What is cultural journalism? This is the salient question, approached from the perspective of practice—that is, non-fiction creative writing practice—at the heart of this course. “Cultural Journalism” refers broadly to explorations in various media of cultural issues, phenomena, texts, figures and contexts for a non-specialized audience. This course however focuses on writing in print and online. In writing, cultural journalism ranges from short forms like the traditional review and the more recent blog through longer forms like substantial article-length profiles, review articles and reporting on cultural trends to book-length studies. What unites these forms is a focus on culture broadly construed and a mode of writing that is aimed at a general audience. The cultural context to Mormon worship in Hawai’i; the rise in popularity of “affect theory” within the academy; a cultural introduction to Taipei as a travel destination; the origins of tourist memorabilia sold in Waikiki; trends in contemporary American fiction; a personal profile of a cultural icon; the meanings of race in Obama’s America: these, in addition to traditional evaluative genres such as book reviews, are examples of opportunities for a contemporary cultural journalism.
Assignments:
The goal of the course is to prepare students to engage with cultural journalism through both short and long forms. At the end of the course, students will have read texts contextualizing contemporary journalism as well as examples of cultural journalism ranging from the short review to book-length studies. Rather than reading, the focus of the course, however, is decidedly on writing. Students will do several assignments ranging from the length of the typical op-ed (600-800 words) to articles thousands of words long. Taken together the assignments will require research either in an archive or in the field or both. For their assignments, students will be asked to write in different genres–for example, a profile of a musician based on interviews as well as a review article on several books introducing and exploring a concept. There will be considerable emphasis on drafting and revision. The writings will be workshopped—in a way appropriate to the size of the class—and eventually published either in outside venues or on a website that the students in the class will collectively conceptualize and create. The creation of the website is a required assignment.
As indicated, this course is an introduction to cultural journalism in written form. However, students who demonstrate appropriate prior expertise may with permission substitute audio or video forms for some of the assignments.
Tentative List of Assignments:
1. Formal Individual Assignments (these will go through a rigorous drafting and workshop process):
Three short pieces (600-800 words) (op-ed; book-, movie-, music-, or video-game review; blog; event report or preview; etc.) 30% of the grade
Two long pieces (2500 words each)(profile; interview; feature article; travel essay; review article; etc.) 50% of the grade
2. Collective Assignment: The class as a whole will create a website on which all or a selection of the pieces will be published. 10% of the grade
3. Regular informal responses to readings. These are required but will not be graded. Along with class participation: 10% of the grade
Required Texts:
The New New Journalism: Conversations with America’s Best Non-Fiction Writers on Their Craft, ed. Richard Boynton (2006)
Beyond News: The Future of Journalism, by Mitchell Stephens (2014)
Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock ‘n’ Roll Music (Fifth Edition), by Greil Marcus (2008)
The Beauty Myth (Tenth Anniversary Edition), Naomi Wolf (2002)
In addition, I will produce an online course packet of older and more recent short cultural journalistic pieces by Naomi Klein, Edward Said, Pauline Kael, Roland Barthes, Michael Lewis, Thomas Friedman and others culled from both print sources such as books, The New Yorker, The Nation and Honolulu Magazine as well as online sources such as Civil Beat, Salon and Jacobin.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will—
Develop an understanding of the discipline of English and its relationship to other disciplines (Cultural Journalism and Non-Fiction Creative Writing)
Develop an understanding of advanced research methods and creative techniques in relation to Cultural Journalism and Non-Fiction Creative Writing
Develop an understanding of popular forms of Cultural Criticism
Develop the ability to demonstrate advanced critical analysis of the history and craft of Non-Fiction Creative Writing
Develop the ability to map, historicize, and contextualize the history and craft of Cultural Journalism
Develop advanced creative writing skills for publication