General course information

Primary Texts

Music videos

1. “Video Killed the Radio Star” (The Buggles; 1979)
2. “Ashes to Ashes” (David Bowie; 1980)
3. “Games without Frontiers” (Peter Gabriel; 1980)
4. “Dancing with Myself” (Billy Idol; 1981)
5. “Come on Eileen” (Dexys Midnight Runners; 1982)
6. “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” (Culture Club; 1982)
7. “Billie Jean” (Michael Jackson; 1983)
8. “Karma Chameleon” (Culture Club; 1983)
9. “Relax” (Frankie Goes to Hollywood; 1983)
10. “Synchronicity II” (The Police; 1983)
11. “Thriller” (Michael Jackson; 1983)
12. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (Bonnie Tyler; 1983)
13. “Wrapped around Your Finger” (The Police; 1983)
14. “Eyes without a Face” (Billy Idol; 1984)
15. “I Want to Break Free” (Queen; 1984)
16. “Jazzin’ for Blue Jean” (David Bowie; 1984)
17. “Like a Virgin” (Madonna; 1984)
18. “Mimi on the Beach” (Jane Siberry; 1984)
19. “The Reflex” (Duran Duran; 1984)
20. “Smalltown Boy” (Bronski Beat; 1984)
21. “Take on Me” (A-ha; 1984)
22. “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (Twisted Sister; 1984)
23. “Wild Boys” (Duran Duran; 1984)
24. “Addicted to Love” (Robert Palmer; 1986)
25. “Don’t Give Up” (Peter Gabriel, ft. Kate Bush; 1986)
26. “Livin’ on a Prayer” (Bon Jovi; 1986)
27. “True Colors” (Cyndi Lauper; 1986)
28. “Push It” (Salt-n-Pepa; 1987)
29. “Where the Streets Have No Name” (U2; 1987)
30. “Cherish” (Madonna; 1989)
31. “Like a Prayer” (Madonna; 1989)
32. “Love Will Never Do (without You)” (Janet Jackson; 1990)
33. “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Sinéad O’Connor; 1990)
34. “Wicked Game” (Chris Isaak; 1990)
35. “Black or White” (Michael Jackson; 1991)
36. “Give It Away” (Red Hot Chili Peppers; 1991)
37. “I’m Too Sexy” (Right Said Fred; 1991)
38. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana; 1991)
39. “Human Touch” (Bruce Springsteen; 1992)
40. “Jam” (Michael Jackson; 1992)
41. “Jeremy” (Pearl Jam; 1992)
42. “Everybody Hurts” (R. E. M.; 1993)
43. “Closer” (Nine Inch Nails; 1994)
44. “Take a Bow” (Madonna; 1994)
45. “Hero of the Day” (Metallica; 1996)
46. “Wannabe” (Spice Girls; 1996)
47. “Believe” (Cher; 1998)
48. “Rollercoaster” (UK version) (B*Witched; 1998)
49. “All Is Full of Love” (Björk; 1999)
50. “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” (Shania Twain; 1999)
51. “Goodbye Earl” (Dixie Chicks; 2000)
52. “The Real Slim Shady” (Eminem; 2000)
53. “Rock DJ” (Robbie Williams; 2000)
54. “Stan” (Eminem; 2000)
55. “I Want to Be in Love” (Melissa Etheridge; 2001)
56. “Imitation of Life” (R. E. M.; 2001)
57. “Weapon of Choice” (Fatboy Slim; 2001)
58. “All the Things She Said” (t.A.T.u.; 2002)
59. “The Scientist” (Coldplay; 2002)
60. “Intuition” (Jewel; 2003)
61. “My Humps” (The Black Eyed Peas; 2005)
62. “How to Save a Life” (third version) (The Fray; 2006)
63. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (Beyoncé; 2008)
64. “Bad Romance” (Lady Gaga; 2009)
65. “Firework” (Katy Perry; 2010)
66. “Marz” (John Grant; 2010)
67. “Raise Your Glass” (Pink; 2010)
68. “Sexy and I Know It” (LMFAO; 2011)
69. “Someone Like You” (Adele; 2011)
70. “Titanium” (David Guetta ft. Sia; 2011)
71. “Breezeblocks” (alt-J; 2012)
72. “Locked Out of Heaven” (Bruno Mars; 2012)
73. “Dark Horse” (Katy Perry; 2013)
74. “Gorilla” (Bruno Mars; 2013)
75. “Say Something” (A Great Big World with Christina Aguilera; 2013)
76. “Wrecking Ball” (Miley Cyrus; 2013)
77. “All About That Bass” (Meghan Trainor; 2014)
78. “Ex’s & Oh’s” (Elle King; 2014)
79. “I luh ya papi” (Jennifer Lopez feat French Montana; 2014)
80. “Take Me to Church” (Hozier; 2014)
81. “★ [Blackstar]” (David Bowie; 2015)
82. “Hotline Bling” (Drake; 2015)
83. “Formation” (Beyoncé; 2016)
84. “1-800-273-8255” (Logic; 2017)
85. “… Ready for It?” (Taylor Swift; 2017)
86. “This Is America” (Childish Gambino; 2018)

Readings

• Fiske, John. “MTV: Post-Sturctural Post-Modern.” Journal of Communication Inquiry, vol. 10, no. 1, 1986, pp. 74-79. DOI: 10.1177/019685998601000110.
• Kinder, Marsha. “Music Video and the Spectator: Television, Ideology and Dream.” Film Quarterly, vol. 38, no. 1, Autumn 1984, pp. 2-15. www.jstor.org/stable/1211862.
• Martinec, Radan. “Construction of Identity in Michael Jackson’s Jam.” Social Semiotics, vol. 10, no. 3, 2000, pp. 313-29. DOI: 10.1080/10350330050136370
• Mulvey, Laura. “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.” Screen, vol. 16, no. 3, October 1975, pp. 6–18. DOI: 10.1093/screen/16.3.6.
• Straw, Will. “Music Video in Its Contexts: Popular Music and Post-Modernism in the 1980s.” Popular Music, vol. 7, no. 3, Oct. 1988, pp. 247-66. www.jstor.org/stable/853024.
• Vernallis, Carol. “The Aesthetics of Music Video: Madonna’s ‘Cherish.’” Popular Music, vol. 17, no. 2, May 1998, pp. 153-85. www.jstor.org/stable/853454.

Course Expectations or Outputs

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. critically engage the theoretical, historical, and cultural contexts of a focused topic in media studies.
2. demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the course topic through the analysis of primary texts in both class discussion and written work.
3. construct and sustain analytical arguments in clear, coherent prose and proper essay format.
4. enrich analytical arguments about primary texts through the judicious use of secondary sources.

Course Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will demonstrate:

1. a detailed knowledge of a focused topic in media studies.
2. an ability to offer theoretically and historically informed interpretation of texts.
3. an ability to compare the merits of different critical and theoretical approaches.
4. an ability to gather, review, and assess secondary sources appropriate to the topic.
5. an ability to communicate logical, analytical arguments in clear, correct, and persuasive prose.

Preparation and Participation

You are expected to participate in class in an informed manner. At the very least, you are expected to come to class regularly, having read all assigned reading and viewed all assigned videos. You are expected to participate in class discussions. Keep in mind that participating in class is usually a highly rewarding experience, greatly enhancing your ability to understand the course material and helping ensure your success in the course. Everyone is expected to be courteous and professional at all times in class.

Lateness

The first assignment is due before the start of the class on which we begin talking about the music video you have selected for the assignment or November 7, whichever is earlier. Late assignments will only be accepted for videos not yet covered in class and will be penalized 2%/day (and will not be accepted after the start of class on which we begin talking about those videos). The term essay is due in class on November 26. All students are welcome to a one-week extension on the term essay assignment. There will be a penalty of 2%/day (including weekend and public holiday days) after the one-week extension. No assignment will be accepted after the start of the final exam (if there is a final exam) or one week after the final class.