Syllabus



COMM 790 Syllabus Instructor: Anne Balsamo __ Objective __ The primary objective of this directed study is to gain a foundation in biopolitical theory and its interaction with the public on the scale of large movements or the body politic. The course will use Foucault as a starting point to think through contemporary attitudes on the AIDS crisis and will culminate with fieldwork in Washington DC as part of a trip with Anne Balsamo’s public interactives research group. The trip will consist of research members interfacing between the public, the AIDS Quilt, and technology designed to enhance visitors’ experience. __ Coursework __ Week 1: May 16-18 Reading: //And the Band Played On//(Randy Shilts) Due: Book summary blog post on “Designing Culture” blog

Week 2: May 21-25 Reading: // Remembering the AIDS Quilt // (Charles E. Morris, editor) Due: Book summary blog post on “Designing Culture” blog

Week 3: May 28 – June 1 Reading: None Due: Moderate Empyre Soft Skinned Space forum The forum is designed to develop critical perspectives on technology from a cross-disciplinary approach

Weeks 4-5: June 4-15 Reading: None Due: None Break for ASIMS

Week 6: June 18-22 Reading: // Technologies of the Gendered Body // (Anne Balsamo) Due: Book summary blog post on “Designing Culture” blog

Week 7: June 25-29 Reading: // How We Became Posthuman // (N. Katherine Hayles) Due: Book summary blog post on “Designing Culture” blog

Week 8: July 2-6 Reading: // Designing Culture // (Anne Balsamo) Due: Book summary blog post on “Designing Culture” blog

Weeks 9: July 9-13 Reading: None Due: None Break for NCA workshop at ASCJ

Weeks 10-11: July 16-27 Reading: None Due: None

“The Quilt in the Capital” event in Washington DC   Responsibilities include:
 * Assisting with setup for technology tent
 * Staffing the interactive exhibits
 * Interacting with visitors
 * Demonstrations of how to use the browser application that will help visitors interact with the Quilt on a mobile device
 * Demonstrations of how to use the application on the Microsoft Touch surfaces
 * Videotaping oral history statements
 * Assisting with strike of technology tent
 * Serving as ambassadors for USC and the Names Project Foundation