Syllabus! Woooo!
Here is the syllabus for the SATC ExCo for Spring 2004...sound like something you're interested in? Let me know if you have any questions that I can answer before the ExCo fair even thinks about starting! (keep in mind that some information is left out, such as the place - hasn't been assigned - and I haven't gotten around to writing out the full season 5 plan yet, but you'll get the gist of it.)
SEX AND THE CITY
Syllabus
Instructor Clare Cira
An analysis of the HBO sitcom "Sex and the City". The show will be examined as a reflection of American sexuality, and discussion will help us relate the show to our lives and Oberlin culture. All the episodes from the first four seasons will be shown. The class will meet twice weekly and will view three episodes per meeting. No previous knowledge of the show required.
**********
Course Objectives
The goal of this course is to introduce the students to the views and discussions featured in "Sex and the City" (SATC). Students can expect to leave each class with a better understanding of sexual empowerment, making decisions about relationships, and learning from the mistakes of the characters on the show.
***********
Grading
Grading will be based on coursework and contribution during class discussions. Brief response papers (half-page to 1 typed page) will be assigned every week to encourage critical thinking of topics discussed in the show. A final paper of 2-3 typed pages will reflect each student's opinions of the show's portrayal of women, gender roles, sexuality, relationships, and other topics touched upon in the course.
***********
Courseload
Mandatory attendance - attend at least 12 class meetings during the semester. If you attend fewer than 9 classes, you will not receive credit for the course. Students must turn in 6 response papers (see grading), or approximately one every other week. Final paper of 2-3 pages is required.
Possible Final Paper Topics: Analysis of any of the show’s characters; the fashion of SATC; portrayal of gays, lesbians and bisexuals; language used on the show; changes in the show over the seasons; portrayal of New York City in the show; the men of SATC; how the show relates to you on a personal level; what SATC would be like in Oberlin; where you think the characters will be in 20 years.
***********
Meeting Times/Place
Mondays and Thursdays, 7-9 PM Place TBA
***********
Instructor Contact Info
ccira@oberlin.edu Firelands Apt. 503 x63214
***********
Recommended Websites
http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show.cgi?show=7&sort=&limit=allTelevision Without Pity provides snarky, yet insightful, recaps of SATC episodes.
http://www.hbo.com/city/The official SATC website. Complete recaps of shows, along with photos.
Course Schedule
Week 1 - 2/16 & 2/19
Monday: 1-1: Sex and the City; 1-2: Models and Mortals; 1-3: Bay of Married Pigs
Thursday: 1-4: Valley of the Twenty-Something Guys; 1-5: The Power of Female Sex; 1-6: Secret Sex
Week 2 - 2/23 & 2/26
Monday: 1-7: The Monogamists; 1-8: Three’s a Crowd; 1-9: The Turtle and the Hare
Thursday: 1-10: The Baby Shower; 1-11: The Drought; 1-12: Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Week 3 - 3/1 & 3/4
Monday: 2-1: Take Me Out to the Ballgame; 2-2: The Awful Truth; 2-3: The Freak Show
Thursday: 2-4: They Shoot Single People, Don’t They?; 2-5: Four Women and a Funeral;
2-6: The Cheating Curve
Week 4 - 3/8 & 3/11
Monday: 2-7: The Chicken Dance; 2-8: The Man, the Myth, the Viagra; 2-9: Old Dogs, New Dicks
Thursday: 2-10: The Caste System; 2-11: Evolution; 2-12: La Doleur Exquise!
Week 5 - 3/15 & 3/18
Monday: 2-13: Games People Play; 2-14: The Fuck Buddy; 2-15: Shortcomings
Thursday: 2-16: Was It Good for You?; 2-17: Twenty-Something Girls vs. Thirty-Something Women; 2-18: Ex and the City
Week 6 - 3/22 & 3/25
Monday: 3-1: Where There’s Smoke...; 3-2: Politically Erect; 3-3: Attack of the Five Foot Ten Woman
Thursday: 3-4: Boy, Girl, Boy, Girl...; 3-5: No Ifs, Ands or Butts; 3-6: Are We Sluts?
NO CLASS 3/29 & 4/1 - Spring Break
Week 7 - 4/5 & 4/8
Monday: 3-7: Drama Queens; 3-8: The Big Time; 3-9: Easy Come, Easy Go
Thursday: 3-10: All or Nothing; 3-11: Running With Scissors; 3-12: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Week 8 - 4/12 & 4/15
Monday: 3-13: Escape from New York; 3-14: Sex and Another City; 3-15: Hot Child in the City
Thursday: 3-16: Frenemies; 3-17: What Goes Around Comes Around; 3-18: Cock a Doodle Do!
Week 9 - 4/19 & 4/22
Monday: 4-1: The Agony and the ‘Ex’-tacy; 4-2: The Real Me; 4-3: Defining Moments
Thursday: 4-4: What’s Sex Got to Do with It?; 4-5: Ghost Town; 4-6: Baby, Talk Is Cheap
Week 10 - 4/26 & 4/29
Monday: 4-7: Time and Punishment; 4-8: My Motherboard, My Self; 4-9: Sex and the Country
Thursday: 4-10: Belles of the Balls; 4-11: Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda; 4-12: Just Say Yes
Week 11 - 5/3 & 5/6
Monday: 4-13: The Good Fight; 4-14: All That Glitters...; 4-15: Change of a Dress
Thursday: 4-16: Ring a Ding Ding; 4-17: A ‘Vogue’ Idea; 4-18: I Heart NY
Week 12 - 5/10 & 5/13
Monday: Season 5 - part one (first four episodes)
Thursday: Season 5 - part two (final four episodes), course summation
***********
General Discussion Questions
1) How do these four women represent different aspects of femininity or feminism in our culture?
2) Do their general questions/concerns/dilemmas ring true with you?
3) How is each character being developed?
4) What aspects of these characters are most relevant to Oberlin life? (cynicism, promiscuity, ambivalence...)
5) How does the show utilize tertiary characters to flesh out a more complete picture of dating life? (Stanford, Skipper, Susan Sharon, Mr. Marvelous...)
6) How do the secondary male characters (Trey, Aiden, Big, Steve) represent different aspects of masculinity and the “typical male”?
7) What sorts of behaviors do the characters engage in? How do they (and you) feel about these behaviors? How does society in general react to them?
8) Discuss Carrie’s “question of the week”.
9) How do they use the setting of New York? Do you think of it as a “fifth character”?
10) Are their lifestyles in general realistic?
11) How do you think the women met? Why/how do you think they continue to be friends despite some strong differences in basic values (i.e. Samantha and Charlotte)?
12) What do you think of the fashion on the show and the trends it has caused in real life? (giant flowers, nameplate necklaces, etc)
13) The show is in its 6th and final season. Is it overdue, or are you sad to see it go?
***********
Extra Information to Know
1) All papers must be handed in hard-copy; no email submissions. This is so I can better keep track of them.
2) Always bring a paper and pen to class. I expect everyone (including myself) to take notes during the episodes to facilitate discussion and help you write response papers. This will also help you with your final paper.
3) Bring friends who aren’t enrolled in the class if you’d like! Everyone is welcome and may also participate in discussion if they choose.
4) Professor Beers: I am ready, willing, and able to go and get drunk with you. Just ask.
5) Don’t be shy! Feel free to use profanity, talk in sexually explicit terms, and share your experiences! First rule of SATC ExCo: what’s spoken here, stays here. No one will judge you. And if they do, I’ll have a little chat with them. :)
6) Respect other people’s viewing: turn off cell phones and refrain from talking during class. Anything that distracts Clare from her favorite show is very bad.
7) Please be on time. If you need to be late (or leave early), please let me know in advance if possible so that I don’t mark you absent. (As stated earlier, you are required to attend 12 class meetings per semester. Absences cannot be made up, and I will take attendance at every class meeting. More than 3 absences = no credit!)
Current Mood: Sexy! 
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
satc_exco's journal
excited
irritated
bouncy