SPCH 350 Partners in Theory – Assignment Description
PARTNERS IN THEORY: Each student will choose a theorist and explore her/his unique life, work, and theoretical approach in great detail. This requires research into the life, work, and minds of the greatest philosophical, media and communication thinkers of all time. The “partnership” comes from your choice of a modern or historical figure to link with your chosen theorist. Imagine a conversation between your theorist and your chosen figure – what could this teach us about culture, communication, media, persuasion, and identity? These partnerships could take place within a specific area of media (consider Marshall McLuhan’s theoretical work on media and then pair him with a media representative like Facebook CFO Sheryl Sandberg); within specific disciplines (think of cultural studies theorists like bell hooks and place her in conversation with writer/director Jordan Peele); or, crossover completely and apply someone like Sigmund Freud (known for psychoanalysis) to a complicated public figure whose representation might need some therapy (so many examples I can’t even begin to list them). As follows, here are the basic requirements for this project:
A) Online Presentation: Present your theorist and figure in a 10-12 minute presentation. For your presentation time, you are responsible for teaching the class about your theorist and figure. This assignment allows you to present work other than a traditional essay – you may create/use video clips, Prezis, PPTs, activities, performances, games, etc.
