1 Semester at Sea, Course Syllabus Colorado State University, Academic Partner Voyage: Spring 2017 Discipline: Apparel and Merchandising Course Number and Title: AM 250 Clothing, Adornment and Human Behavior Division: Lower Faculty Name: Mary Littrell Semester Credit Hours: 3 Prerequisites: None COURSE DESCRIPTION Dress encompasses modifications made to the physical self (hair gel, tanning, tattoos, scarification, perfumes, plastic surgery) and additions to the body (t-shirts, hats, shoes, jewelry, hair clips, false eyelashes, body piercings). In this class we will examine psychological, sociological, and cultural factors related to individual and group clothing choices in varied contexts. Dress and appearance will be related to development of the self and to forms of self-expression (individuality, conformity, rebellion, gender, body image). We will explore how clothing is used as a form of nonverbal communication and how appearance can contribute to or hinder social relationships and group behaviors across the life span. In voyage ports of call, students will carry out observation assignments to better understand various clothing choices and to compare and contrast clothing across cultures. Social and psychological factors will be applied for understanding the meanings clothing holds for the wearers. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Examine the functions of dress in daily life within and among cultures. Understand the role of cultural context in shaping the meanings of dress across the lifespan. Assess the importance of dress to the self-concept and to forms of self-expression. Understand the importance of social interaction in the assignment of meanings to dress symbols. Explore how dress can contribute to or hinder social relationships and group behaviors. Assess the role of dress in nonverbal communication. REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AUTHOR: Miller-Spellman, K.A., Reilly, A., & Hunt-Hurst, P TITLE: The Meanings of Dress PUBLISHER: Fairchild Books ISBN #: 978-1-60901-2786 DATE/EDITION: 2012 (3 rd Edition)
2 Bring the textbook to all class periods. Participation in chapter discussions, at the end of each chapter, is required and integral to class learning. TOPICAL OUTLINE OF COURSE Depart Ensenada January 5 A1 January 7: Forms of dress Course overview, Exercise #1, Independent Field Assignments A2 January 9: Does dress matter? Intranet: What Freedom Looks Like A3 January 11: Dress, Culture, & Theories Text: Chapter 1 Text Reading 3.3: The Hawaiian Shirt as Popular Culture Exercise #1: Favorite clothing Honolulu January 12 A4 January 14: Dress, Culture, & Film: American Mullett Theories continued A5 January 17: Independent Field Assignment, Dress as Nonverbal Communication Chapter 3 Text Reading 2.5: Tokyo A-Go-Go, pp. 72-74 Discuss Independent Field Assignment No class January 19 A6 January 20: A7 January 22
3 Dress as Nonverbal Communication continued Text Reading 6.2: Japanese Kind of Whiteness Film: Geisha Girl Exercise #2: Film Worksheet Kobe January 24 28 A8 January 29: The Body Text: Chapter 4 Intranet: Piercings and Eye Popping Tattoos Recap: Dress in Japan Asia Dress Question #1 Japan due Shanghai January 31 February 5 A9 February 6: Dress and the Media Text: Chapter 11 Recap: Dress in China Asia Dress Question #2 China due A10 February 8: Dress and the Media Film: Picture Me continued Ho Chi Minh City February 10-14 A11 February 15: Dressing for Life and Death No Class - February 17 A12 February 18: Chapter 8 Intranet: Why Victoria s Secret Can t Sell Sex to Millennials Recap: Dress in Vietnam Exercise #3: Develop questions for Life Long Learner Panel Asia Dress Question #3 Vietnam due Dressing for Life and Death Continued Panel of Life Long Learners from the Voyage Yangon February 20-24
4 A13 February 25: Dress and Religion Chapter 7 Film: Cut From Different Cloth: Burqas and Beliefs Asia Dress Question #4 Myanmar due A14 February 27: Identity and Appearance in India Reserve: Banerjee, M. & Miller, D. The Sari, Chapters 2, 4-7, 12 Cochin March 1-6 A15 March 7: Exam #1 (Chapter 1, 3, Asia Dress Question #5 4, 7, 8, 11) India due No Class March 9 A16 March 10: Appearance and Sexual Identity Text: Chapter 5 Discussion: Observations and analysis of dress in India as related to Banerjee reading Mauritius March 12 A17 March 13: Race and Ethnicity Text: Chapter 6 No Class March 15 A18 March 16: Race and Ethnicity continued Film: Good Hair Exercise #4: Film Worksheet
5 A19 March 18: Fashion, Status and Inequality in Dress Chapter 9 Intranet: Hansen, K.T., Secondhand Clothing and Fashion in Africa Cape Town March 19-24 A20 March 26: Identity and Dress in Ghana Reserve: Contemporary African Fashion, Chapters 1, 11 Text Reading 13.8: Kente as an Indigenous Ghanaian Textile Recap: Dress in Cape Town A21 March 28: Identity and Dress in Ghana continued Intranet: Gott, S. The Power of Touch: Women s Waist Beads in Ghana Prepare for Field Class No Class March 29 Tema March 31-April 3 A22 April 4: Dress in the Workplace Text: Chapter 10 Field Class Recap Field Class Reflective Paper due A23 April 6: Fashion as a Dynamic Text: Chapter 2 Exercise 5: To be Process determined A24 April 8: Ethics in Fashion Text: Chapter 14 Prep for Exam #2 Study Day April 10
6 Casablanca April 11-April 14 A25 Finals April 15: Exam #2 (Chapters 2,5,6,9,10,14) Arrive Hamburg April 19 FIELD WORK Semester at Sea field experiences allow for an unparalleled opportunity to compare, contrast, and synthesize the different cultures and countries encountered over the course of the voyage. In addition to the one field class, students will complete independent field assignments that span multiple countries. Field Class attendance is mandatory for all students enrolled in this course. Do not book individual travel plans or a Semester at Sea sponsored trip on the day of your field class. Field Classes constitute at least 20% of the contact hours for each course. Field Class and Assignment The Field Class for this course will take place on Saturday, April 1 in Tema, Ghana Class Title: Glass Beads in Ghanaian Life This full-day, field class will build on class readings and discussion about Ghanaian dress and appearance, and specifically on the use of beads in Ghana. We will travel to the Cedi Bead Industry near Odumase-Krobo where we will spend a special day planned for us by founder and director Nomoda Ebenizer Daba (Cedi), who has been producing beads for over 35 years, and his wife Mariama Djaba. Cedi s beads are sold throughout Ghana and internationally. Cedi and Mariama will give a presentation and demonstration on bead production, including
7 crushing of recycled glass, forming of molds, and kiln firing. They will also talk about the important functions of beads in puberty rites and wedding ceremonies. After the demonstration, students will have the opportunity to participate in a workshop for producing a small collection of their own beads. No prior bead making experience is needed. A typical Ghanaian lunch will be served during the day. Field Class Learning Objectives 1. Examine the functions that glass beads play in the life of the Krobo people of Eastern Ghana, from historic and contemporary perspectives. 2. Understand processes for making different types of beads, i.e., translucent recycled glass beads, painted/glazed beads, etc. 3. Participate in a bead making class for understanding the processes. Take the beads with you. 4. Analyze strategies that the founder and director of Cedi Beads has employed for developing local and international markets for his beads. Field Class Assignment Students will submit a 4-5 page reflective paper and photo-documentation that discusses: 1) challenges Cedi has faced and opportunities he has optimized in developing the Cedi Bead Industry, 2) the bead production process, 3) reactions to the bead production workshop, and 4) take-away learnings about Ghanaian dress and culture. The field assignment will be evaluated for thoroughness and careful analysis of discussion and photo-documentation. Independent Field Assignments The independent field assignments will build on the five Asian ports (Japan, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, and India) in the first part of the voyage and on class readings and discussions related to dress of these countries. For each of the ports, students will be provided with a focus question to give direction to their observations and photo-documentation. Examples of topics for the questions include: school uniforms and dress conformity (Japan), luxury apparel and social status (China), and use of color and bling in apparel (India). For each port, students will submit a 2-page reflective paper addressing the focus question, with photo-documentation where possible and appropriate. Assignments will be evaluated for thoroughness in answering the focus question, relationship to class theories, and photo-documentation METHODS OF EVALUATION / GRADING SCALE Components Dress in Five Asian Countries: Response to country-specific questions (5% each) 25% Field Class Reflective Paper 20% Class Exercises (5) 15% Exam #1 20% Exam #2 20% Total 100%
8 The following Grading Scale is utilized for student evaluation. Pass/Fail is not an option for Semester at Sea coursework. Note that C-, D+ and D- grades are also not assigned on Semester at Sea in accordance with the grading system at Colorado State University (the SAS partner institution). Pluses and minuses are awarded as follows on a 100% scale: Excellent Good Satisfactory/Poor Failing 97-100%: A+ 94-96%: A 90-93%: A- 87-89%: B+ 84-86%: B 80-83%: B- 77-79%: C+ 70-76%: C 60-69%: D Less than 60%: F ATTENDANCE/ENGAGEMENT IN THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM Attendance in all Semester at Sea classes is mandatory, but it is at the instructor s discretion to assign a grade to the participation and attendance requirement. Students must inform their instructors prior to any unanticipated absence and take the initiative to make up missed work in a timely fashion. Instructors must make reasonable efforts to enable students to make up work which must be accomplished under the instructor s supervision (e.g., examinations, laboratories). In the event of a conflict in regard to this policy, individuals may appeal using established CSU procedures. LEARNING ACCOMMODATIONS Semester at Sea provides academic accommodations for students with diagnosed learning disabilities, in accordance with ADA guidelines. Students who will need accommodations in a class, should contact ISE to discuss their individual needs. Any accommodation must be discussed in a timely manner prior to implementation. A memo from the student s home institution verifying the accommodations received on their home campus is required before any accommodation is provided on the ship. Students must submit this verification of accommodations pre-voyage as soon as possible, but no later than December 15, 2016 to academic@isevoyages.org. STUDENT CONDUCT CODE The foundation of a university is truth and knowledge, each of which relies in a fundamental manner upon academic integrity and is diminished significantly by academic misconduct. Academic integrity is conceptualized as doing and taking credit for one s own work. A pervasive attitude promoting academic integrity enhances the sense of community and adds value to the educational process. All within the University are affected by the cooperative commitment to academic integrity. All Semester at Sea courses adhere to this Academic Integrity Policy and Student Conduct Code. Depending on the nature of the assignment or exam, the faculty member may require a written declaration of the following honor pledge: I have not given, received, or used any unauthorized assistance on this exam/assignment.
9 RESERVE BOOKS AND FILMS FOR THE LIBRARY AUTHOR: Gott, S., & Loughran, K. (Eds.) TITLE: Contemporary African Fashion PUBLISHER: Indiana University Press ISBN #: 978-0-253-22256-5 DATE/EDITION: 2010 AUTHOR: Banerjee, M., & Miller, D. TITLE: The Sari PUBLISHER: Berg ISBN #: 1 85973 732 3 DATE/EDITION: 2003 FILMS American Mullet Picture Me Good Hair ELECTRONIC Videos, YouTube, etc. You Tube: BBC Geisha Girl Documentary 2013 (58:55 minute version) You Tube: Afghanistan: Cut from Different Cloth Burqas and Beliefs (56 minutes) Apatani Beauty: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/short-film-showcase/thechanging-face-of-beauty-in-northeastindia?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_fb20160501videoapataninative&utm_campaign=content&sf25368865=1 You Tube: Rachael Dolezal Breaks Her Silence: I identify as Black. (10:47 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg9q2_hv83k ELECTRONIC COURSE MATERIALS AUTHOR: Friedman, Vanessa ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: What Freedom Looks Like http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/fashion/islamic-fashion-france.html?smprod=nytcoreipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share AUTHOR: Samelson, Chelsea ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: Why Victoria Secret s Can t Sell to Millennials http://nyp.st/1t4m98o
10 AUTHOR: La Ferla, Ruth ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: Piercings and Eye Popping Tattoos http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/12/fashion/body-piercings-tattoosfashion.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share AUTHOR: Johnson, D.C., & Foster, H.B. (Eds.) ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: Chapter 8: The Power of Touch: Women s Waist Beads in Ghana Chapter Author: Suzanne Gott JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: Dress Sense: Emotional and Sensory Experiences of the Body and Clothes, DATE: Oxford Berg, 2007 PAGES: 84-95 AUTHOR: Gott, S., & Loughran, Kristyne (Eds.) ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: Secondhand Clothing and Fashion in Africa, Chapter 3 Chapter Author: Karen T. Hansen JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: Contemporary African Fashion DATE: Indiana University Press, 2010 PAGES: 39-51