given in this course.
Food: Eating and drinking is allowed and (if it helps you concentrate) encouraged.
Late Papers: No late papers will be accepted for any assignment.
Learning Needs and Disabilities: Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible (by week three). Contact Disability Resources and Services at (215) 204-1280 in 100 Ritter Annex to coordinate reasonable accommodations for documented disabilities.
Prerequisites: No Prerequisites are required for this course.
Honor Policy
I expect you to uphold the University's Code of Conduct at all times (http://www.temple.edu/assistance/udc/coc.htm).
When the honor policy is violated, you will receive an F for the course and
I will open an investigation into your violation of the code of conduct. It
is simply never worth it.
Regarding specific assignments…
Lab Reports: You are encouraged to workshop your papers with other students, in and out of class. That means that you may have another person read the paper and discuss its strengths and weaknesses with you. They should not provide the actual ideas of the paper. You must cite any facts or ideas you receive from other sources, even if they are not in the form of quotes. Use quotation marks for any phrase over three words long that appears in another source. Shorter phrases should be given citations if they are unique to a particular scholar (such as, Bryson's concept of "multicultural capital"). The paper you hand in must be your ideas in your words, except where you are citing or quoting.
Attendance: You are asked to sign-in at the beginning of class. Signing-in and then leaving is a violation of the honor policy. If you arrive late, you should still sign-in, but you should also indicate that you were late. Failure to do so constitutes an honor violation.
Tests: The midterm exam will be taken in class on October 10th. The final exam will be held during the scheduled exam period. These exams are closed-book and closed-notes. Obviously, looking at your neighbor's paper is forbidden. You should, however, study with your classmates. This is a beneficial form of test preparation. If you have questions about the exam as you are taking it, please address those questions to the professor. If, in a pre-arranged agreement (rare cases), you take a test at a different time or location, you are expected not to discuss the test with other students until everyone has taken the test and all tests have been collected.
Grades
I use grades to compare your performance to the ideal performance. Ideal performance
is something just above an A. An 'A' for an assignment in this class requires
consistent and satisfactory attention to all requirements plus a substantial
demonstration of creativity and originality. A 'B' for an assignment in this
class requires consistent and satisfactory attention to all requirements and
some indication of creativity and originality. A 'C' for an assignment in this
class would either 1) have consistent and satisfactory attention to all requirements,
but no creativity and originality, or 2) have some creativity and originality
but an inconsistent attention to the details. A 'D' for an assignment would
lack creativity and originality and miss several of the requirements. An 'F'
for an assignment would fall short on all points.
If you wish to request a re-grade, you must do so within one week of receiving the paper. Further, you cannot ask for a re-grade immediately after the assignment has been returned. You need to take a day and consider why the grade was given.
Responsibilities of the Professor
Responsibilities of the Student
Course Schedule
Getting Started
August 29: Introductions
August 31: The Sociological Imagination
Read: "Toward a Pedagogy of the Oppressor" (Privilege)
Race
September 5
Read: "Does Race Exist?," "Race Without Color," "Race
and Reification in Science," "The Realities of Race," "Ten
Things Everyone Should Know About Race" (All on Blackboard)
Lecture: The Social Construction of Race
September 7
Read: "White Privilege and Male Privilege" (Privilege)
Lecture: The Social Construction of Race continued
September 12
Read: "White Privilege Shapes the US" (Privilege)
Video: The Color of Fear
September 14
Read: "Universal Freckle, Or How I learned to be White" (Privilege)
Video: The Color of Fear continued
Mini-lecture: Introducing the GSS
September 19
Read: "How Jews Became White" (Privilege)
Forum: Sociology Show and Tell
September 21
Read: "The Matter of Whiteness" (Privilege)
Forum: The Color Line
Due: GSS Assignment 1: Measures of Race
Gender & Sexuality
September 26
Read: "Night to His Day" (Posted on Blackboard)
Lecture: Gender and the Blank Slate
September 28
Read: "Becoming 100% Straight" and "The Invention of Heterosexuality"
(Privilege)
Lecture: Sexuality and the Politics of its Origins
October 3 (Dr. Kidd's birthday!)
Read: "Masculinity as Homophobia" and "The Heterosexual Questionnaire"
(Privilege)
Video: Wrestling with Manhood
October 5
Read: "How Gay Stays White and What Kind of White it Stays" (Privilege)
Forum: Sexual Attitudes
Due: GSS Assignment 2: Gender & Sexuality
Midterm
October 10
Class
October 12
Read: "Class in America" (Privilege)
Lecture: How Class Works
October 17
Read: "Media Magic" (Privilege)
Lecture: How Class Works continued
October 19
Read: "Class and Race: The New Black Elite" (Privilege)
Video: People Like Us
October 24
Read: "Why are Droves of Unqualified, Unprepared Kids Getting into our
Top Colleges? Because Their Dads are Alumni" (Privilege)
Video: People Like Us continued
October 26
Read: "Teasing Out the Lessons of the 1960s" (Privilege)
Forum: Class Norms
Due: Breaching Class Norms
Culture
October 31
Read: Chapters 1 and 2 (Born to Buy)
Lecture: Culture and Power
November 2
Read: Chapters 3 and 4 (Born to Buy)
Lecture: Culture and Power
November 7
Read: Chapters 5 and 6 (Born to Buy)
Video: The Merchants of Cool
November 9
Read: Chapters 7 and 8 (Born to Buy)
Forum: Sociology Show and Tell
November 14
Read: Chapters 9, 10, and Afterward (Born to Buy)
Forum: Marketing to Our Kids; Marketing to Ourselves
Due: Content Analysis
Food
November 16
Read: "Introduction," "The Founding Fathers" (Fast Food
Nation)
Lecture: Eating in the Image of Society
November 21
Read: "Your Trusted Friends," "Behind the Counter," and
"Success" (Fast Food Nation)
Lecture: Eating in the Image of Society Continued
November 28
Read: "Why the Fries Taste Good," "On the Range," "Cogs
in the Machine" (Fast Food Nation)
Video: Super Size Me
November 30
Read: "The Most Dangerous Job," "What's in the Meat," and
"Global Realization" (Fast Food Nation)
Video: Super Size Me continued
Wrapping Up
December 5
Read: "Toward a New Vision" (Privilege); "Epilogue: Have it Your
Way" (Fast Food Nation)
Forum: Food Issues and Other Things We Need to Do Something About
Due: GSS Assignment 3: Food Issues
Final Exam
Thursday, December 14th, 11:00AM - 1:00PM. The location will be our usual room.