Celebrity News 10.28.15

• South Carolina high school student violently assaulted by school cop in new viral video (CNN)
• The Khloé Kardashian-Lamar Odom divorce is off (People)
• Philadelphia boxer who was found to have done gay porn: I was drugged into participating (Philadelphia Enquirer)
• Adele smashes Taylor Swifts single-day viewing record with her new single, "Hello"  (Entertainment Weekly)
• Sofia Vergara in bitter dispute with ex-fiancee over fate of their embryos (Radar)
• Child's Pablo Escobar costume stirs controversy (Daily Mirror)

Reflection 7: En Masse—The "Instafamous" of Instagram

Since its inception only five years ago, Instagram has become a cultural phenomenon. And as with other social media platforms (e.g. Vine, YouTube, Twitter), some users shrewdly utilized Instagram to propel themselves to Internet fame, and even monetary gain. Thus, thanks to tens of thousands—even hundreds of thousands—of devoted followers, many users can rightly claim to be "instafamous." In some cases, followers of these amateur users' accounts rival those of firmly established celebrities. But is there a discernible formula for "instafame?" What do all "instafamous" users have in common? How does one stand out on a such a crowded Instagram field? For this reflection, look at the Instagram accounts of two of the following "instafamous" users:

• Dan Bilzerian (@danbilzerian)
• Coco Rocha (@cocorocha)
• Shawn Megira (@shawn_megira) 
• Acacia Brinley (@acaciabrinley)  
• Ryan Parilla (@novess)
• Anthony Danielle (@takinyerphoto)
• Mark Otto (@markotto)  
• Hailey Luntz (@haicat) 
• Luis R. Ruiz (@literaluis)
• David Mcintosh (@king_david85)
• Arianna Bowman (@Aritunechii)
• Rich Kids of Instagram (@richkidsofinstagram)
• Eugénie Grey (@feralcreature) 
• Tony Toutouni (@Lunatic_Living)
• Nash Grier (@nashgrier) 
• Jen Selter (@jenselter)
• Cameron Dallas (@camerondallas)

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Inside the World of the 'Instafamous'" (Washington Post)
• "The 'Insta-Famous' Sons and Daughters of New York's Elite Let Me into Their Circle — Here's What It Was Like" (Business Insider)
• "Demand for the 'Insta-Famous' Model Rises" (Daily Mail)
• "Here's How an Amateur Used Instagram to Become a Successful Pro Photographer" (Huffington Post) 
• "How These 6 All-Stars Turned Instagram into a Full-Time Job" (Elle)
• "The 50 Most Popular People on Instagram 2015" (TheRoosevelts)

Requirements:

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

Due:  Wed 11.4

Week 11

Week 11: Mo 10.19/We 10.21
Read: SHAMED—4. God That was Awesome – 6. Doing Something Good
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“The Most Common Grammatical Errors—And How to Avoid Them”
Due: REFLECTION 6

Upcoming:

Week 12: Mo 10.26/We 10.28
Read: SHAMED—7. Journey to a Shame-Free Paradise – 10. The Near Drowning of Mike Daisey
Class: English Dept. Assessment; Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 7

Celebrity News 10.21.15

• Lamar Odom recovering after he was found unconscious at Nevada brothel over the weekend (CNN)
• Brody Jenner shares video of woman at Walgreens who asks him, “Is Caitlyn your daddy?” (Instagram)
• Kate Middleton attends her first state dinner at Buckingham Palace (People)
• Lindsay Lohan may run for president in 2020 (Fox News)
• Chris Pratt and Anna Kendrick meet Billy on the Street (YouTube)
• Those times celebrities wore cringe-inducing Halloween costumes (Us)

Reflection 6: The Royal Treatment—If America Had a Royal Family

For many Americans, it is a point of pride that the United States has never had a monarchy. In fact, the mere idea of a royal family is generally considered un-American. Still, anti-monarchy sentiments are somewhat disingenuous because A) we are obsessed with the royal families of other countries, particularly Britain's and B) we celebrate so many dynastic American families as if they were true nobility (e.g. the Kennedys, Rockefellers). Additionally, we've elevated celebrities to the level of pseudo-royalty. Witness any major entertainment awards ceremony, and you'll see a parade of kings, queens, princes, and princesses. If we indeed have stand-in royalty in America, who are they? Who are those families and individuals that we regard as the British might their own royal family? And if the notion of royalty is so repugnant to American ideals, why are we so fascinated with them?

Include at least three of the following in your discussion:

• The US May Have No Queen, but It Has More Royal Families than It Knows What to Do With" (Guardian) 
• "If the United States had a Royal Family, Which Family or Couple Would be Royalty?" (Reddit)
• "The Regal Republic: Why are Americans Obsessed with the Royal Family?" (Independent)
• "Piers Morgan: 'If You Love Our Royals so Much, America, Perhaps it's Time to Have a Monarchy of Your Own?" (Daily Mail)
• "America’s ‘Lost Monarchy’: The Man Who Would Be King" (Newsweek)
• "America’s Obsession With Royalty Started With Princess Diana" (New York Times)

Requirements:

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

Due:  Wed 10.28

Multimedia Presentations, Sec. 7 (Updated Schedule)

Find the original assignment here.

Week 12: Mo 10.26/We 10.28

1. Matej M. and Justin G. – The Legend of Billy the Kid
2. Zan J. and Diana D. - The Life and Times of Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico  
3. Paige S., Darriell F.,  and Aspyn A. - FF: Fifty Shades of Grey and the World of Fan Fiction

Week 14: Mo 11.9

1. Selena R., Megan S. and Alec R. - Legendary Hoaxes: The Surgeon’s Photograph, The War of the Worlds, and Ballon Boy
2. Nada H. and Gabriel L. - The Reality of Reality TV 
3. Jaspreet S. and Taylor R. - Mark David Chapman: The Man Who Killed John Lennon 

Week 16: Mo 11.30/We 12.2

1. Derrick S. and Patrick O. - Entertainment for Men: Hugh Hefner and the History of Playboy
2. Maria R., Quynh P., and Taylor M. - No Laughing Matter: The Fatty Arbuckle Scandal
3. Bharath K. and Armand M. - "The Crime of the Century": The Lindbergh Kidnapping

Multimedia Presentations, Sec. 1 (Updated Schedule)

Find the original assignment here.

Week 12: Mo 10.26/We 10.28

1. Cooper D. and Diana M. - FF: Fifty Shades of Grey and the World of FanFiction
2. Aiden L. and Jocelyne S. – The Reality of Reality TV
3. Savannah M. - Entertainment for Men: Hugh Hefner and the History of Playboy

Week 13: Mo 11.2/We 11.4

1. Jennifer C. and Joseph M. - Eight Men Out: The Black Sox Scandal
2. Madison C. and Guadalupe R. - "The Crime of the Century": The Lindbergh Kidnapping 
3. Cole H. and Sam E. – I Heard the News Today: The Assassination of John Lennon 

Week 14: Mo 11.9

1. Ann G. and Alyssa K. - John Hinckley Jr.: Jodie Foster Stalker and Would-Be Presidential Assassin
2. Catherine K. and John D. - The Celluloid Closet: Being Gay During Hollywood’s Golden Age

Week 16: Mo 11.30/We 12.2

1. Kaliph Z. and Jhonnatan R. - The Life and Times of Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico
2. Cody Y., Dzu B., and Emily d L. – No Laughing Matter: The Fatty Arbuckle Scandal
3. Brian H. and Junior M. – The Life and Times of Marilyn Monroe 

Week 10

Week 10: Mo 10.19/We 10.21
Read: SHAMED—1. Braveheart – 3. The Wilderness
Class: CLOSE READ; Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“Close Reads: A How-To”
Due: REFLECTION 5

Upcoming:

Week 11: Mo 10.19/We 10.21
Read: SHAMED—4. God That was Awesome – 6. Doing Something Good
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“The Most Common Grammatical Errors—And How to Avoid Them”
Due: REFLECTION 6

Reflection 5: Flagrant Fouls—When Athletes Behave Badly

As Lance Armstrong's infamous 2013 doping confession reminded us, professional athletes are people, too. And just like people, they sometimes do bad things.  However, in the past twenty years, pro athletes have been involved in a variety of scandals, including sexual assault (Mike Tyson, Kobe Bryant, Ben Roethlisberger), steroids (Mark McGuire), illegal betting (Pete Rose), sexting (Brett Favre, Metta World Peace (AKA Ron Artest), drunk driving (Charles Barkley, Aldon Smith), drug possession (Jennifer Capriati, Daryl Strawberry), sexual harassment (New York Jets), infidelity (David Beckham, Tiger Woods), dogfighting (Michael Vick), bounty rings (New Orleans Saints), domestic violence (Tito Ortiz, Hope Solo, Ray McDonald, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin), prostitution (Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo, Alex Rodriguez), assault (Tonya Harding, Jason "Mayhem" Miller), and even murder (OJ Simpson). Still, in the court of public opinion, some athletes transgressions are judged more harshly than others. Some athletes have the ability to sail past scandal (e.g. Michael Phelps), while others' images remain permanently impaired (e.g. Barry Bonds). What is the line between what fans can forgive and what they cannot forget? Has a favorite athlete of yours ever been embroiled in controversy? If so, did you continue to support him or her?

Include at least three of the following in your discussion:

• "Michael Vick Will Forever be the Most Disliked Player in the NFL" (USA Today)
• Out of Control Athletes: Why Do We Forgive Them?" (KATU)
• "Terry Bradshaw is Fed Up with the NFL's Domestic Violence Problem" (Huffington Post)
• "'How Could You?': The Fan's Response to Athletes Behaving Badly" (Psychology Today) 
• "Sports: Where (Almost) All of Your Sins are Forgiven, Maybe" (The Sports Manifesto)
• "Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and American Athlete Worship" (The Sports Fan Journal)

Requirements:

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

Due:  Wed 10.21

Celebrity News 10.12.15

• Paparazzi snap nude photos of Justin Bieber on vacation—Internet breaks down (People)
• Also: Bette Midler goes after Bieber's dad for his lewd Twitter comments (HollwyoodLife)
• And: Is there a double-standard at play with Bieber's nudes? (E!)
• Jared Leto visits New York Comic Con in disguise (Comicbook.com)
• California bans paparazzi drones over celebrity homes (Slate)
• Selena Gomez's revelation: "I was diagnosed with lupus, and I've been through chemotherapy" (People)
 

Week 9

Week 9: Mo 10.5/We 10.7
Read: FAME—6. When Reflected Glory Isn't Enough: Confessions of an Upwardly Mobile Celebrity ‘Slave’ – 8. Conclusion: Some Reflections from Hollywood's Premier Retirement Home
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: EXPOSITORY OUTLINE

Upcoming:

Week 10: Mo 10.19/We 10.21
Read: SHAMED—1. Braveheart – 3. The Wilderness
Class: CLOSE READ; Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“Close Reads: A How-To”
Due: REFLECTION 5

Expository: Fame Junkies

In his introduction to Fame Junkies, Jake Halpern writes:

Anyone who has ever been in the limelight, even for participating in a high school musical or telling a good story at a cocktail party, can attest to the fact that there is a rush that comes with commanding everyone’s attention. Isn’t it possible that this feeling is, in fact, addictive? Isn’t it possible that many behaviors related to fame—including becoming famous, being near the famous, and even reading about the famous—trigger a rush, a high, or even a numbing effect that is potentially addictive?

In a concise outline, illustrate some of the obsessive lengths the famous (and not-so-famous) go to to feed this addiction to celebrity. What drives them to so fervently pursue fame? How does their desire to simply be famous differ from a desire to be recognized for their talents or accomplishments? Finally, can their pursuit of fame really be likened to an addiction? Cite specific evidence from Fame Junkies to support your thesis.

Requirements:

• MLA Style, including parenthetical citation
• Include a works cited page

Due: Wed 10.14

Celebrity News 10.6.15

• This week's most hated man in America is: Geris Hilton of Atlanta
• Model sues Bill Cosby over alleged assault, suit calls him a "serial rapist" (TheWrap)
• Author Stephanie Meyer switches genders of Edward and Bella for special tenth anniversary edition of Twilight (CNN)
• Kylie Jenners snaps her "bomb" Spanx from Target (Mashable)
• Ariana Grande "accidentally" posts video of her and Liz Gilles locking lips on Instagram (MTV News)
• #polishedman: Why men are painting a single finger nail (Yahoo! News)

Week 8

Week 8: Tu 10.6/Th 10.8
Read: FAME—3. A Home for the Famous and Almost Famous – 5. The Desire to Belong: Why Everyone Wants to Have Dinner with Paris Hilton and 50 Cent
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Watch—Excerpts from $ellebrity (Showtime); Lecture—“On Wordiness: Exercises”
Due: REFLECTION 4

Upcoming:

Week 9: Mo 10.5/We 10.7
Read: FAME—6. When Reflected Glory Isn't Enough: Confessions of an Upwardly Mobile Celebrity ‘Slave’ – 8. Conclusion: Some Reflections from Hollywood's Premier Retirement Home
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: EXPOSITORY (ANNOTATED—INSTRUCTIONS TO BE GIVEN IN CLASS PRIOR TO DUE DATE)

Celebrity News 10.3.15

• Katie Perry groped by fan onstage in Brazil (Rolling Stone)
• Gwyneth Paltrow encourages Goop followers to buy $350 T-shirts, says women "will want 17 of them" (Daily Mail)
• Instagram model says she makes more money from a single selfie than from four days of work (Daily Mirror)
• Madonna's under-21 daughter, Lourdes, seen drinking at her mother's Detroit concert (Irish Independent)
• Gone viral: A man's emotional reaction to learning of his wife's pregnancy (KTLA)
• What have we done to deserve this?: Honey Boo Boo debuts rap single (Daily Mail)