Week 3

Lindsay Lohan

Week 3 Mo 8.31/We 8.2

Read: “Attack of the Paparazzi” (Rolling Stone)

Class: DIAGNOSTIC; Presentation assignments; Lectures—“Building a Better Multimedia Presentation” and “Lecture—“MLA Style: An Introduction”

Due: REFLECTION 2

Upcoming:

Week 4 Mo 9.7 (LABOR DAY—NO CLASS)/We 9.9
Read: eR—“Students Set Course: How Do You Want To Be Remembered?” (Hartford Courant), Excerpts from “The 100 Years Project” (DanaRoc.com), “Song for the Special” (Yale Daily News)
Class: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL; Reading discussion; Lecture—“Crafting the Essay: Writing as a Process”
 

Reflection 2: Somebody Think of the Children—Celebrity Kids and the Paparazzi

It's generally understood that when it comes to modern-day fame, the paparazzi are part of the package. Yet, today's celebrities are only marginally protected against these intrusive and aggressive photographers (whose actions are largely constitutionally protected). It is so bad now that even the children of celebrities must also routinely endure throngs of overly zealous photographers. In fact, competition for photos of celebrity kids is so fierce that it has become a burgeoning industry unto itself. Meanwhile, many of the kids themselves, including Suri Cruise and Violet Affleck, seem increasingly stressed, even exasperated, with the situation. What do you believe is the long term effect of all this attention on the kids? As famous offspring, should they be fair game? Do celebrity kids have a right to a day at the park or to go out for ice cream like any other kid? And what should be the role of the law? Finally, if you were a celebrity, what would you do to protect your children from intrusive photographers?

Include at least three of the following in your discussion:

• "Leave Sage and Suri Alone" (Salon)
• "Paparazzi Turn Lenses on Stars' Kids: Fair Game or Cheap Shot?" (ABC News)
• "Anti-Paparazzi Law: Should Kids be Left out of the Picture?" (FOX News)
• "Celeb's KIds Mobbed By Paparazz" (CNN)
• "Why Our Children Should be Off Limits to the Paparazzi" (Huffington Post)
• "Halle Berry Talks Paparazzi: 'Our Children Should Be Off Limits'" (Access Hollywood)

Requirements:

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

Due: We 9.2

Celebrity News 8.25.15

• Josh Duggar's brother-in-law calls him a "pig" on Facebook after Ashley Madison cheating confession (MSN)
• Reality TV stars also enveloped in Ashley Madison scandal (USA Today)
• Woman live-tweets couple's mid-air break up (New York Daily News)
• Amanda Bynes seeks refuge from paparazzi at a West Hollywood police station (E! News)
• Young girl, bullied for her love of Star Wars, gets help from Weird Al and local stormtroopers (CNN)
• British parent poll: Miley Cyrus is WORST celebrity role model for children (Daily Mirror)

Reflection 1: Like Wildfire—Understanding the Nature of Viral Videos

Viral videos—those videos that quickly gain popularity throughout the Internet (usually via social media)—are seemingly made for an era in which information is transmitted rapidly and social networks are the new water coolers. Sometimes entertaining, sometimes even annoying, these videos often take on a life of their own, even if their shelf life is short. Yet, for every "Gangnam Style" there are thousands of videos that no one ever pays any attention to. Why? What is it magic formula for a video going viral? And what of the stars of these videos? While many people were inadvertently (and regrettably) associated with viral videos, many others hope that they will catapult them to stardom. Have viral videos become a shortcut to fame? And are they a legitimate way to break into show business? Finally, what are some of your favorite viral videos and why?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Why Do Viral Videos Go Viral?" (Wired) 
• "How To Make A Viral Video: A Guide" (Huffington Post)
• "The 'Star Wars Kid' Sued The People Who Made Him Famous" (Business Insider)
  
• "Viral Video’s Greatest ‘Stars’: Where Are They Now?: (Yahoo! Music)
• "10 Viral Video Stars Whose Lives Weren’t Ruined by the Internet" (Gawker)
• "Watch James Corden Pay Tribute to YouTube Viral Videos" (CBS News)

Requirements:

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

Due: Wed 8.26

Week 1

Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge

Week 2 Mo 8.24/We 8.26

Class: Introductions; Syllabus review

Due: REFLECTION 1

Upcoming:

Week 3 Mo 8.31/We 8.2

Read: “Attack of the Paparazzi” (Rolling Stone)

Class: DIAGNOSTIC; Presentation assignments; Lectures—“Building a Better Multimedia Presentation” and “Lecture—“MLA Style: An Introduction”

Due: REFLECTION 2
 

Welcome to Fall 2015