 CCT300: Critical Analysis of Media September 8: Class 1: Class Introduction

Welcome  A bit about me  A bit about others who will be involved  A bit about you

 What is a medium of communication?  What does “analysis” mean?  What does it mean to analyze something critically? Critical? Analysis? Media?

 Many types of media forms and genres  Analysis = identification of core components, reduction of complexity - often to classify, differentiate between media forms  Critical analysis = reflection on nature and form, but also impact and consequence  Media Form, Issues of Creation, Economic Influences as three areas of consideration Analysis of Media

 Contact information and how to use it  Course structure – 3hrs., half lecture, half in class assignments/discussion/assignment prep, with break in middle (we’ll go straight through and get out early today…)  NB: on prerequisites Course Overview

 McCloud’s Understanding Comics (1993)  Don’t let the book format trick you into reading superficially  Comics as base point for analysis - other media examples will be added throughout  Other online readings for various topics will be revealed as we go through Texts

SLATE = NO. (Why?) Wiki sign up, personal wiki creation today, including tips on etiquette First in class assignment = creating and linking personal wiki Previous wikis are available – check them out! Wiki

 In class assignments  Graphic Novel Analysis  Comic Creation  Creating an Internet Meme  Exam Assignments

Frequent in class assignments Some due in class, some (like today) due following week % each - you can skip a couple(save first week – personal wiki must be done.) No late submissions Quality reflections = full marks; partial or limited reflections, or answering without showing up, much less so Plagiarism concerns… In class assignments (10%)

 Applying principles of McCloud’s Understanding Comics to graphic novel/extended plot comic of your choosing (approx words)  Illustration/examples strongly encouraged  Choice of analytical tools from McCloud up to you - a scattershot approach is never effective though  Other resources never hurt – e.g., external analyses, etc. - but do focus on McCloud  Oct. 6 due date Graphic Novel Analysis (15%)

 Strip collections aren’t a good choice - why?  Simple cartoons (e.g., Archie?) probably harder than you think – why?  Non-English comics OK (as long as you understand the language and can interpret what’s going on.)  Be careful with books turned into movies – no compare/contrast, definitely don’t just see the movie! (e.g., Scott Pilgrim)  Less about plot than analysis of comic form  Where to look for graphic novels? Tips

 Creating a webcomic  What is a webcomic?  2 page analysis of why you did what you did, leveraging McCloud concepts  Nov 3 deadline, posted to wiki or handed in in class Comic Creation (15%)

 This is not an art assignment – many good webcomics are artistically rudimentary and work well in spite (because of?) this.  Story counts, as well as proper thought in visual grammar of comics to tell it  Start looking at various web comics for inspiration and ideas  Play with choice of medium Tips

 Group final project - creating content that could go viral, releasing it to the atmosphere and analyzing production and dissemination  Proposal first – Nov. 3 – posted to wiki for peer review  Final project presented in last class – “science fair” style presentations, 5-7 mins, showcasing main message, why you think it’s viral, what you did to seed the message, and how it turned out.  Brief writeup along with presentation (3 pages) outlining process Creating and Propogating Viral Content (30%)

 Message, media and audience  Pick media you are comfortable with and you can feasibly engage given time/resource constraints  Conform to standards of media genre  Be innovative; avoid excessive copying  Consider mashups  Be cautious about what you say! Tips

 In UTM exam period  Covering major topics over course of term – text and associated readings given  Focus on critical awareness and application vs. regurgitation of fact  Lecture notes and discussion of in-class articles are fair game  Details and examples will follow nearer conclusion of term Final Exam (30%)

 Academic honesty is taken seriously by all, and hurts those who don’t take it seriously.  Accessibility concerns – talk to me confidentially  Due dates/lateness policy – in-class assignments have hard deadlines  ROSI reporting of absences for consideration of late assignments essential Important Policy Notes

In-Class Assignment #1: Wiki creation  Wikispaces quick tutorial  Wiki etiquette – what to do/what not to do to be a good wiki citizen  Task: Create and link personal wiki.  Deadline: by end of month, your wiki should be up and running.  Have a personal wiki? Use it. Build it as a portfolio.

 Laws of Media  etrad/index.html etrad/index.html  History of this work  Read and reflect – be ready to use tetrad model next week by applying it. Next week…