Schedule of readings and Oncourse assignments for Global Consumer Culture

CLASSROOM SCHEDULE: READING and JUST in TIME

TUESDAYS

THURSDAYS

August 30

COURSE INTRODUCTION

Sept.1

TOPICS, DISCIPLINES & CULTURE

1. Finish the Online survey on oncourse

2. Read John Bodley’s definition of CULTURE at http://www.wsu.edu:8001/vcwsu/commons/topics/culture/culture-definitions/bodley-text.html

Sept 6

WHAT IS A CONSUMER CULTURE?

1. Read Schor Chapter 1 &2

2. Complete Just in Time assignment 1 on Oncourse

3. Read the wikipedia definition of consumer culture at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_culture

Sept 8

COMPETITION AND STATUS

1. read Schor Chapter 3

2. read wikipedia on Veblen’s theory of the leisure class at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Theory_of_the_Leisure_Class

Sept 13

RATS AND RACES

1. Read Schor Chapter 4

2. Complete Just in Time assignment 2 on Oncourse

Sept 15

CAN YOU MEASURE HAPPINESS?

1. read comment at http://www.alwayson-network.com/comments.php?id=P3778_0_5_0_C

2. read Unesco article at http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/theme_b/mod09/uncom09t03s01.htm

Sept 20

DOWNSHIFTING

1. read Schor Chapters 5 and 6

2. Complete Just in Time assignment 3 on Oncourse

Sept 22

Film: AFFLUENZA

1. after film, complete Just in Time assignment 4

Sept 27

INTRODUCTION TO MCDONALDIZATION and CONSUMPTION THEORY

1. Read Ritzer Chapters 1 & 2

2. Read Robinson Rojas on theories of modernity at http://www.rrojasdatabank.org/capital8.htm

Sept 29 – 30 attend Conference on Universities and Fair Trade being held at IU, volunteers needed, email pbose)

Oct 4

ALWAYS THE SAME BURGERS!

1. Read Ritzer Chapters 3, 4, 5 & 6

2. Complete Just in Time assignment 5 on Oncourse

Oct 6

PROBLEMS OF MCDONALDING EVERYTHING

1. Read Ritzer Chapter 7

2. Read the Wikipedia on Naomi Klein and her book “No Logo,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Klein

3. Read at least one of the culture-jamming websites listed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_jamming

Optional: read the excerpt from Tom Franks “The Conquest of Cool” at http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/259919.html

Oct 11

GLOBALIZATION I

1. Read Ritzer Chapters 8 & 9

2. Complete Just in Time assignment 6 on Oncourse

Oct 13

GLOBALIZATION II

1. Read wikipedia article on globalization at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization

2. Read “Jihad vs McWorld” by Benjamin Barber at www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/199203/barber

Oct 18

CULTURE AND GLOBALIZATION

1. Read Watson, Introduction and Chapters 1 & 2

2. Complete Just in Time Assignment 7 on Oncourse

Oct 20

LOCALIZATION and GLOCALIZATION

1. Read Watson Chapters 3 & 4

2. Read Wilk “Miss World Belize” at http://www.indiana.edu/~wanthro/beaaauty.htm

Oct 25

CREOLIZATION, MIXTURE, ADAPTATION

VIDEO EXCERPT: TROBRIAND CRICKET

1. Finish Watson book

2. Complete Just in Time assignment 8 on Oncourse

Oct 27

CREOLIZATION AND HYBRIDITY

1. Read Wilk ““Food and Nationalism: The Origins of "Belizean Food."” at http://www.indiana.edu/~wanthro/bzfood.htm

Nov 1

VIDEO - CAPPUCCINO TRAIL: THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IN A CUP

1. after video Complete Just in Time Assignment 10

Nov 3

ENERGY AND GLOBAL WARMING

1. Read “Global Temperature Record” at http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/info/warming/

2. Read DOE report on USA energy use at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/usa.html

3. Read the Energy Crash website at http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/

Nov 8

WEALTH AND POVERTY

1. Read UNDP report on Global Consumption at http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/1998/en/pdf/hdr_1998_overview.pdf

2. Read Chossudovsky on Global Poverty at http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/6/6099/1.html

3. Complete Just in Time Assignment 11

Nov 10

FAT AND FAMINE

1. Read Al Ahram on fat at http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/649/feature.htm

2. Read Lambert’s article “The Way We Eat Now” at http://www.harvard-magazine.com/on-line/050465.html

Nov 15

CARRYING CAPACITY AND GLOBAL FOOTPRINT

1. Read “Die Off” at http://dieoff.com/page110.htm

2. Read William Rees on Carrying Capacity at http://dieoff.com/page110.htm

3. Read “The Energy Footprint of Nations at http://www.ecouncil.ac.cr/rio/focus/report/english/footprint/

Nov 17

COMMODITY CHAINS and REAL COSTS

1. Read Richard Robbins on the Twinkie at http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/richard.robbins/political_economy_of_twinkies.htm

2. Read Extract from “Stuff” on Oncourse.

3. Complete Just in Time assignment 12

Nov 22 THANKSGIVING

Nov 24 HOLIDAY

Nov 29 SUSTAINABILITY and CONSUMPTION

1. Read Wilk’s essay “But the young men don’t want to farm any more” on Oncourse.

2. Read Summaries of the chapters of the Worldwatch “State of the World” report for 2004 at http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/sow/2004/toc/

3. Read “Top 10 Principles of Good Consumption” at www.worldwatch.org/pubs/goodstuff/principles/

4. Complete Just in Time assignment 13

Dec 1

VIDEO: T-SHIRT TRAVELS

1. after video Complete Just in Time Assignment 14

Dec 6

FAIR TRADE – CAMPUS NO SWEAT! PRESENTATION

1. Read the EqualExchange Sweatfree action plan at http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/sweatshops/actionplan.html

2. Read all of CNAD’s “Conscious Consumer” website at http://www.newdream.org/consumer/index.php

3. Complete Just in Time assignment 15

Dec 8

Last Class - LEFTOVERS

Dec 15

10 AM Final Exam