Thank You for a Great Class

Grades are in. Time to enjoy the season.

Thank you again for a fun class. Hope you enjoyed it.

Rock on, dudes ...

-D

Week 17: MTV

Bobby Brown, "Every Little Step" (US #3, April 1989)

Week 17: MTV

SEC. 54 FINAL EXAM: WE 12.14/SEC. 43 FINAL EXAM: FR 12.16
Due: NARRATIVE ESSAY

SEC. 54 - Meet at Flames (across from MLK Library) from 8:30 - 9:30 AM

SEC. 43 - Meet at Whispers (behind Hammer Theatre) from 8:30 - 9:30 AM

Week 16: Batman

Taylor Dayne, "Tell It to My Heart" (US #7, Jan. 1988)

Week 16: Batman

Tu 12.6/Th 12.8 (FINAL CLASS MEETING)

Class: Presentations

Due: INFOGRAPHIC (Final draft; Email by 5 PM)

Upcoming:

Week 17: MTV

SEC. 54 FINAL EXAM: WE 12.14/SEC. 43 FINAL EXAM: FR 12.16

Meet from 7:15 – 9:30 AM

Due: NARRATIVE ESSAY

Back to the Future News 12.1.16

• Yes, Die Hard counts as a Christmas movie (Post-Bulletin)
• In honor of World AIDS Day, a look back at AIDS awareness posters from the '80s (Time)
• Trump's recent tweets about flag burning hearken back to an an '80s controversy (NPR)
• Should these 15 '80s trends come back? (Bustle)
• New memoir looks to John Hughes for life's answers (NPR)
• Bruno Mars and The Weekend are going '80s (Los Angeles Times)

Week 15: The WWF

R.E.M., "The One I Love" (US #9, Dec. 1987)

Week 15: The World Wrestling Federation

Tu 11.29/Th 12.1

Class: Presentations

Due: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT

Upcoming;

Week 16: Batman

Tu 12.6/Th 12.8 (FINAL CLASS MEETING)

Class: Presentations

Due: REFLECTION 7; INFOGRAPHIC (Final draft; Email by 5 PM)

Week 17: MTV

SEC. 54 FINAL EXAM: WE 12.14/SEC. 43 FINAL EXAM: FR 12.16

Meet from 7:15 – 9:30 AM

Due: NARRATIVE ESSAY

Narrative Essay: My '80s Rite of Passage

Adolescence is tough in any time period. The Eighties, however, offered a unique set of circumstances for anyone passing through a rite of passage (e.g. first jobs, proms, first cars, drugs, first kisses). With parents taking a more hands-off approach than previous generations, school systems facing their most severe funding cuts ever, and a society increasingly concerned with fulfilling individual needs and whims, ‘80s adolescents came of age at a time when no one was always “minding the store.” Though there were many downsides to this situation, one upside was that ‘80s youth were allowed wide latitude to explore the ins and outs of adolescence. And stories of youth from this time period often reflect that freedom.

For this final assignment, you will recount a coming of age experience of a person who was an adolescent in the ‘80s. In a narrative essay, you will tell his or her story: the settings, the emotions, the circumstances, the people. It is your job to bring back to life your subject’s youth.

Instructions:

• Interview someone who A) was a between 15-25 years old in the ‘80s and B) experienced some rite of passage during that decade—preferably in America
• Translate that interview into a 3-page magazine-style narrative essay that illustrates not only the pertinent information (time, place, etc.), but resurrects a particular moment in time 
• Remember, you are retelling your subject's story, so strive to do be accurate, but also compelling

Keep in mind that though a narrative essay typically tells a personal story from a first person perspective, it can be equally effective when someone’s experience is recounted in the third person. For examples, look below at stories from public radio’s This American Life:

• "109: Notes on Camp" (1998)
• "245: Allure of the Mean Friend" (2003)
• "449: Middle School" (2011)
• "541: Regrets, I've Had a Few" (2014)

Requirements:

• Approximately 3 pages in length
• MLA Style

Due: FR 12.16 (via email by 5 PM)

Week 14: RUN-DMC

Madonna, "Open Your Heart" (US #1, Feb. 1987)

Week 14: RUN-DMC

Tu 11.22/Th 11.24 [NO CLASS—HAPPY THANKSGIVING]

Class: INFOGRAPHIC (DRAFT 1; BRING 2 COPIES)*

*Due Tue 11.22

Upcoming:

Week 15: The World Wrestling Federation

Tu 11.29/Th 12.1

Class: Presentations

Due: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT

Week 16: Batman

Tu 12.6/Th 12.8 (FINAL CLASS MEETING)

Class: Presentations

Due: REFLECTION 7; INFOGRAPHIC (Final draft; Email by 5 PM)

Week 17: MTV

SEC. 54 FINAL EXAM: WE 12.14/SEC. 43 FINAL EXAM: FR 12.16

Meet from 7:15 – 9:30 AM

Due: NARRATIVE ESSAY

Back to the Future News 11.16.16

• Paula Abdul to join Backstreet Boys for summer 2017 tour (CBS News)
• Car aficionado Jay Leno's advice: Don't buy cars from the '80s (CNBC)
• Kensington Palace to host exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana's death (Guardian)
• Heart disease rates in the US have dropped 20% since the '80s (LifeScienceDaily)
• Nintendo's NES Classic Edition sells out immediately (GMANetwork)
• Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Thing's Eleven, pushing to play a young Princess Leia (CNET)

Infographic: I Made News in the '80s

The '80s were marked by big personalities, people who left their mark in fields as diverse as politics, entertainment, and sports. For this assignment, you will create an infographic illustrating the impact of a major '80s news maker. In constructing your infographic, consider not only the cultural impact of this individual, but also how he or she helped shape the decade. Additionally, include relevant biographical information to help contextualize this person’s contributions.

Choose one of the following '80s news makers to profile in your infographic:

1. Nelson Mandela, political activist
2. Andrew Lloyd Webber, musical theater composer
3. HRH Sarah, Duchess of York, British royal
4. Bill Gates, tech pioneer
5. Keith Haring, artist
6. Greg Louganis, Olympic diver
7. Lt. Col. Oliver North, Reagan Admin. NSC member
8. Geraldine Ferraro, first female Vice-Presidential candidate
9. Joan Rivers, comedienne
10. Andy Kaufman, comedian
11. Fabio, model
12. Molly Ringwald, actress
13. Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist
14. Prince, musician
15. Dr. Ruth Westheimer, sex therapist
16. Calvin Klein, fashion designer
17. Janet Jackson, musician
18. Christie Brinkley, supermodel
19. Tina Turner, musician
20. Vice-President Dan Quayle, politician
21. Julio César Chávez, professional boxer
22. Michael J. Fox, actor
23. Boy George, musician
24. Joe Montana, NFL quarterback
25. Spike Lee, actor/director

Infographics are most easily utilized in PowerPoint (or a comparable program. Additionally, if you are experienced in it, you may also utilize Photoshop. This assignment must be delivered electronically.

Requirements:

• Include a works cited page

A well-executed infographic will:

• Have a title that articulates the goal of the assignment
• Have a concise thesis as the subheading—important
• Have a concise controlling argument dictating the design
• Visually translate perspectives and facts in a clear and enlightening manner
• Stay within the parameters of a profile of a major '80s news maker

Due: Tu 11.22 (DRAFT 1: BRING 2 COPIES); Th 12.8 (FINAL DRAFT; EMAIL BY 5 PM)

Week 13: The Golden Girls

Cyndi Lauper, "True Colors" (US #1, 1986)

Week 13: The Golden Girls

Tu 11.15/Th 11.17

Class: Presentations; Writer’s workshop

Due: EDITORIAL ESSAY

Upcoming:

Week 14: RUN-DMC

Tu 11.22/Th 11.24 [NO CLASS—HAPPY THANKSGIVING]

Class: REFLECTION 7; INFOGRAPHIC (DRAFT 1; BRING 2 COPIES)

Week 15: The World Wrestling Federation

Tu 11.29/Th 12.1

Class: Presentations

Due: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT

Week 16: Batman

Tu 12.6/Th 12.8 (FINAL CLASS MEETING)

Class: Presentations

Due: INFOGRAPHIC (Final draft; Email by 5 PM)

Week 17: MTV

SEC. 54 FINAL EXAM: WE 12.14/SEC. 43 FINAL EXAM: FR 12.16

Meet from 7:15 – 9:30 AM

Due: NARRATIVE ESSAY

Editorial: You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried

Teenagers of the ‘80s had one thing millennials didn’t: an auteur dedicated to capturing the teen experience. In fact, John Hughes’ films, which he either produced, wrote, or directed, became American cultural icons. Today, these films-namely Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), and Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)—serve as chronicles of ‘80s adolescence. Twenty-first century teens don’t have the benefit of such films. Instead, this era’s comedies have skewed more adult (e.g. The 40-Year-Old Virgin, The Hangover). While an occasional teen movie comes along (e.g. Super Bad, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist), none have managed to attain iconic statuses the way Hughes’ films did. What are today’s teens missing out on? What’s the value of having your adolescence reflected on the big screen? In a concise editorial, explore the impact of Hughes’ movies on the ‘80s and the void left in teen cinema today. Cite exclusively from Gora's You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried to support your thesis.

Remember, an editorial expresses an opinion on a current issue. It may take a formal or informal tone, but its primary goal is always to persuade readers. Because editorials were born in newspapers, they are traditionally succinct in form and can often carry the "voice" of the author.

Below are a series of recent editorials from around the country:

• "Here's Hoping Colin Kaepernick's Protest Movement Can Teach Schools a Lesson in the 1st Amendment" (Los Angeles Times)
• "Should Obama Pardon NSA Leaker Snowden? Nyet" (Chicago Tribune)
• "Why We Should Treat Islamophobia as a Public Health Issue" (Dallas Morning News)
• "Birtherism is Donald Trump's Big Lie" (Washington Post)
• "Why Terrorism Won't Undermine Us" (Boston Globe)

Requirements:

• Approximately 3 pages in length
• MLA Style, including parenthetical citation
• Works cited page

Due: Thu 11.17

Back to the Future News 11.9.16

• Eighties-fest coming to San Jose in January (San Jose Mercury News)
• Pakistan deports National Geographic's iconic "Afghan Girl" (New York Times)
• New doc chronicles the final days of an arcade (Austin Chronicle)
• Michael Jackson's son pens tell-all book (E! News)
• How the '80s set the standard for Hollywood love scenes (Vulture)
• Nintendo releases a throwback edition of its famous console (Inquisitor)

Week 12: The Tiananmen Square Massacre

Robert Palmer, "Addicted to Love" (US #1, May 1986)

Week 12: The Tiananmen Square Massacre

Tu 11.8/Th 11.10

Read: eR—“The 100 Best Infographics” (Creative Bloq), “10 Tips for Designing Better Infographics” (DotDash), “12 Warning Signs that Your Infographic Sucks” (Visme)

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“Infographics 101”

Upcoming:

Week 13: The Golden Girls

Tu 11.15/Th 11.17

Class: Presentations; Writer’s workshop

Due: EDITORIAL ESSAY

Week 14: RUN-DMC

Tu 11.22/Th 11.24 [NO CLASS—HAPPY THANKSGIVING]

Class: REFLECTION 7; INFOGRAPHIC (DRAFT 1; BRING 2 COPIES)

Week 15: The World Wrestling Federation

Tu 11.29/Th 12.1

Class: Presentations

Due: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT

Week 16: Batman

Tu 12.6/Th 12.8 (FINAL CLASS MEETING)

Class: Presentations

Due: INFOGRAPHIC (Final draft; Email by 5 PM)

Week 17: MTV

SEC. 54 FINAL EXAM: WE 12.14/SEC. 43 FINAL EXAM: FR 12.16

Meet from 7:15 – 9:30 AM

Due: NARRATIVE ESSAY

 

Reflection 6: Technorama—Exploring the Technology of the '80s

Calculator watches, video cameras, handheld video game devices: all of these were once among the Eighties’ most cutting edge tech. Though much of it now seems quaint, maybe even primitive, that technology laid the foundation for that which we interact with today. From smart phones to laptops, most of today’s technologies would not have been possible had it not been for the ‘80s. For this reflection, examine the ways in which that decade’s technology helped usher the technological advancements of this century. What do we owe to the gadgets of that era? And does any of the technology from the ‘80s intrigue you?

Cite at least two of the following articles in your discussion:

• "How '80s Technology Made the Modern World" (Popular Mechanics)
• "Eight Technologies to Thank the 1980s For" (TechRadar)
• "The Totally Righteous Technology of the 1980s" (CNN)
• "Your Guide to the 80s Technology in the Netflix Original Series Stranger Things" (NextThing)
• "Fourteen Tech Gadgets From the 1980s That We Want Back Right Now" (Business Insider)
• "These Were the Gadgets of the 80s Wall St. Banker" (MSN)

Requirements:

• MLA Style
• One page in length
• Works cited page

Due: Th 11.2

Week 11:Thriller

The Bangles, "Manic Monday" (US #2, Apr. 1986)

Week 11:Thriller
Tu 11.1/Th 11.4
Read: BRAT—8- I Love Ferris in the Springtime: Ferris Bueller Crafts the Perfect Day Off Before Graduating from High School—and John Hughes Graduates from Directing Teen Films, 14- Don’t You Forget About Me: How the Brat Pack and Their Films Changed a Generation
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 6

Upcoming:

Week 12: The Tiananmen Square Massacre

Tu 11.8/Th 11.10

Read: eR—“The 100 Best Infographics” (Creative Bloq), “10 Tips for Designing Better Infographics” (DotDash), “12 Warning Signs that Your Infographic Sucks” (Visme)

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“Infographics 101”

Due: EDITORIAL ESSAY 

Back to the Future News 10.26.16

• Dead or Alive frontman, Pete Burns, dies at 57 (Guardian)
• Ryan White's mother: Donald Trump did not pay for Ryan's treatment (Huffington Post) 
• Here are the best '80s films to catch right now on Facebook (Houston Chronicle) 
• Actor from iconic '80s anti-drug PSA voted for Marijuana legalization in 2016 (Vox)
• So why all the '80s obsession these days? (Vulture)
• How Tiramisu became the dessert of the '80s (Eater)

Reflection 5: Just Say No—What Can We Learn from the '80s Drug War?

Ask any American who came of age in the '80s what the anti-drug mantra of the decade was and they'll tell it was: Just Say No. Just Say No, a campaign designed to encourage kids to refuse illegal drugs, the brainchild of First Lady Nancy Reagan. Her program and others, such as D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, were the cornerstone of the demand-side drug control strategy of America's so-called "War on Drugs." In fact, their reach was extensive, ranging from PSAs to cartoons. Today, the these programs, as well as the War on Drugs, are generally regarded as failures. Still, they left a lasting impression on the generation that experienced them as young Americans of the time became well-versed in the ills of illegal drugs. What can we learn from these programs today? How did the anti-drug programs you experienced compare? Finally, what happens to today's ant-drug programs in an era where Marijuana use is increasingly legal?

Cite at least two of the following articles in your discussion:

• "Why 'Just Say No' Doesn't Work (Scientific American)
• "Nancy Reagan's 'Just Say No' Effort was Pop-Culture Icon" (USA Today)
• "What Ever Happened to 'Just Say No'? (Atlantic) 
• "Twelve Videos from Nancy Reagan's 'Just Say No' Campaign" (KPCC)
• "D.A.R.E. was Laughably Bad; Are New School Anti-Drug Programs Any Better?" (Healthline)
• "Whatever Happened to the Ad War on Drugs?" (AdAge)

Requirements:

• MLA Style
• Two pages in length
• Works cited page

Due: Th 10.27

Week 10: First Lady Nancy Reagan

Whitney Houston, "Saving All My Love for You" (US #1, Oct. 1985)

Week 10: First Lady Nancy Reagan
Tu 10.25/Th 10.27
Read: BRAT—7- We Got the Beat: Behind the Music of the Brat Pack Films
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 5

Upcoming:

Week 11:Thriller
Tu 11.1/Th 11.4
Read: BRAT—8- I Love Ferris in the Springtime: Ferris Bueller Crafts the Perfect Day Off Before Graduating from High School—and John Hughes Graduates from Directing Teen Films, 14- Don’t You Forget About Me: How the Brat Pack and Their Films Changed a Generation
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 6

Back to the Future News 10.22.16

• Is Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is scariest film of the '80s (TheHill)
• When Superman did AT&T ads in the '80s (TheVerge)
• Book: An '80s mobster threatened to castrate Donald Trump (Toronto Sun)
• The new film Moonlight focuses on being black, gay, and poor in '80s Miami (NPR)
• Here are ten '80s commercials for cars that no longer exist (K-EARTH 101)
• The number one film in America this month in 1987: Fatal Attraction (YouTube) 

Week 10: Cabbage Patch Dolls

a-ha, "Take On Me" (US #1, Oct. 1985)

Week 9: Cabbage Patch Kids
Tu 10.18/Th 10.20
Read: BRAT—3- Breakfast of Champions: The Breakfast Club “Breaks the Rules, Bares Their Souls,” and Revolutionizes the Teen Film Genre 
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Upcoming:

Week 10: First Lady Nancy Reagan
Tu 10.25/Th 10.27
Read: BRAT—7- We Got the Beat: Behind the Music of the Brat Pack Films
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 5

Back to the Future News 10.13.16

• A remastered Fraggle Rock is returning to HBO (Time)
• Here is the '80s logo generator you didn't know you needed (Motherboard)
• The creepy clowns things actually dates back to the '80s (New York Post)
• Photographer's images captured the gritty New York City of the '80s (Time)
• If you missed out on Target's $25 Golden Girls action figures, they can be yours from eBay for only $350 (CNBC)
• Stranger Things star says justice is coming for Barb (Rolling Stone)

Week 8: The Cosby Show

Wham!, "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (US #1, Nov. 1985)

Week 8: The Cosby Show 
Tu 10.11/Th 10.13
Read: BRAT—2- Eternal Flame: Sixteen Candles Lights Up the Screen 
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 4

Upcoming:

Week 9: Cabbage Patch Kids

Tu 10.18/Th 10.20
Read: BRAT—3- Breakfast of Champions: The Breakfast Club “Breaks the Rules, Bares Their Souls,” and Revolutionizes the Teen Film Genre 
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Back to the Future News 10.5.16

• Thirty years later, a return to Chernobyl (Slate)
• Mansion famous from the nighttime soap Dallas up for sale (KSAT) 
• Losing $1 billion didn't stop Donald Trump from a spending spree in the '80s (Patch)
• A look back at Japan's cyanide-filled candy scandal (Atlas Obscura) 
• Michael Jackson's 1987 classic "The Way You Make Me Feel" revived (a la Cirque du Soleil) on Dancing with the Stars (Entertainment Tonight)
• Opioid overdoses now as kill as many people as AIDS did in the late '80s (Business Insider)

Reflection 4: That's Totally Gay, Dude—Politically Incorrect '80s Cinema

The Eighties can count some of the most respected films ever produced among its own. From Raging Bull to Ghandi to Driving Miss Daisy, dozens of ‘80s films reached new cinematic heights. However, another legacy of the decade was its penchant for highly racist, sexist, and homophobic film depictions. Eighties films routinely (and unapologetically) portrayed broadly stereotypical characters. Thus, ‘80s films regularly presented Asians as “others” (Sixteen Candles), a woman’s body as not her own (Weird Science), and homosexuals as laughable caricatures (Mannequin). Eighties films were not concerned with accurate portrayals of, say, Latinos or immigrants or the disabled, but with “shorthand” representations that audiences could quickly refer to for a laugh or a cry. Today, the country’s changed demographics, and even “political correctness,” help keep many of these negative portrayals at bay. While we certainly have our own social challenges in 2016, much of what we saw in the ‘80s would be unacceptable today. If we view films as a reflection of the times that produced them, then what do the movies of the '80s say about that decade? Likewise, what do today’s somewhat more sanitized representations say about our own time?

Choose at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Way Too Many ’80s Movies Treat Rape as a Punchline" (Vocativ)
• "What's So 'Cringeworthy' about Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles?" (NPR) 
• "Sixteen Candles is Sexist and Racist—and Needs to be Retired" (New York Post)
• "When Your Favorite Childhood Films are a Little More Homophobic Than You Remembered" (Huffington Post)
• "Soul Man, the Forgotten Blackface Comedy" (The Unwatchables)
• "Sixteen Candles and Soul Man Named Among 50 Most Racist Movies of All Time" (Tampa Bay Times)

Requirements:

• MLA Style
• Two pages in length
• Works cited page

Due: Th 10.13