Language Texts and Technology Spring 2011
CUE 114
T/TH 13:25-14:40

McLuhan: The Medium is the Massage: An Inventory of Effects by Marshall McLuhan and Quentin Fiore 

Twyman: The British Library Guide to Printing: History and Techniques by Michael Twyman

Weatherford: The History of Money Jack Weatherford Three Rivers Press

Harley: The New Nature of Maps: Essays in the History of Cartography

This schedule will always be a work in progress. A few fieldtrip and other dates are tentative.
Assignments will be added and linked as the schedule grows throughout the semester. Plan to check the online version of this schedule at least twice a week for updates. Homework assignments will be posted on this page throughout the semester. You MUST check this schedule regularly to keep up with course activities/assignments.

Week 1	Jan. 11	Introduction to class; review of syllabus and schedule; academic honesty policy; discussion question: What do we mean by the terms 'language,' 'texts,' and 'technology'?
	Jan. 13	Before class Read how the "Web Was Won: An Oral History of the Internet" Make note of each time you encounter an idea that relates to lanauge, text, and/or technology. If you read the article online and your version of Adobe allows for notes/comments, use that function to make notes; if you print out the article, use your standard method for underlining and note-taking. Read "As Internet Turns 40, Barriers Threaten Its Growth" which mentions several of the people in the "Oral History" article above. Read "Passage of Net Neutrality Laws" which updates some of the concepts from the previous two articles.
Week 2	Jan 18	Before class Read Wikipedia on Marshall Mcluhan. Read McLuhan through p. 79 -("In the name of 'progress,' our official culture is striving to do force the new media to do the work of the old.") While you are reading remember that this book was written in 1967! Homework (turned in at the end of class) 1) As you are reading, be conscious of links that there might be in Mcluhan's text to the interview article you read for class last Thurs. Write down any links you find. 2) Select at least three quotes that made you think hard or that surprised you. (Make sure these are chosen from the entire reading assignment, not just the first few pages! ) Write a few sentences about each quote--insights, critiques, what surprised you, etc. 3) Choose two illustrations that made you think hard or that surprised you. Make sure you save the page numbers of these illustrations. Write a few sentences about each illustration--how it struck you and why. During class Quote for In-class discussion: "The medium is the message" tells us that noticing change in our societal or cultural ground conditions indicates the presence of a new message, that is, the effects of a new medium. With this early warning, we can set out to characterize and identify the new medium before it becomes obvious to everyone - a process that often takes years or even decades. And if we discover that the new medium brings along effects that might be detrimental to our society or culture, we have the opportunity to influence the development and evolution of the new innovation before the effects becomes pervasive. As McLuhan reminds us, "Control over change would seem to consist in moving not with it but ahead of it. Anticipation gives the power to deflect and control force." (McLuhan 199) http://individual.utoronto.ca/markfederman/article_mediumisthemessage.htm
	Jan. 20	Before class: Finish McLuhan During class: Discussion of McLuhan Out-of-class writing assignment Due Jan. 25 at beginning of class (note that you also have a reading assignment for Jan. 25 and a quiz over that material) So far you’ve read the Vanity Fair article on the history of the Internet, two other brief articles, and Marshall McLuhan’s The Medium is the Massage.  Based on these readings and our class discussions, complete the following assignment. Write a letter to a friend, your parents, or another person close to you (but not taking the course) explaining the course and the readings we’ve completed so far.  Be aware of the audience for whom you’re writing and explain the reading in a way they’ll understand. You must use two quotes and two examples from the readings in your explanation.  You must include your own insights on these reading as well as include some synthesis in your letter.
Week 3	Jan. 25	Before class Complete writing assignment (see Jan. 20) Read through the Print Unit Overview before you come to class. Read Chapters 1, 2, & 3 (p. 7-75)Twyman. During class Quiz over Chapters 1, 2, & 3 Discuss Chapters 1, 2, & 3 Organize groups for MASC visit Week 4
	Jan. 27	No class
Week 4	Feb. 1	Before class Read Chapter 4 (p. 76-82)Twyman. During Class Meet in MASC for exploration of old print techniques and books. Quiz at end of class over Chapter 4.
	Feb. 3	Before class Read Chapter 4 (p. 76-82)Twyman. During Class Meet in MASC for exploration of old print techniques and books. Quiz at end of class over Chapter 4.
Week 5	Feb. 8	University Press tour (field trip project option) and open day for other field trips
	Feb. 10	Read the articles below on book readers. We will have access to a few Kindle's and perhaps some other book reader technology. An Intro. to Book readers from PC Mag E-readers replacying textbooks at the university E-readers replacing textbooks in gradeschools Kindle with page numbers Privacy and e-readers Disappearing book Ephemera and verisimilitude notes
Week 6	Feb. 15	Print project in-class workshop. Noon demo in FA (field trip project option)
	Feb. 17	Before Class Read Chapter 1 of Harley p. 34-49 During Class Map Unit Overview Introduction Maps Discussion of Harley Chapter 1
Week 7	Feb. 22	Presentations on book - small group; present overview of your project--5-7 minutes each Colleague Evaluation Form Group Project due Field Trip report due
	Feb.24	Before class: Read Harley Chapters 2, and 3. During class Quiz over Chapters 1, 2, 3 Discussion of Chapters
Week 8	Mar. 1	Read Harley Chapter 5; Class Cancelled. Read PowerPoint below before Thursday's class. PowerPoint on Chapter 5
	Mar. 3	Guest speaker: Dr. Richard Rupp
Week 9	Mar. 8	Meet in MASC
	Mar. 10	Meet in MASC
Spring Break
Week 10	Mar. 22	Read Harley Chapter 7 Bring one question from each of the following chapters to class for discussion: Chapters 3, 5, and 7.
	Mar. 24	Personal Map Narrative due and link shared with class; use "Send" link in upper right hand corner of the map interface to get your Narrative to me. Copying and pasting the link doesn't work very well. Take-home essay distributed. If you were not in class to get the take-home essay, pick up a copy at my office (Avery 202M). There is an envelope with the essay prompt and the map in it on my office door. Please take only one copy, Article about Australian Aboriginal Map The map itself--quite unlike most of the maps we have studied--but still used for purposes similar to those Harley discusses. See the linked article above for details.
Week 11	Mar. 29	Take home essay test due Begin Money unit Watch the following online videos and articles in class. No need to preview them. Stephen Colbert on money Ithaca Hours How Money is Made How ATM's Work Analyze a US Dollar Bill as Language, Text, and Technology
	Mar. 31	Read and discuss Weatherford Introduction and Chapters 1 & 2; In-class Exercises TBA; quiz
Week 12	April 5	Read and discuss Weatherford Chapters 6, 7, and 12; emoney notes TBA; quiz
	April 7	Read and discuss Weatherford Chapters 15 and 16; quiz Gold in 2009; 2011 Gold Update Credit Cards Dorsey Square Square Square cost Bump
Week 13	April 12	Money - meet in MASC--use same groups as other visits.
	April 14	Money - meet in MASC--use same groups as other visits.
Week 14	April 19	Money Project Workshop; Course evaluations New designs for dollar bill Map of Seattle--1912
	April 21	Money Project due; presentation of money project to small groups Gold prices top $1500/ounce; other metals high as well
Week 15	April 26	TBA
	April 28	No Class

 

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