Theories of Space, Place and Mobility: Syllabus

Geography and Cultural Studies:
Theories of Space, Place & Mobility (Spring 2012)

Course #46-3525, Section 01
Tuesdays, 3:20-6:20 in 624 S Michigan, Room #903

Columbia College Chicago / 600 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605

Department of Humanities, History & Social Sciences / Cultural Studies Program

Professor: Zack Furness, PhD
Office: 624 S. Michigan, Room #13N
Office hours: Wednesdays 12:30-3:00 and by appt.
Office phone: 312-344-8791 (Email is my preferred mode of communication)
Mailbox: On the 10th floor, in the main suite of the HHSS Department
Email: zfurness@colum.edu (Please give me up to 24 hours to respond)
HHSS Dept phone: 312-369-7295

Last Day to Add Classes: January 23
Last Day to Drop Classes: January 30
Last Date to Withdraw from Classes: March 12
Spring Break: Monday, March 26 - Sunday, April 1
Instructional Resources Fees: None
Course information and syllabus are online at OASIS

Course Description

This course engages with key scholars, activists and artists who theorize and/or contest the meaning and function of space, place and mobility in the modern world. We will specifically make use of scholarship from cultural studies and several sub-fields of geography (human, cultural, feminist, economic) to explore diverse phenomena including urbanization and gentrification, public protest, street art, transportation, military occupation, utopian/dystopian narratives, parks and playgrounds, and media representation.

Pre-Requisites

Cultural Theories (46-2100)
Writing and Rhetoric II (52-1152)

Credit Information

With a grade of "C" or better, this course fulfills three of the credit hours required for the Cultural Studies major and minor. For majors, this course counts as one of the 'Advanced Theories and Methods' seminars required for graduation.

Required Texts

Benjamin Shepard and Greg Smithsimon, The Beach Beneath the Streets: Contesting New York City's Public Spaces (SUNY Press, 2011).

Angela Y. Davis, Are Prisons Obsolete? (Seven Stories Press, 2003).

All other assignments will be available (for free) in PDF format, via the course blog.

Recommended Texts

The Dictionary of Human Geography, 5th Edition, edited by Derek Gregory, Ron Johnston, Geraldine Pratt, Michael Watts and Sarah Whatmore (Blackwell: 2007). NOTE: I can provide you with a PDF copy of this text, but for those wishing to purchase a print copy, it runs about $38 and is a fabulous resource for concepts in the humanities and social sciences (not merely geography).

Phil Hubbard, Rob Kitchin, Gill Valentine, Key Thinkers on Space and Place (Sage: 2004).

Assignments & Grading

Class Participation. Your participation is an essential component of a seminar course and it is my opportunity to evaluate you as a student. Participation does not necessarily mean answering every single question in class, bur rather, coming to class PREPARED and otherwise ready to engage in a productive discussion about questions, concerns and/or problems you had with assignment(s). This also means being alert and paying attention, not falling asleep during class, actively participating in group activities, and so on. Put simply, ‘participation’ does not mean simply showing up.

Response Papers. You will turn in one response that will be due during Week Four. You should strive to accomplish the following things in your responses:

Give a succinct synopsis of the article (or articles) in the first paragraph or two. In the most concise and descriptive terms possible, tell me what the authors are saying and give me a synopsis of their argument, i.e. the author's thesis and main points.
Following the synopsis, you need to articulate your own thesis: one that demonstrates your close engagement with the text. In short, you need to address specific points or questions the author raises…avoid generalities.
Stay away from using evaluative language if you do not provide an accompanying explanation, for example: "I liked this" or "I hated the way ____ says this." Instead, tell me what the author is doing or not doing, why their argument works or doesn't work. The point here is to understand, critique and apply concepts from the class. So while you may like or dislike certain concepts, you need to explain your position rather than just telling me how an author makes you feel.
The paper should be two single-spaced pages (your name should go in the header) with standard margins and 12pt font. I expect you to turn in all papers via email, sending them as PDF (.pdf) or Word (.doc) files. If at all possible, please do not send me Microsoft files with the (.docx) extension...converting them adds an unnecessary step for me to grade your papers. If you prefer to turn in print copies of your paper, you do not need to submit a cover page, a plastic binder or anything else....just a staple in the corner. Furthermore, feel free to print on the backside of old assignments, multicolored paper, notebook paper, and so on. The more recycling & reuse the better.

Chicago Organization Report. You will document a specific organization or group in Chicago that is directly engaged with one or more of the topics we discuss in the course. In a brief oral report, you are to provide a history of the organization, a synopsis of what they ‘do’, and an analysis that situates their practices within the context of relevant readings. If you would rather work in groups, you can do so.

Mapping Chicago. You and a small group of collaborators will draw upon course readings, outside research and/or fieldwork to compose a unique map related to Chicago (it could be about part of the city, the city as a whole, or some entirely different way of locating/understanding the Windy City). In addition to the production of your map (digital or ‘analog’ maps are both acceptable), your group will give a short presentation where you will explain your map and reflect upon both your findings and your experience putting it together. Before working on this assignment, please make sure to give yourself enough time to participate in group explorations and follow-up meetings with your peers.

Final Paper & Presentation. At the end of the semester, you must turn in a 12-15 page research paper in which you will demonstrate your ability to engage with, and effectively apply, theoretical concepts from the course. In addition, you will give a 5-7 presentation on your findings to the class on the last day. Further guidelines for the final paper & presentation will be posted online.

Breakdown of Grades
Response Paper 10%
Chicago Org. Report 10%
Participation 20%
Map & Group Presentation 10%
Final Paper & Presentation 50%

Course Policies (Our Contract)

These policies are important: PLEASE READ THEM

Attendance. Come to class! Absences hurt your ability to learn and they hurt your grade. Signing up for this class indicates that you are committed to being here for the full class period each class meeting. If you have some extenuating circumstances that make it difficult for you to attend class on time or stay for the entirety of class, please find another section of this course that better suits your schedule. You are allowed one unexcused absence over the course of the semester. Each additional absence will lower your final grade. If you miss class, you are still responsible for whatever was covered in lecture and discussion that day.
Assignments and Extensions. Assignments will be announced well in advance of due dates. If you know in advance that you can’t make a due date, please discuss it with me beforehand. In all other cases, late assignments will not be accepted. With few exceptions, I do not allow rewrites for papers. Failure to turn in the final paper will result in an automatic failing grade for the course. Note: Clear and coherent writing is an important factor in your success in this class. I urge you to visit Columbia College's Writing Center (33 E. Congress) and make use of their tutors before you hand in written work. I will also be more than happy to look at rough drafts during my office hours.
Plagiarism. Plagiarism is using someone else’s ideas as your own in formal writing. If you use someone else’s ideas, you are expected to cite them. If you use someone else’s exact words, even if it is part of a sentence, you should put quotation marks around them and cite them. I may not be the smartest person in the entire world, but you can rest assured that my research abilities are of a Bruce Lee caliber. In short, I can spot plagiarism and I can also track it down. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If I catch you doing it, you will receive an immediate ‘F’ for the course and all further discussions on the matter will take place between you and my department chair. You will not get a second chance. PERIOD. If you have any questions about plagiarism, please see me.
Grades. I am eager to help you do well on assignments before they are due. Please visit me during office hours to ask me questions when you are working on an assignment or reviewing material. I grade assignments based on your performance, not your intentions. In addition, your effort is important and will be recognized in your participation grade for the course. Here are the circumstances under which I would change a grade: (a) if I have made an error, or (b) if I have failed to hold you to the same standard as everyone else. In the event that you feel you received an undeserved grade, I will be happy to discuss it with you. Grades will be based on the following scale: A (90-100%) B (80-90%) C (70-80%) D (60-70%) F (59% or below)
Accommodations. Students with disabilities should see me early in the semester to make any necessary arrangements or accommodations. You can also find the Services for Student’s with Disabilities (SSD) office at 623 S. Wabash, Suite 304, or by calling (312) 369-8296.
Nondiscrimination Statement. As a professor at Columbia College Chicago, I value equality of opportunity, human dignity, and racial/ethnic/cultural diversity. Be assured that I will promote a safe and conducive environment for learning. In accordance with college policies, I will not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, disability, etc. In addition to the Columbia’s policies, and within the bounds of the course, I do not discriminate on the basis of political creed. In the simplest terms possible, this means that you do not have to agree with me in order to do well in this course. So long as you demonstrate an understanding of (and engagement with) the course material, you are under no obligation to agree with myself, your classmates or anything we read (you don’t even have to agree with yourself, for that matter). If there is something I can do to make the class more hospitable, please let me know.
Compliance. By staying enrolled in this class, you acknowledge that you understand – and agree to abide by – the following rules and regulations and Columbia College’s policies (i.e. the accepted codes of conduct and academic integrity). Failure to follow the letter and the spirit of these reasonable guidelines can result in a reduction of your final grade, failure of the course, and/or other penalties as set by the college.