Instructor: Jon Rossini, Department of Theatre & Dance, College of Letters and Science
Description: In this course we will be critically analyzing episodes from the animated comedy South Park to understand how they frame contemporary political and social debates. We will be exploring several episodes of the show in detail, using the material as a jumping off point for an engaged critical discussion of both the issues raised by the episode as well as ascertaining if South Park is articulating a sustained and coherent political position or is creating tactical satire depending upon the specific issue at hand. Brian C. Anderson’s book South Park Conservatives: Revolt Against Liberal Media Bias articulates the conservative agenda of the program while Frank Rich’s New York Times Op-Ed piece “Conservatives [Heart] ‘South Park’” offers a counter-argument regarding their libertarian political position. In the process of understanding the way issues are framed on South Park we will to get a clearer understanding of the way rhetorical frames work to shape the nature of representation and the scope of debate. There are four primary goals for student learning. 1) To begin to foster analytical skills to allow students to critically engage with the media; 2) To encourage students to begin independent investigation into contemporary cultural issues; 3) To begin to understand the way representation is framed visually and rhetorically; and 4) To explore the nature and role of political satire.
Format: Each week students will engage with two episodes of South Park that they are responsible for viewing outside of class. In order to help understand the way the discussion has been framed by these episodes, teams of students will also provide additional material to help frame the social issues and expose how South Park is choosing to frame the issue. Each meeting the discussion will be led by two students who will be responsible for providing written polemical readings of the episodes under discussion to be circulated electronically before the meeting in order to allow students to prepare for discussion. They will also be responsible for directing students to relevant print or web resource that engage with issues that arise from the episodes and help frame the debate. Depending upon the number of enrolled students individuals may be responsible for leading discussion in more than one class. In addition to preparation for leading discussions and the oral presentation (as a part of the discussion process), students will individually (or in groups of their choosing) produce an outline for a South Park episode that specifically addresses their choice in framing the issue(s) at hand. Grading: Grades will be based on: Discussion Facilitation, Background Research and Polemical Writing (35%); Participation in Discussion (30%); and Episode Outline Project (35%).
About the Instructor: Professor Rossini teaches courses on Performance Studies, History of Theatre and Dance, and Race and Performance in the Department of Theatre and Dance. His primary research is in the intersections of ethnicity and theater, and he is fascinated by the intersections of identity, politics, and performance, on stage and in everyday life. He is currently completing a book on Latina/o Theater.