Convergence Culture FA 2012: Semester Project- The Prison Problem in the United States

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Semester Project- The Prison Problem in the United States

The connection between increased, strict legislation against drug offenses and drastically increased number of prisoners has been made time and time again, yet this vast social problem has yet to have seen any light of improvement. The US is home to less than 5 percent of the world’s entire population, yet it houses 25 percent of the world’s prison population. In my article, I expose some revealing statistics on prisons in the United States and explore some analysis as to why this is happening.
My article can be viewed on this blog here.
My prezi can be viewed here.

Bibliography

D'Almeida, kanya. "‘Profiteers of Misery’: The U.S. Private Prison Industrial Complex | NationofChange." NationofChange | Progressive Journalism for Positive Action. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2012. <http://www.nationofchange.org/profiteers-misery-us-private-prison-industrial-complex-1314288737>.

Johnson, Robert. "11 Stunning Facts About America's Prisons - Business Insider." Business Insider. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2012. <http://www.businessinsider.com/11-facts-about-prisons-2011-7?op=1>.

Justice Policy Institute. "Gaming the System: How the Political Strategies of Private Prison Companies Promote Ineffective Incarceration Policies." justicepolicy. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2012. <http:/http://www.justicepolicy.org/uploads/justicepolicy/documents/gaming_the_system_-_executive_summary.pdf>.

   LIPTAK, ADAM. "Inmate Count in U.S. Dwarfs Other Nations’ - New York Times." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/us/23prison.html?pagewanted=all>.

   Reagan Foundation. "REAGANFOUNDATION.ORG | NANCY REAGAN : JUST SAY NO." Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library | Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.reaganfoundation.org/details_t.aspx?p=RR1005NRL&h1=0&h2=0&sw=&lm=reagan&args_a=cms&args_b=10&argsb=N&tx=1203>.

   "Statistics on Prison Population Rates | P.a.p.-Blog, Human Rights Etc.." P.a.p.-Blog, Human Rights Etc. | Human rights from the perspective of politics, art, philosophy (hence p.a.p.), law, economics, statistics, psychology etc.. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2012. <http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/stats-on-human-rights/statistics-on-freedom/statistics-on-prisoner-population-rates/#6>.

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**Check the syllabus. I have made updates and corrections for our final weeks.

Quiz 2 - 12/20 8:30am-11:30am

Due 12/11

Remaining presentations, Quiz review and good-bye party

Due 12/4 and 12/6

SEMESTER PROJECTS!!

*on 12/4 and 12/6 please arrive in class at 9:45am- we will begin class exactly at 10am and I will take attendance at 10am

YOUR SEMESTER PROJECTS DUE 12/4

-summary on the blog along with images and any videos

-link to your project (including pdf projects)

-presentations (3-5 minutes MAX) will be from your blog post or linked directly from the post PLEASE TEST THIS BEFORE ARRIVING IN CLASS

-projects must be handed in to me on 12/4 with resources list/bibliography in addition to preparing the above for the presentations.

-I have invited guests to attend our final presentations.

Our guest Hashem Bajwa
@hash
http://whoishashem.com/
http://www.de-de.com/

Study guide

Watch all videos in the screenings post

Review group presentations and class notes

Review all readings since quiz 1 :

Danah Boyd, Socially Mediated Publicness: An Introduction http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08838151.2012.705200

Danah Boyd, Identity Production in a Networked Culture: Why Youth Heart MySpace http://www.danah.org/papers/AAAS2006.html

Rodman: only Chapter 6

(you will not be tested on Chapter 9 specifically but you are expected to know the history of TV!)

Jenkins, Searching for the Origami Unicorn pg.95-134

Jenkins, Conclusion pg. 251- 270

Jenkins, Photoshop for Democracy pg.217-250

Jane McGonigal - Why I Love Bees

http://www.avantgame.com/McGonigal_WhyILoveBees_Feb2007.pdf

Steven Johnson -excerpt from Everything Bad is Good for You

The Sleeper Curve http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4762320

Case Study - The Sleeper Curve - on BLACKBOARD
______________________________

Due 11/27 and 11/29

No readings due - no group presentation

Post 4 -final post

due 11/29 (edit until 12/4)

What is the future of convergence? What is the intersection of technology and storytelling? How can we approach the future with our knowledge of the past and our contemporary experiences? What do we forsee? What can we expect? How can we prepare?What should we be thinking about?

Use examples and references to the readings you have done about the future of gaming, popular culture and politics. 5-6 paragraphs, images and links. Share resources with us that we have not discussed. Dig. Find something inspiring. What does the future of media look like? Can we get in the game?

_______________________________

Due 11/20 -- NO CLASS 11/22

Politics of Participation - Politics and Popular Culture

READINGS: Jenkins, Conclusion pg. 251- 270 AND Jenkins, Photoshop for Democracy pg.217-250 Suggested reading: Rodman, Chapter 9

Group 8 presents (final group)

_____________________

*Reminder: groups must post a summary of their presentation (just one post per group) and link to the resources ASAP in order to be graded!! Title your post Group___ presentation: __________.

DUE 11/13 and 11/15

READINGS:

Jane McGonigal - Why I Love Bees

http://www.avantgame.com/McGonigal_WhyILoveBees_Feb2007.pdf

Steven Johnson -excerpt from Everything Bad is Good for You

The Sleeper Curve http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4762320

Case Study - The Sleeper Curve - on BLACKBOARD

Updated Proposal and Draft Bibliography/Resource List for Semester Project (due on 11/13)

Please list resources from your research on your topic. These include: inspiration (examples similar to what you would like to create) and the resources you have already that are informing your project.

Please be sure to address: Why are YOU making this project?Who is your audience? What is your message? How does this fit into your professional aspirations?

Be specific, focus your message on a clear point, use your research to help flush out your ideas.

Group 7 presents

POST 3 (due 11/13)

Transmedia storytelling

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE ASSIGNMENTS

1- ANALYSIS

What is the difference between multimedia and transmedia?Choose a message/story/product that uses multiple platforms to expand the reach and experience of a story (idea.) Choose an example that has not been discussed in class. Use the readings from class and additional readings to analyze how this story is told using various platforms (including ARG, games, social media, traditional media, etc.) How does this strategy engage participation? How does the use of various platforms benefit or change the story or the audience?

Find research to back up your argument. Use various essays/articles to speak to your points. Cite your research. ~5 paragraphs, with images and citations

2-CREATIVE

Create a simple message/story/experience across multiple platforms (twitter, flickr, our blog, tumblr, foursquare, facebook, instagram etc.) You may use something you have already begun or created as a starting point. Your transmedia story/experience must accomplish several things: promotion of your product/show/story, addressing and involving fans and/or casual viewers, getting feedback or participation from a larger audience, use multiple platforms to create or elaborate on a single product or story. How do you use the different tools as the arc(s) of the story develop(s)?

Create a post on the class blog that points us to the various locations and media you have used for the experiment.

*If you choose this option you can work in pairs

_________________

Classes cancelled 10/30 and 11/1

11/6 and 11/8

READINGS: Rodman, Chapter 6

and Jenkins, Searching for the Origami Unicorn pg.95-134

Group 6 presents

_________________

DUE 10/ 23 and 10/25

READINGS online:

Danah Boyd, Socially Mediated Publicness: An Introduction http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08838151.2012.705200

Danah Boyd, Identity Production in a Networked Culture: Why Youth Heart MySpace http://www.danah.org/papers/AAAS2006.html

Group 5 presents on 10/23

_______________

DUE 10/16

1 page Project Proposal for final projects printed and handed in. Explain/describe the content of your project and the medium you will use to create it. Use visuals if necessary: sketches, still images etc. Also includepossible resources (a full bibliography will be required later.)

DUE 10/18
MIDTERM - QUIZ 1
Essays, fill-ins, sentence completions.

_______________________

DUE 10/9
News in a Digital Age
Readings Due: Rodman, Chapter 11
Group 4 presents

DUE 10/11
Media Support Industry-Advertising
Readings Due: Rodman, Chapter 13

Proposal -topic and media only- for Semester Project

___________________

DUE 10/2 and 10/4
Readings: Rodman, Chapter 10, Jenkins, Spoiling Survivor pg. 25-58

Post 2 (**due Tuesday 10/2) In the reading Everyone is a Media Outlet, Clay Shirky describes "mass amateurization." Explain what he means by this and give a clear example from your experience that illustrates his argument. What does Shirky argue is the outcome of this?

Similarly Jenkins in Why Heather Can Write describes fan fiction culture and the amateurization of the author. Please use examples to explain this development.

What do you feel is the future of the media professional? What do these two readings suggest may be shifting, if anything, and what may come of these new authors?

Feel free to use other essays/articles as well to speak to this points. USE EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR POINTS. ~5 paragraphs, with images and citations.

_______________________

DUE 9/27
READINGS: Clay Shirky, Publish, Then Filter (reading is now on Blackboard)

Post 2 (**due Tuesday 10/2)
In the reading Everyone is a Media Outlet, Clay Shirky describes "mass amateurization." Explain what he means by this and give a clear example from your experience that illustrates his argument. What does Shirky argue is the outcome of this?

Similarly Jenkins in Why Heather Can Write describes fan fiction culture and the amateurization of the author. Please use examples to explain this development.

What do you feel is the future of the media professional? What do these two readings suggest may be shifting, if anything, and what may come of these new authors?

Feel free to use other essays/articles as well to speak to this points. ~5 paragraphs, with images and citations.

DUE 9/25

READINGS: Review last week's readings and Rodman, Chapter 4

Group 2 present

_______________________
DUE 9/20

Readings Due: Jenkins, Why Heather Can Write pg.175-216

DUE 9/18

POSt 1 DUE (due 9/18 before class)

Society of the Spectacle

What is the society of the spectacle? How does Debord describe the spectacle and its impact? Discuss the theme of commodity as described by Debord in this chapter specifically. What is the commodity as spectacle? Please use your readings about the media, convergence and spectacle to help illustrate your descriptions and your points. Use clear examples from contemporary mediated culture to help explain your interpretations of this text.

You must cite from your sources (in body citation) and use images (at least 2) to illustrate your examples. Feel free to also link to additional resources and information.

5+ paragraphs posted on this blog: well-developed,edited, and formatted correctly.

Readings Due: Rodman, Chapter 3 and Clay Shirky, Everyone is a Media Outlet on Blackboard

****GROUP 1 presents*****

__________________________

DUE 9/13

Review READINGS:

Rodman, Chapter 1

Debord, The Commodity as Spectacle (1977 translation) OR(2002 translation )

Be prepared to define/explain key concepts and terms in the Rodman chapter and to share your thoughts on Guy Debord's chapter from Society of the Spectacle. You may be asked to write a reading response in class.

DUE 9/11

Introduce yourself on the blog - MINI POST

Please post 1 paragraph about yourself and your professional and academic goals. How do media, media consumption and media studies fit into your life, your academic goals and your interests? You must include one image and one link.

READINGS:

Rodman, Chapter 1

Debord, The Commodity as Spectacle (1977 translation) OR (2002 translation )

_________________________

Due 9/06

Be sure you are signed up for the blog and create a draft post to practice using blogger.

READING:

Jenkins, Introduction to Convergence Culture pgs.1-24

_________________________

Link to Syllabus

Links to online videos from class screenings

Readings on the syllabus refer to chapters in your texts: George Rodman's Mass Media in a Changing World and Henry Jenkins' Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide

**Additional readings can be found on the Blackboard site or linked here and will be specified here for each class. Please check here each week for additional readings.