English 250

Anarcho-Punk Writing

Spring 2006

Jeffrey W. Timmons, Ph.D.

Graybeal Hall G6

jtimmons@vwc.edu

www.vwc.edu/~jtimmons

757.455. 3390.

Office Hours: Monday and T, 2-430pm and by appt.

 

Course Description:  This course sets itself a small slice of a large cultural pie: writing that reflects the influence of punk and anarchism, particularly as it emanates from young writers living in the pacific northwest.  Reading, analyzing, discussing, and writing about various self-published, non-corporate publications, students will encounter the ideas, experiences, concerns, beliefs, and adventures of young writers who identify themselves with the values of what we might call “anarcho-punk” culture.  Going beyond sensationalized images of punks and anarchists, however, students will explore how this literary culture defines and speaks for itself, especially in opposition to mainstream values.  This thriving independent, alternative literary culture merits our attention because it is so vibrant and creative, and because the writing itself is so compelling.  This is also a W course, and requires 20 pages of competent college-level writing. 

 

Required Texts: All texts should be available in the campus bookstore.  Each student is expected to have a copy of every text, which should also be brought to every class, as specified in the reading schedule below.

           

            Anonymous.  Evasion.  CrimethInc.  Free Press: Canada, 2002.

            Cometbus, Aaron.  Double Duce and the WDH Stories.  Last Gasp of San Francisco:                                                             San Francisco, 2003.

            CrimethinInc Ex-Worker’s Collective.  Days of War, Nights of Love: Crimethinc for

                        Beginners.  CrimethInc. Free Press: Canada, 2001.

            Gayle, Amber.  My Evil Twin Sister No. 1: Greetings from the Endless Highway.  1995.

            -----.  My Evil Twin Sister No. 2: Hometown Interstate-5.  1996.

            -----.  My Evil Twin Sister No. 4: Notta Lotta Love Stories.  2000.

            O’Hara, Craig.  The Philosophy of Punk: More Than Noise!  AK Press: San Francisco,                                                        1999.

            Crabb, Cindy Gretchen Ovenrack.  doris: an Anthology 1991-2001.  Microcosm                                                                   Publishing: Portland, 2005.

 

Course Requirements:

            Essays                                                  700pts

                        3 @ 200pts

                        1 @ 100pts

            Presentations                                        100pts

            Short Writing Assignment(s)                  50pts

            Attendance                                           50pts

            Participation/Contributions                    50pts

            Quizzes                                                50pts

 

Revision: Since this is a Writing course, you are encouraged to revise your essays for higher grades.  Late essays are also ineligible for revision.  See Late Work policy.

 

Attendance: You cannot miss more than SIX classes for any reason and pass this course.  Chronic lateness and/or early departures can constitute absences.  Your attendance grade is determined by the total number of classes missed: B = 1, C = 2, D = 3, D = 4, and F = 5 or more missed classes.  The student is responsible for any material and/or assignments missed during an absence.

 

Quizzes: These are given during the first five minutes of class to those students who are present in class.  They can not be made up nor are they given to students who arrive late to class.

 

Grading Scale for Final Grades: A = 950pts; A‑ = 900; B+ = 875; B = 850; B‑ = 800; C+ = 775; C = 750; C‑ = 600; D+ = 675; D = 650; D‑ = 500; and F = anything below the D‑ grade.

 

Late Work/On Time:  All assignments are due at the beginning of class, according the schedule below.  Assignments submitted late suffer stiff penalties, and they are not guaranteed to be read or graded, nor do they qualify for revisions.  Unless there are serious, legitimate, and verifiable reasons why an assignment is late, you are always expected to have assignments completed on time.

 

Make-Up Exams: All exams must be completed on the day and time they are scheduled.  Unless arrangements are made in advance of a scheduled exam, no make-up exams are given.

 

Completion: All assignments must be completed to pass this course.

 

Course Policies:  Students are responsible for knowing the course policies and responsibilities as they are stated in this syllabus.  The instructor reserves the right to revise the policies, schedules, and assignments contained herein.  Any changes are announced in advance, and with timely notice.

 

Honor Code/Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism: You are also expected to be familiar with and abide by the VWC Honor Code found in the Student Handbook and Catalog. Any sort of academic dishonesty, especially plagiarism, can constitute grounds for failing this course.

 

Accommodations: Any student needing accommodations should speak with Fayne Pearson in the Learning Resource Center.  Accommodations must be arranged in advance.

 

January

25        Intro, Background

            Presentation Assignment

            Discuss Essay #1 and Short Writing Assignments

            Culture, Resistance and Literary Culture/Community

            What is Anarcho-Punk?  Does it have a history?

27        Packet: 1-14

            O’Hara, The Philosophy of Punk: 1-47

 

30        O’Hara, The Philosophy of Punk: 48-166

February

1          O’Hara, The Philosophy of Punk

 

3          O’Hara, The Philosophy of Punk

            Short Writing Assignment Due

 

6          Leblanc, “The Punk Girl Thing: Introductions”: 6-32

8          Leblanc, “‘Punk’s Not Dead—It Just Smells That Way’: Punk to Hardcore, with Girls on the Side”: 33-64

10        Leblanc, Leblanc, “I Grew up and I was a Punk: Subcultural Studies”: 65-102

 

13        Anonymous, Evasion: 1-156

15        Anonymous, Evasion

17        Anonymous, Evasion

            Discuss Essay #2 Assignment

            Essay #1 Due

 

20        Anonymous, Evasion: 157-End

22        Anonymous, Evasion

24        Anonymous, Evasion

 

27        Cometbus, Double Duce: 1-167

March

1          Cometbus, Double Duce

3          Cometbus, Double Duce

 

6          CrimethInc. Workers’ Collective, Days of War, Nights of Love: 0-86

8          CrimethInc. Workers’ Collective, Days of War, Nights of Love

10        CrimethInc. Workers’ Collective, Days of War, Nights of Love

 

13        CrimethInc. Workers’ Collective, Days of War, Nights of Love: 87-176

15        CrimethInc. Workers’ Collective, Days of War, Nights of Love

17        CrimethInc. Workers’ Collective, Days of War, Nights of Love

            Discuss Essay #3 Assignment

            Essay #2 Due

 

27        CrimethInc. Workers’ Collective, Days of War, Nights of Love: 177-end

29        CrimethInc. Workers’ Collective, Days of War, Nights of Love

31        CrimethInc. Workers’ Collective, Days of War, Nights of Love

 

April

3          Gayle, My Evil Twin Sister No.1 Greetings From the Endless Highway: all pages

5          Gayle, My Evil Twin Sister No.2 Hometown Interstate-5: all pages

7          Gayle, My Evil Twin Sister No. 4 Notta Lotta Love Stories: all pages

 

10        Duncombe, “Zines,” “Identity,” “The Politics of Alternative Culture,” “Conclusion”:1-16, 17-43, 174-198

12        Duncombe, “Zines,” “Identity,” “The Politics of Alternative Culture,” “Conclusion”

            Discuss Essay #4 Assignment

            Essay #3 Due

 

19        Crabb, Doris: 0-143

21        Crabb, Doris

 

24        Crabb, Doris: 144-end

26        Crabb, Doris

28        Crabb, Doris

 

May

1          Crabb, Doris

 

3          Discuss Final Exam

            Evaluations

 

8          Final Exam/Essay: Monday 300-530