"Introduction to Celebrity Studies"
CMCL C204 ★ Course #9593
Summer Session 2 ★ M-F 10:30-11:20 am
Celebrities are a pervasive part of Western culture: in movies and TV shows, newspapers and magazines, on blogs and Twitter, runways and even cereal boxes. Celebrities are not just actors and musicians, but also writers, newscasters, athletes, models, designers, chefs, politicians, even CEOs. This is no accident. Celebrity is a multi-faceted phenomenon developed by a dedicated industry and maintained not just by celebrities and their entourages, but also journalists, bloggers, paparazzi, and fans. Some of these aspects may be recent developments, but they still connect to a long history of fame in Western culture.
This class will provide an introduction to the study of celebrity, primarily focused on film and television stardom but including examination of other examples as well. Class time will include lecture and some screenings. Readings will involve critical historical studies of celebrity phenomena as well as contemporary texts from popular culture, such as magazines and gossip blogs. Major assignments will include an exam for a midterm grade, and a detailed celebrity study set up as a blog for a final project.
Required texts will be available at Boxcar Books.
Need more info? Contact Associate Instructor Jennifer Jones, jones334(at)indiana(dot)edu
