st.
scholastica dgn 1101
and dignity for all (section
14)
a.k.a.
hip hop and
human dignity
spring semester 2009
thursdays, noon-1:40, science 3209
st. scholastica home | st. scholastica library | st. scholastica e-mail
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instructor: chris godsey chris.godsey@gmail.com or cgodsey@css.edu 310.8048 (before 9 p.m.) | meetings upon request peer mentor: chris leblanc cleblanc@css.edu DESCRIPTION Fall Semester's
Dignitas theme is The Responsible Self.
This Dignitas section is called Hip Hop and Human Dignity. So we'll study hip hop and dignity, and what they have to do with each other, and while we're doing that, we'll pay special attention to what the things we learn suggest about our own thoughts, assumptions, behaviors, and other qualities. Here's the official course description, which we can decide to follow closely or completely deviate from:
The history, culture, and myriad
social issues within and around hip hop music will be used as tools to
illustrate and explore how some people seek, assert, interpret, and rob
others of dignity. Quite a bit of emphasis will be placed on the
history of African American musical creations the blues, country, jazz,
rock & roll, hip hop, etc. in the United States, how that music
often has been used to assert power and dignity unavailable in a
culture that subtly and overtly denies it, and the consistent cycle of
other cultures co opting, imitating, diluting, re interpreting, and
furthering those genres. Discussion and concepts will frequently be
applied to students' lives, interaction, own senses of dignity,
perceptions of others' dignity, and ideas about human dignity as a
broad concept.
EXPECTATIONS and ASSIGNMENTS Attendance
Every time we
officially meet in or out of our designated class room and time, you
need to show up.
Participation and respect You don't have to be
breathless and on the edge of your seat all the time, but you do need
to be engaged.
If someone else is talking, or if you've been asked to pay attention to a song, video, or anything else, give the same respect you'd want. Leave your phones and class books in your bag. If your laptop will distract you from what we're talking about, leave it packed, too. Writing assignments (click for more information) Everyone will do
two, on topics and ideas we've raised since September.
Weekly blog participation (click for more information) Every week, the
presenting group will provide a question or few meant to spark
discussion at the course blog (http://sexdrugsrockanddignity.blogspot.com/).
You'll need to post at least one thoughtful contribution to that
discussion by 5 p.m. every Friday.
SEMESTER GRADING To get an A: do everything this syllabus asks you to do, by the times and dates you're asked to do it. To get something other than an A: miss class or other required events; blow off your writing; post late or not at all to the course blog; write a mindless reflection essay or don't write one at all; treat yourself, me, Chris LeBlanc, or your classmates disrespectfully. Those standards are open to a lot of interpretation, but fret not: odds are you'll know if you're messing up, and if you think you might be but you're not sure, you can ask me or Chris L. If you're messing up and you seem clueless about it, Chris or I will let you know. This course is about dignity. You have the dignity of handling your own business without a bunch of points, percentages, and other irrelevant instruments of control and faux-motivation hanging over your head. How will you respond to that opportunity? EQUITABLE PARTICIPATION STATEMENT
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DESCRIPTION Everyone in class
will write two assignments:
1. Proposal
In
week eight of the semester (on 3 March), post a proposal for the
reflection & research essay to the blog. I'll start the topic,
then everyone can respond to it with their proposals.
In the proposal, please illustrate what topics you've been thinking about and researching, why and how you're interested in them, what challenges you are (or foresee) having, what information you've found or hope to find, where you're looking for it, what questions you have about the topic, etc. Your audience for this piece is everyone who reads the blog. 2. Reflection & research essay During
finals week, submit an essay that uses personal reflection and research
information (facts, ideas, and anything else) to discuss whether our
conversations initiated in the world of sex, drugs, rock, and dignity
have changed anything about how you see yourself, the rest of the
world, and your responsibilities to them both.
Your audience for this piece is other CSS first-year students who aren't in this Dignitas section. EXPECTATIONS •Credible
documentation of all information from other sources used in either
essay.
•Format, content, syntax, grammar, tone, style, voice, punctuation, source references, spelling, and all other characteristics that are appropriate to your message, your audience, and your desire to be easily understood and taken credibly. |
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DESCRIPTION A simple Blogspot
page that's our place for online discussions and information.
It's here: http://hiphopandhumandignity.blogspot.com/ EXPECTATIONS •At least
one thoughtful contribution to weekly discussion by 5 p.m. every
Wednesday.
•"Thoughtful"
means something of substance.
•Here's an
example of something not substantive:
"I agree with Chris.
I thought it was cool, too."
•If
that's not
substantive, would would
be substantive?
•Honesty
•Respect for yourself and your classmates |
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Week 1 15 January
• Very general intro
Week 2 22 January • Lupe Fiasco
Week 3 29 January • Brother Ali speech
Week 4 5 February • Rhymesayers
Week 5 12 February • Hanging out
with Sr. Martha Bechtold
Week 6
19 February
• Poverty
presentation
Week 7 26 February •
Week 8 5 March •
Week 9 19 March • Hanging out with Kritical Kontact
Week 10 26 March •
Week 11 2 April •
Week 12 9 April •
Watching Dreamworks
3 and hanging out with someone from PAVSA
Week 13 16 April • Hanging out
at Safe Haven Shelter
Week 14 23 April
• At Woodland Hills
Week 15 30 April • At Life House
Finals Week • Reflection
& research writing due
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contact: chris.godsey@gmail.com | 310.8048 (before 9 p.m.) | meetings upon request