English 1A

Fall 2007

Seminar #7

Note:  Your seminar grade will be determined by the quantity of your responses (how many questions you answer and how many other students you respond to) and the quality (how well you demonstrate an understanding of the ideas you're responding to, how detailed your responses are, how coherent and in-depth they are, etc.)

Directions:
1.  Read Culture Jam: Summer and Epilogue (pages 137-215)

2. Choose two questions and respond with at least one paragraph per question. Include quotes and/or specific references to the text to back up your responses.

1.   Rage: What, according to Lasn, is the difference between impotent rage, and rage that is "healthy, ethical and empowering" (143) What are the consequences of impotent rage, and what are the benefits of healthy rage? Do you find examples of either, or both, in your own experience? Explain.

2. Assertiveness  Training : What kinds of activities does Lasn promote as assertiveness training?  Give a couple of examples from the book (pg. 147-155). Have you ever done anything like what he describes, or wanted to? Explain.  If not, have you ever witnessed anyone else doing it? What was your reaction?

3. Guilt: What does Lasn mean when he says "The supersize American lifestyle generates at least a little guilt in every marginally thoughtful person who pursues it" (168)?  What does he think we need to feel guilty for? Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

4.  Blame the Media : Why does Lasn blame the media and the cosmetics industry for what he deems our "distorted" image of sexuality? Does his extended metaphor about Calvin Klein and "your daughter" work to convince you of his point?  Why or why not?  Do you think our perception of sexuality is distorted by the media? Explain.

5. True Cost Economy : Explain what Lasn means by a "true cost marketplace" (180).  What are the benefits of such a marketplace, for the individual, for the environment. and for the govnerment? Do you agree with his assessment? Would you be will to pay "true cost" if it would ensure that your purchases would contribute to solutions to the world's problems, and not add to them? Explain.

6. Finally : What, in the end, is Lasn's main point? In a nutshell, what does he identify as our main problem/s?  Do you agree with his point overall, or disagree, and why? Which of his supporting points do you agree with, and which do you disagree with?  How effective, overall, do you think his argument is?  Did he acheive what he hoped to acheive with this book?

3. Save your work as a .doc or .rtf document and submit your response to the Assignment Chamber by midnight on Monday, Nov. 12.  

4. Post your responses to the appropriate forum by midnight on Monday, Nov. 19.

5. Read all the other students' posts throughout the week.

6. Respond to at least two other student's post (more is better) .  You will have until midnight, Monday, Nov. 26 to read and respond to the other students' ideas in the website.

back to Assignment Schedule