Guerilla Media Syllabus
CMUN 297: Guerilla Media
Spring 2008 Elizabeth Coffman
Department of Communication, 103 Loyola University Chicago
Office Hours: Wed: 1-4 or by appointment
“Become the Media….. “
Indymedia, Jello Biafra
Course Goals:
Guerilla Media covers the history and theory of alternative forms of journalism, film, and digital media production, and explores how the term guerilla has been appropriated for various methods of distribution, promotion and audience participation.
The course introduces the history of experimental film and video distribution, “guerilla” news media, citizen journalism, ‘viral’ ad campaigns and, what Henry Jenkins calls, “participatory culture”. We will see how the “independent” classification shifts according to appropriations of avant-garde techniques and how similar guerilla media tactics are employed by union activists, artists, bloggers, ‘citizen’ journalists, and advertisers. The course includes ideas emerging from academic and professional fields of study, and will make use of the Media Burn Video Archive.
Textbooks:
Community Media: A Global Introduction, by Ellie Rennie. Oxford: Rowan &
Littlefield, 2006. (CM)
Hand-held Visions: The Impossible Possibilities of Community Media, by Dee
Dee Halleck. New York: Fordham Press, 2002. (HHV)
Selected Readings From:
Fans, Bloggers, and Gamers: Media Consumers in a Digital Age; Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide, by Henry Jenkins; What are Journalists For? by Jay Rosen; Performing Video in the First Decade, 1968-1980 by Chris Hill; Planet TV, ed. Lisa Parks, Shanti Kumar; The End of Cinema as we know it, ed Jon Lewis.
Grade Scale:
Participation 10%
Group Blogs & Presentation 25%
Research Paper 30%
Community Media Project, Article or Campaign 35%
Course Expectations:
• You will be required to write one research paper (6-8) pages with at least 5 sources; complete a guerilla media project, article or campaign; participate in a group blog on a media issue, and give an in-class presentation on your group blog. You will have access to the Media Burn Archive for research purposes.
• All work must be original and done for this class. All work must be turned in on time. Any plagiarism will result in an F for the class. If you need help completing assignments, please see me or go to the Writing Center for outside help.
• You must view additional media outside of class time. If you are sick, I must see a note from the infirmary or a doctor.
• If you have any kind of disability that requires accommodation, you may disclose with documentation to the Wellness Center. You may also, of course, speak to me about it.
Course Schedule:
Week 1: January 16
Course overview: What do we mean by guerilla media?
Media Burn; Inquiring Nuns, Hoop Dreams, Kartemquin Films, Barbie Liberation Army, Guerilla Girls,
Assign: Write 1-2 pg. Description of your Daily/weekly media Intake and Output—newsprint, audio, video, internet; Read articles; Ch 1 in CM; HHV 82-91, Look at Jay Rosen’s Pressthink blog
Week 2: January 23
History of Community Media; Blogging, WordPress and Digital Storytelling.
Form Blog groups
Due: Ch 1 Community in CM, Articles, HHV 82-91
1-2 pg media use description
Assign: A description/outline for final project.; HHV pp.97-108, CM Ch 2 Access and Free Speech
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Week 3: January 30
Video Art and Chicago
Guest Speaker: Tom Weinburg—Mediia Burn, Ant Farm, Image Union…
Due: A description list and outline for final media project; HHV pp. 97-108
Ch 2 Access and Free Speech
Assign: Research Paper Topic—Provide Thesis, Exs, Sources; HHV pp 266-283
Week 4: February 6
Pacifica, Vocalo, Community, Pirate and Public Radio
Guest Speaker: Andrea Wenzel
Interviewing techniques and practice; audio work
Due: Research Paper Topic—Thesis, Exs, Sources; HHV pp 266-283
Assign: Radical Software, Remainder of Chris Hill Video Art article
Week 5: February 13
Class discussion on Community Media
Due: Radical Software readings
Remainder of Chris Hill Video Art article
Assign: Work on research paper, Laura Marks, “Live Video” in The End of Cinema as we know it
Week 6: February 20
Guest Speaker–Sharon Karp, Kartemquin and Independent Filmmaker
Quality and the Public Interest discussion
The “voice” of the documentary. Who’s in charge? Documentarian as witness, reporter, social memory, narrative, propaganda. Story-telling—auteur, collaborative, branding.
Asssign: Work on research paper
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Week 7: February 27
Research Paper due
Screening; Discussion of Marks, “Live Video,” Chris Hill, “Performing Video in the First Decade, 1968-1980”
Assign: CM Ch 4 Diversity; Digital Zapatistas, HHV pp. 333-340; “Interactive Audiences? The ‘Collective Intelligence’ of Media Fans” in Henry Jenkins Fans, Bloggers and Gamer
Spring Break – March 5
Week 8: March 12
It’s a Global Media World
Due: CM Ch 4 Diversity, Digital Zapatistas; HHV pp. 333-340; “Interactive Audiences? The ‘Collective Intelligence’ of Media Fans” in Henry Jenkins Fans, Bloggers and Gamer
Assign: Work on projects; “Marriages are Made on Televisions: Globalization and National Identity in India” by Divya McMillin; HHV pp.114-124, 384-402
Week 9: March 19
Global Media—Getting Married Online and TV, Rrriot Girls, Guerilla Girls
Due: “Marriages are Made on Televisions: Globalization and National Identity in India” by Divya McMillin;s HHV pp.114-124, 384-402;
Assign for 11/2: Hazards of Dissent–Ethiopia Blogs, Youth Participation in Radio Listening Clubs in Malawi; Blogs/Business in Malaysia ; CM Ch 5 Development
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Week 10: March 26
Field Trip: CAN TV, Orientation, Meet at 322 S. Green St. by 5.
Go to Halsted on Blue line, UIC stop, walk N. to Van Buren, left at corner
Week 11: April 2
Global Media—Africa and Asia
Due: View rough cuts/drafts of final projects;
Hazards of Dissent–Ethiopia Blogs, Youth Participation in Radio Listening Clubs in Malawi; Blogs/Business in Malaysia ; CM Ch 5 Development
Assign: “Photoshop for Democracy” in Henry Jenkins, Convergence Culture; Ch
6 in CM, Access Reconfigured; “Teletubbies: Infant Cyborg Desire”
Week 12: April 9
Global Media—Teletubbies, Viral Marketing and Democratic Convergence?
Due: “Photoshop for Democracy” in Henry Jenkins, Convergence Culture; Ch 6 in CM, Access Reconfigured; Teletubbies: Infant Cyborg Desire”
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Week 13: April 16
Finish Teletubbies, Viral Marketing and Democracy discussion.
Working class on group blogs, final projects
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Week 14: April 23
Presentations of Blogs
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Week 15: April 30—Final Guerilla Media Projects Due and
Presented during Exam time
Discussion/Blog/Media Project Ideas
• What is the future of public access television? Of community radio?
• History of ‘guerilla’ movements in arts and culture; e.g. Guerilla Girls
• History of ‘guerilla’ movements in politics—Mao Tse-tung, Che Guevara, Black Panther Party, Greens (?)
• Publish story/research Chicago Indymedia Center
• Research WLUW, college and community radio and AMARC. Volunteer with WLUW
• Tom Weinburg, Media Burn, Image Union, the 90s show and history of video art and independent media in Chicago
• Deep Dish TV/Free Speech Network and Link TV
• Public journalism, citizen journalism, ‘corporate’ journalism, blogging, editing, ethics, branding…
• Get trained and start or participate in a show on CAN TV
• Guerilla marketing and promotional tactics on Youtube, Myspace—see Barbie and Barbie Liberation Army—Do your own campaign.
• Documentary film and Kartemquin—funding/producing and political history
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