English 1131.101 Mastering College Reading and Writing
Cornell University, Summer 2014
Instructors: J. Ellen Gainor, Erin Stoneking, Ahmad Alswaid, and Nick Fesette
Why should we care about television advertising? Or summer blockbuster films? Or social media? These are all part of the contemporary culture that surrounds us and that impacts us every day. Yet, we may not be fully aware of how culture profoundly influences what we do and who we are. Using primary texts such as The Dark Knight, print advertisements, t-shirts, and music videos, as well as journalistic and academic studies, we will take a close and critical look at the relationship between such cultural products and present-day America. We will also take advantage of Cornell’s research collections in clothing design and hip-hop to support our inquiries. If we learn to think critically about culture and to examine it closely, we gain a better understanding of the world we inhabit. And when we develop our writing skills, we can communicate our better understanding more effectively, whether for an academic audience or for a broader readership.
Cornell University, Summer 2014
Instructors: J. Ellen Gainor, Erin Stoneking, Ahmad Alswaid, and Nick Fesette
Why should we care about television advertising? Or summer blockbuster films? Or social media? These are all part of the contemporary culture that surrounds us and that impacts us every day. Yet, we may not be fully aware of how culture profoundly influences what we do and who we are. Using primary texts such as The Dark Knight, print advertisements, t-shirts, and music videos, as well as journalistic and academic studies, we will take a close and critical look at the relationship between such cultural products and present-day America. We will also take advantage of Cornell’s research collections in clothing design and hip-hop to support our inquiries. If we learn to think critically about culture and to examine it closely, we gain a better understanding of the world we inhabit. And when we develop our writing skills, we can communicate our better understanding more effectively, whether for an academic audience or for a broader readership.
